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<p><em>Philip Stearns “Phil” Gage Jr.</em> was born in Portland, ME, the son of Brigadier General Philip Stearns Gage (USMA 1909 and as a cadet the roommate of George S. Patton) and Irene Toll Gage. A younger sister, Elizabeth Catherine Whistler Gage, known as Betty, completed the family.</p>
<p>Phil grew up as a typical Army brat. He loved swimming and surfing and for a time lived in France with his mother, sister, and grandmother. They did a lot of travelling, which became a lifelong passion for Phil.</p>
<p>In 1930 Phil graduated from Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI. He spent the next year at Georgia Tech, then a year at a West Point Preparatory School at Fort McPherson, GA, also enlisting in the Army National Guard. He entered West Point with the Class of 1936 on a National Guard appointment.</p>
<p>As a cadet in M Company, Phil was a corps squad swimmer all four years, earning two minor A’s. His classmates wrote of him in the <em>Howitzer</em>: “Who but ‘M’ Company’s Gage has stolen the reveille gun, short-sheeted the Com’s bed, or been last man in ranks for four years? But these are only outlets for his enthusiastic nature. All of his jobs are carried out efficiently, exactly and unobtrusively. Phil’s unassuming-ness makes us realize what a true sportsman and gentleman he is.”</p>
<p>In a 90th birthday tribute to Phil the West Point Association of Graduates wrote that his “years at West Point were a time of achievement and dedication and were spent working steadily and conscientiously. In addition to preparing his studies, Cadet Gage participated in swimming, track, lacrosse, pistol, the pentathlon, the fishing club, Camp Illumination, and the 100th Night Show.” </p>
<p>Upon graduation Phil was commissioned in the Infantry. His first post was Schofield Barracks, Territory of Hawaii, for a year, then nearby Fort Shafter for two more years.</p>
<p>Next it was back to West Point for several months, engaged in training for the pentathlon as a prospective Olympic athlete until that team was disbanded when it became clear that impending war meant no Olympics. Then, in the turbulent Army that then existed, Phil spent about eight months with the 29th Infantry at Fort Benning, GA, then another 14 months at Fort Ord, CA, first briefly with the 32nd Infantry, the rest with the 53rd Infantry.</p>
<p>In November 1941 Phil married Elizabeth de Lorimier, known to everyone as Liz, in the rectory of St. Angela’s Catholic Church in Monterey, CA. Together they had six children: sons Philip III and John, daughter Ellen, sons William and James, and finally daughter Virginia. Later there were six grandchildren.</p>
<p>More schooling followed, as Phil returned to Fort Benning for, first, what was known as the Battalion Commanding Officer Course (he was then a captain) and then parachute school. Early in that training he broke a foot and was recycled with a later class, joining the 82nd Airborne Division after earning his Jump Wings. Then, during the autumn of September 1942, he attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS.</p>
<p>Phil then returned to Fort Benning to be S-3 of the 504th Parachute Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division and, with that unit, relocated to Fort Bragg, NC. His record then shows, from mid-November 1942 to late September 1944, this succession of posts and duties: Camp Toccoa, GA; Fort Benning; Camp Mackall, NC; London, England; and Rennes, France as battalion executive officer, S-3, battalion commanding officer, and regimental executive officer in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.</p>
<p>Phil parachuted behind the Normandy beachhead in the D-Day invasion. Like many of the Airborne forces then deployed, his unit was badly scattered and dispersed upon landing. Phil had bad luck, encountering a German patrol with which he exchanged gunfire, being severely wounded (resulting ultimately in the loss of his right forearm) and captured. He and other wounded prisoners were treated by French nurses, also captives. When they were freed Phil was evacuated to England, where he had surgery to repair the damage done by another German bullet that had pierced his diaphragm. Then he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC, spending most of another year as a patient there.</p>
<p>To the Army’s credit, they continued to promote Phil while he was a prisoner of war, so he was a lieutenant colonel when the war ended. He retired in October 1945. During his military service he had been awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.</p>
<p>Phil quickly established himself in a civilian career, first with General Motors in Buffalo, NY, where he worked on the management staff of a Chevrolet factory. In 1948 he moved to Atlanta, which became his longtime base and home. There he went to work as a salesman for a printing company, then spent over a quarter century with the Home Life Insurance Company until retiring again in 1977.</p>
<p>During these years Phil also served faithfully as scribe for his West Point class, writing up the news for the notes published periodically in <em>Assembly</em> magazine, and as secretary of the class for over half a century.</p>
<p>Phil was also deeply involved in church and school activities in support of his family and their community, and he and Liz travelled extensively, including three “around the world” excursions.</p>
<p>Phil Gage was an admirable man—brave, energetic, decent, and kind, respected by all who knew and worked with him. May he rest in peace.</p>
<p><em>— Family and friends </em></p>
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