“Vaccine News You Can Use” for Family Physicians (Part 2) — Summer 2025
August 11, 2025
Your Last and Most Important Letter to Loved Ones (Part 1)
August 17, 2025
On August 15, 1945, stunning news swept through Lawson General Hospital, where Phil was recovering from his leg amputation. He and every wounded patient gathered around radios to listen to the startling news that Japan had surrendered. The. War. Was. OVER!
On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its surrender to the United States, ending the most devastating war in human history.[1]
Phil and the estimated 672,000 U.S. troops wounded during the war could only wonder what would happen next. Would their sacrifices be forgotten? Would life ever return to some semblance of normalcy?[2]
That day, he received a package from his mother. In it were several communications that lifted his spirit even more than hearing the war was over, if such a thing could be possible. The first was an article printed in the Memphis paper:
26 Jun 45 Beribboned Captain Larimore Not Interested in Point TotalFighting outfits breed fighting commanders. And the Third Division’s famed Company L, 30th Infantry, is no exception.
It’s the old outfit of Capt. Maurice L. Britt of Lonoke, Ark.—the Nation’s most decorated man—and also that of Philip B. Larimore, beribboned 20-year-old Memphis hero who’d like nothing better than to be back with it.
Captain Larimore, who served under Britt before taking command of Company L himself, is now home from Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta visiting his parents … while recuperating from battle wounds.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Austria battle-weary men of Company L who helped to blaze the trail of blood and victory from Anzio to Southern France and Germany, take their well-earned rest on occupation duty.
“Sure I’d like to stay in the Army. I like it—its bull and all,” Captain Larimore mused yesterday. And you knew he meant it, too. You knew it by his surprise at being asked his service point total. He modestly admitted that he had never bothered to add them, but a casual count showed more than 100—increased over the week end(sic) by the addition of a second Silver Star for gallantry in action.
Along with the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster—for laying mines within 100 yards of German positions during daylight on Anzio and for knocking out a tank in Germany – Captain Larimore wears the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the European Theater ribbon with four campaign stars and one arrowhead.
What is the future, now that his combat days are over?
“If the Army doesn’t let me stay in—and I certainly hope they will—I’d like to get around to taking that engineering course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology that I’ve always wanted.
“Maybe the Army can use another engineer—even with a wooden leg,” he added reflectively.
Awarded Distinguished Unit Citation (see 17 Sep 44).War Department, Washington 25, D. C.General Orders No. 55, 13 July 1945Company L, 30th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance in action on 17 September 1944 near Raddon, France.
Advancing through fog and rain in a tortuous ascent over heavily forested terrain, the men of Company L, under the command of Captain Robert B. Pridgen, seized a key ridge which dominated a roadnet essential to the maintenance of the German Main Line of Resistance.
Fighting desperately to regain this vital ground, two hundred fanatical German troops, abundantly supplied with automatic firepower and supported by a tank and heavy artillery, pounded the gallant men of Company L in wave after wave of savage counterattack.
For six hours, the heavily outnumbered company fought on without respite, repulsing the German assault forces time and time again with heavy loss despite the enemy’s immense superiority in firepower.
At times completely surrounded and cut off, with only a few dozen rounds of pistol and carbine ammunition left, the soldiers of Company L resisted and repelled every enemy attempt to overrun their line.
Battling hand to hand, killing Germans with their rifle butts, these valiant men held their ground.
When the last wave of counterattack rolled back, the men of Company L, their ammunition almost entirely expended, their ranks reduced by casualties and their situation apparently hopeless, prepared to assault and break through the enemy lines, although they had but four rifle squads with which to do it.
But the enemy had already withdrawn, battered and beaten, abandoning his broken line to attempt a new stand at the Moselle.
To: Philip B. Larimore, Sr., c/o Pullman Company, Memphis, Tenn.
From: Capt Charles S. Williams, 0-461862, Med Det, 30th Inf, Salzburg, Austria
Dear Mr & Mrs Larimore,
Received your letter of 26 April quite some time ago 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. As of one June 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.
Although World War II was over for the Allies, in many ways, Phil’s battles were just beginning. The only thing he knew for certain was that he faced an uncertain future.[2]
~~~~~
[1] Larimore, At First Light, 281.
[2] 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!
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