the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service in France. The citation for the medal reads: Post–World War I As the principal formulator of military policy following World War I, he was the guiding force in the creation of the National Defense Act of 1920. It was this Act which reaffirmed America's reliance upon the citizen-soldier for her defense and established the "Total Army" composed of the Regular Army, the National Guard, and the Army Reserve. For his accomplishments, he was made aide-de-camp to Army Chief of Staff John J. Pershing (1921–1923) and promoted to permanent brigadier general in the Regular Army (1922). He then completed his military career by commanding the 19th Infantry Brigade in Panama (1923–1926). Retirement and recall for World War II In retirement (1926), General Palmer continued to champion the cause of universal military service. He wrote numerous books and articles about military policy. A strong advocate of the role of the citizen-soldier in the army of a democracy, Palmer diverged from the views of Emory Upton, with whom he is often compared as a great philosophical thinker-philosopher of the U.S. Army. He was recalled to active duty by Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall (a personal friend and devotee of Palmer's) just prior to the Pearl Harbor attack and served as an advisor on military policy to the War Department General Staff throughout World War II. Palmer was the oldest American military member to serve during the war. Second retirement, death and burial Palmer retired again soon after the end of the Second World War, receiving a second Distinguished Service Medal. He lived in Washington, D.C. where he died on October 26, 1955. Palmer was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 34, Grave 50-A. Family In 1893, Palmer married Maude Laning, and they were the parents of a son, John McAuley Palmer IV, who died at age 6, and a daughter, Mary Laning Palmer. Mary Palmer was married to Norman B. Chandler, and after his death during World War II she married George H. Rockwell. Mary Palmer was the mother of Army Colonels Norman Palmer Chandler (1924-1997) and John Palmer Chandler (1926-2015). Decorations Brigadier General Palmer's ribbon bar included amongst others : Published works An Army of the People (1916) Statesmanship or War (1927) Washington, Lincoln, Wilson (1930) General von Steuben (1937) America in Arms (1941). References External links Army.mil: John McAuley Palmer Generals