After Phil returned to Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta in mid-July, after a wonderful month at home with his parents and friends, he continued his campaign to stay in the Army.[1]

Phil received a glimmer of hope about his potential future in the Army when Congressman Davis notified him the War Department had responded to his inquiry, saying:

Captain Larimore’s wish to remain in military service in spite of his disabilities is appreciated. If Captain Larimore will write directly to the Adjutant General, Attention: Captain Dross, when his hospitalization is completed, it is possible that there may be a vacancy in the Army Service Forces in which he could be assigned.

Buoyed by the response, Phil was more upbeat and chattier in his next letter home:

I’m feeling as well as can be expected. Anyway, I feel no pain. I have been to town only a couple of times. But other than that, I haven’t done much but work on my rehabilitation, eat, and sleep. Lazy huh?

Got a lovely card from Grandmom yesterday. Tell her I sure do miss her good cooking and for her not to let you eat all the chickens cause I’ll be home again one of these days.

As Phil continued to make steady progress, he went out into public more and more.

He started attending a Methodist church close by and accepted invitations to dine with various families after the service.

Phil also began to take an interest in some of the young ladies from nearby Dunwoody who visited the hospital to lift the men’s spirits.

Maybe he’d even start dating again. There was always that hope. Maybe this fall, he thought.[2]

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 280.

[2] Larimore, Ibid, 280-281.

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!

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