May 9, 1945 — Phil meets General Eisenhower and is flown back to the U.S.
May 9, 2025While Phil was en route [back to America], his parents received a letter from Captain Williams at the 30th Infantry’s Medical Detachment in Salzburg:[1]
Captain Williams wrote:
Capt. Chas. S. Williams 0-461862, Med Det, 30th Inf, APO3, c/o Postmaster, NYC
To: Philip B. Larimore, c/o Pullman Company, Memphis, Tenn.
From: Charles S. Williams, Salzburg, Austria
Dear Mr & Mrs Larimore,
Received your letter of 26 April and later one from Philip. When I first wrote you I did not know the outcome of the wound. I hope by now both of you have been able to see him.
As you say, it was quite a blow but I think you can be thankful it was no worse. Those of us who have been in war realize the living deaths that are present with us from both World War I and II. Knowing Philip as I do I believe he can make the adjustment without too much difficulty.
The Infantry is where friends are made quickly and strongly. One proves himself very quickly as to be a man or not. Age means nothing. Your son proved himself a man from the beginning. From what little I’ve heard I feel that his “old man” taught him discipline. Am I right, Sir?
You will probably be interested in my change in rank. I have been burdened with leaves(sic). I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.
My home is Malden, Mo. And I have been in Memphis several times. When I finally get back to the USA I’ll make it a point to drop in to see all of you. Am in the Army of Occupation now so you have no idea when I’ll see the beautiful homeland.
As ever, Charles[2]
Adjacent to the landing strips at Naval Air Station in Atlanta was Lawson General Hospital, a cantonment-type[3] army hospital with rows of one-story buildings built from Georgia pine.
It was here that Phil would spend the next twelve months receiving additional surgeries and undergoing intensive rehabilitation.[4]
In many ways, Phil didn’t realize that some of the most significant battles of his life lay ahead of him.
~~~~~
[1] Larimore, At First Light, 271.
[2] Handwritten letter and envelope now at the Philip Larimore archives at the LSU Military Museum in Baton Rouge.
[3] Cantonment refers to a group of temporary buildings or a camp where soldiers live.
[4] Larimore, Ibid.
Learn more about my book about my father’s heroics and exploits at Amazon’s First Light page here. You can also read more of my WWII blogs here as well!
© Copyright WLL, INC. 2025.
