Colonel Philip Eugene Livermore, US Army (Retired), age 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Wallace, North Carolina on October 6, 2023. He was born on December 28, 1940 in Merrill, Wisconsin. Colonel Livermore was preceded in death by his parents Philip Lervy Livermore and Alice May Livermore; sisters Leona (Bill) Lindecker, Lorraine (Larry) Riemer and brother Roger (Joyce) Livermore. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Virginia (Jenny) Livermore (Army Veteran/1LT/Army Nurse Corps); daughter Candice Livermore (Army Veteran/SSG/Military Police Corps); sisters Wanda Meyer and Darlene Livermore.
Colonel Livermore entered the military in 1960 via the US Army Reserve while attending Stout College in Wisconsin. In 1961, he completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO followed by Advanced Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He served with the US Army Signal Corps (USASC) and earned the rank of Sergeant prior to his commission as an Officer. Colonel Livermore received his commission through the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer Basic Course in 1964. He went on to complete the following service schools throughout the remainder of his military career: Rotary Wing Aviator Course (1966), Essential Medical Training AMEDD Aviation (1967), Medical Supply/Service Course (1969), Management of Mass Casualties (1969), AMEDD Officer Advanced Course (1969), Command and General Staff College (1979) and Army War College (1989).
Colonel Livermore served in the following assignments: Supply Officer, Evacuation Hospital, Fort Polk, LA (1965); Medical Evacuation Pilot, 57th Aeromedical (AEROMED) Evacuation Detachment, Tan Son Nhat, Vietnam (1966); Medical Evacuation Pilot, 54th Aeromedical (AEROMED) Evacuation Detachment, Fort Benning, GA (1967); Aeromedical Operations Officer, Aviation Company, Fort Benning, GA (1967); Medical Evacuation Pilot, 377th Medical Company (Air Ambulence), Seoul, Korea (1968); Company Commander, 46th Medical Battalion, 4th Armor Division, Germany (1970); Chief, Services Branch, 196th Station Hospital, Shape, Belgium (1970); Operations Research Analyst, Associate Governmental Program, Bethesda, MD (1974); Health Services Material Officer, Office of the Surgeon General, Pentagon (1977); Chief, Material Readiness, US Army Medical Material Agency (USAMMA), Fort Detrick, MD (1980); Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, Pentagon (1982); Battalion Commander, 32nd Medical Supply, Optical and Medical Maintenance (MEDSOM), Fort Bragg, NC (1984); Chief, Logistics Plans Branch, US Army Element Headquarters Pacific Command (PACOM), Camp Smith, HI (1986); Commander, US Army Material Agency (USAMMA), Fort Detrick, MD (1988); Chief, Logistics Division, Office of the Surgeon General, Pentagon (1990); Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics Medical Command (MEDCOM) Headquarters, US Army Central (ARCENT), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1990); Chief, Logistics Division, Office of the Surgeon General, Pentagon (1991).
Colonel Livermore’s military decorations and awards include: Legion of Merit (1OLC); Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC); Air Medal (3); Army Commendation Medal (1OLC); Joint Service Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal (2), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Southwest Asian Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Aviator Badge, Expert Medical Field Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Livermore earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Social Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He further earned his Master of Science (MS) in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
Colonel Livermore served in the Vietnam War (1966) and Persian Gulf War (1991). In Vietnam, on August 25, 1966 during Operation Amarillo, a Viet Cong sniper targeted the MedEvac helicopter he was piloting as he was evacuating wounded soldiers from the ground. He received a Purple Heart due to sustaining two gunshot wounds (right neck & left posterior thigh). He recovered from these wounds at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Aurora, CO. During the Gulf War, he was among the top echelon of leadership who were instrumental in providing logistical support services to US military hospitals and combat medical units throughout the Persian Gulf.
Colonel Livermore retired from military service in 1994 at Fort Myer, VA. He continued service to the military through his work with military contracting companies as Project Manager for ITS Medical Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA and as Program Director for Combined Logistics Program, DUCOM, Inc, Silver Spring, MD. Colonel Livermore served his community as President of the North Village Homes Corporation in Montgomery Village, MD (1998-2002). After relocating to the River Landing Community in Wallace, NC in 2003, he served as President of the Wallace Rotary Club (2006-2007 & 2009-2010) and Assistant Governor for Rotary District 7730 area 7 (2010-2013). He led the Wallace Town Clock project and Veterans Memorial with commemorative bench and bricks project, to honor local community members who served in the military.
Colonel Livermore will be remembered by his family for his love of Big Band music and songs by Glenn Miller, along with everything related to Wisconsin: memories of growing up near the Wisconsin River, cheese, brats, Mason Companies Shoes, Duluth Trading Company and Land’s End. College and professional sports teams: Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball, Milwaukee Brewers and especially the Green Bay Packers “Go Pack Go”!
A local funeral service was held on October 12, 2023, at 6pm at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home in Wallace, NC. The family received friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. A funeral service will also be held on March 4, 2024, at 11am at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA. Following the service Colonel Livermore will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. The family will also hold a Celebration of Life following the internment at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club at 12:30pm.
Contributions in the memory of Colonel Livermore can be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, National Kidney Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and Rotary International.