Richard Bocock Willis Sr. (1895 - 1944)

Born 21 Jun 1895 in Hampden Sydney, Prince Edward, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Gladys (Warren) Willis — married 21 Dec 1917 (to 28 Dec 1923) in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Husband of Kathleen Raymond (Shepherd) Willis — married 16 Jul 1927 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1944 at age 49 in Kunming, Yunnan, China

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Willis [send private message]

Richard was a military man, through and through. When he was a young boy, he was said to have been the "school mascot" at his father's military school. After high school he joined the Marines as a Private, participating in the 1914 incident in Veracruz, Mexico. At the University of Arkansas, he became a cadet 2nd Lieutenant during his sophomore year. In the summer of 1916, he left college to join the National Guard, where he served as a Sergeant and then 1st Sergeant in an infantry company that was called on to guard the New Mexico border after an incursion by Pancho Villa. Soon afterwards, his National Guard company was converted from infantry to artillery. He served as its 2nd Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant during its training in preparation to enter the World War I. In 1918, at the age of 23, the company became Regular Army and Richard became its Captain. At the end of the War, he led the company as it marched through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Between the two World Wars, he trained troops on artillery warfare. During World War II, having reached the rank of Colonel, he died unexpectedly at the age of 49 in Kunming, China, where he was providing Chinese troops with training in artillery.

Biography

Early Years

Richard was born on June 21, 1895, in Hampden Sidney, Virginia,^[1][2] then the home of his maternal grandmother, Sarah Margaret (Kemper) Bocock. His parents resided at that time in Searcy County, Arkansas, where his father, Richard Baxter Willis, was a Presbyterian pastor and his mother, Mary Jasper (Bocock) Willis, was principal and proprietor of a school for girls.

In the 1900 census, White Township, Searcy County, Arkansas, Richard and his family were living at Second and Academy Street, the address of his mother's school, the Searcy Female Institute:

Richard B. Willis, age 45, born May 1855, married 12 years, Minister [of the] Gospel, born in North Carolina, father born in Virginia, mother born in North Carolina

Mary J. Willis, age 40, born February 1860, married 12 years, 2 children, both still living, teacher of languages, born in District of Columbia, both parents born in Virginia

Marguerite K. Willis, age 10, born August 1889, born in Virginia

Richard B. Willis, age 4, born June 1895, born in Virginia

Sarah Bocock [Sarah Margaret (Kemper) Bocock], mother in law, age 71, widowed, born November 1829, five children, four still living, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia

According to Richard's first wife, Gladys (Warren) Willis, when he was a little boy he was the "school mascot" at his father's military school in Searcy. This is one of two known comments about him as a child. The other is from a newspaper article: "Richard Willis, the bright boy of Rev. R. B. Willis, returned home to Searcy Monday noon."^[3]

In 1908, the family moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where Richard's father was pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church.^[4] Richard and his parents and sister are listed as follows in the1910 census, Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas:

Richard B. Willis, age 54, married 23 years, pastor at a church, born in North Carolina, father born in Virginia, mother born in North Carolina

Mary J. Willis, age 51, married 23 years, teacher at a public school, born in District of Columbia

Marguerite W. Willis, age 20, music teacher, born in Virginia, father born in North Carolina

Richard B. Willis, age 14, born in Virginia, father born in North Carolina

The Veracruz Incident

On September 10,1913, Richard enlisted as a Private in the Marine Corps. A large portion of his time was spent as part of a U.S. occupying force deployed to Veracruz, Mexico, during what is known as the Veracruz Incident. On April 9, 1914, a group of American sailors had been detained by Mexican federal soldiers in Tampico. President Wilson was advised that Germany was sending arms and supplies to Vera Cruz to aid the Mexicans. American troops began landing at Vera Cruz on April 21. Richard's regiment, the First Advanced Base Regiment, came ashore on April 22. Richard's regiment was commanded by Col. John A. Lejeune, who later became Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. There was fighting in the streets and nineteen Marines and sailors were killed.^[5]

Marine muster rolls record Richard's 19 months of service:^[6]

August 1913. Applied for enlistment in Helena, Arkansas, on August 22, 1913, and was accepted for enlistment on September 10

September 1913. Company H, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia

October 1913. Private, Company H, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia

November 1913. Private, Company H, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. Nov. 2-13, det. duty, USMC, RR, Winthrop, Maryland

December 1913. Private, Company "I", 1st Advance Base Regt Mb Nyd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 1914. Private, Company "I", 1st Advance Base Regt, Point Vaca, Culebra, Puerto Rico

February 1914. Private, Company "I", 1st Advance Base Regt.

