September 10, 1946, was a highlight for Phil. He had been told to report to Colonel Albright’s office in full-dress uniform. When Phil arrived, he was surprised to find Colonel McGarr and Ross waiting for him. Colonel Albright announced that they were all accompanying him to a medal ceremony. To his shock, the ceremony was for him.[1]

A Pentagon press release explained this:

The youngest man commissioned an Infantry Officer in this war, Captain Philip B. Larimore, Fort Myer, Virginia, was awarded the Médaille de France,[2] it was announced today by the Military District of Washington.

This singularly high honor awarded to few Americans was presented to Captain Larimore at the Ceremonial Detachment, Fort Myer, Virginia, where he is Executive Officer. The medal was awarded for gallantry in action.

After noting his wartime injuries and loss of his right leg, the press release added:

He has mastered the use of his new leg so well that he rides horseback as well as any horseman in Washington,” according to Captain Hubert Andrews, the Cavalry chief at Fort Myer. Larimore is still very much on active duty and teaches swimming as a sideline at the Fort Myer pool and plays football with the men of his detachment.

Captain Larimore wears the Silver Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart with six clusters.[3] It is expected that the Distinguished Service Cross will be awarded to him shortly. Captain Larimore hopes to remain in the Army and eventually obtain a regular commission.

A board of Medical Officers will meet on November 2, at Walter Reed Hospital, to determine whether he should be retired or accepted for continued service.

Although Phil was the recipient of three, not seven Purple Hearts, the bit about the DSC was news to him, and the last sentence was a tremendous encouragement.

It turned out, though, that Phil’s hearing before a board of medical officers—officially known as the Army Retiring Board—would be postponed until the spring of 1947, which would give him more time to prepare his appeal of amputee officers being automatically discharged.[4]

[Ntoe: We’ll pick up Phil’s story in mid-November.]

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 321.

[2] By the Médaille de France, the press release meant the Croix de Guerre with Palm.

[3] Each “Oak Leaf Cluster” indicates an additional award. In this case, Phil had been awarded two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars (both with Valor), and three Purple Hearts (the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters).

[4] Larimore, At First Light, 321-322.

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!

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2025.

December 24, 1945M