March 1914. Private, Sixth Company, First Regiment

April 1914. 6th Co, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz, Mexico

May 1914. 6th Co, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz

June 1914. 1st Regiment,1st Brigade, Vera Cruz

July 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz. 15th, dirty bunk at CO's inspection, awd, loss of 3 liberties

August 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz. 27th, sitting down on post, awd, loss of 2 liberties

September 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz

October 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz

November 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz. Disobedience orders, awd, loss 1 liberty

December 1914. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Vera Cruz

January 1914. Discharged by purchase auth. MGC letter of 12-28-14, Char. "Very Good"

Richard was honorably discharged on December 28, 1914.

University of Arkansas

After Richard's discharge from the Marines on December 28, 1914, he attended the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville.^[7] As indicated in the 1916 University of Arkansas Razorback yearbook, Richard was well known and took an active part in activities offered by the University during the 1915/16 school year:^[8]

A humorous comment: "R. B. Willis, Jr.--The exacting drillmaster." (bottom of page n139)

Picture of Richard B. Willis, Cadet 2nd Lieutenant, Company D. (page n152)

Picture of each member of the "Officers Club." "Second Lieutenant R. B. Willis" is the first cadet pictured in the second row from the top. The University had four companies of cadets. Richard was the Second Lieutenant of Company D. (page n156)

R. B. Willis Jr. is listed as an active member of the Scabbard and Blade, a college military honor society. (page n159)

R. B. Willis is listed on page n185 as a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. His picture is shown on page n184, bottom row, fourth from the left. (pages n184-185)

R. B. Willis Jr. is listed on page n235 as a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, His picture is shown in the lower right corner of page n236. (pages n235-236)

A humorous comment: "Richard Willis--'That is what I said, Miss Hargis." (bottom of page n283)

On July 6, 1916, Richard joined the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Company B, of the Arkansas National Guard.^[9] He was one of 23 students mentioned in the Fayetteville newspaper:^[10]

Twenty three...students .. of the University of Arkansas are at Fort Logan.... Many have become interested in military work and have secured commissions in the Guard.... L. C. Parsons of Fayetteville, captain of the Fayetteville company [Richard's company], has won for his company this year the distinction of wearing an embroidered [patch] on the sleeve on account of his company being adjudged the best drilled company in the state.

The article goes on to list the names, college class, and rank of each of each of the 23 students, including Richard and his above-mentioned Captain, L. C. Parsons:

Lloyd C. Parsons of Fayetteville, member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, major in Cadet Battalion, engineering graduate 1916, captain in Fayetteville company.

Richard B. Willis of Fayetteville, formerly in the United States Marine Corps, sophomore 1915-16, member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, second lieutenant in Company B Cadet Battalion, sergeant in Fayetteville Company.

Richard's father, Rev. Richard Baxter Willis, may have informed his son that he himself once had a connection with the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Rev. Willis had been named chaplain of the 2nd Infantry Regiment on March 24, 1894, the year before young Richard's birth.^[11]

Service in New Mexico

Richard's company was soon called into action. On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa had raided a small town in New Mexico. Richard's Company B ( the "Fayetteville Company") and other National Guard units were deployed to Deming, New Mexico, to protect the state's border.^[12]

Richard would remain there for one year. It was a boring deployment. The following article, written in 2016, looking back a hundred years, describes the guardsmen's experience:^[13]

The Arkansas Guard consisted of about 2,000 men, organized into two regiments of infantry and two sanitary units.....The Arkansas guardsmen were stationed at Deming, N.M., a town of about 1,300.... Col. Henry Stroupe of Logan County and commander of the Second Infantry Regiment sent a long letter to the Arkansas Gazette assuring Arkansans that their soldiers were well cared for. For example, "the tents in which the men live are 16 feet square, walled up and floored [with lumber]." Surprisingly, "each tent has a wood stove and electric lights, hot and cold water for bath, and electric street lights." Each man "has a straw bed [mattress], which must be refilled every 30 days ..."

According to Stroupe, the Arkansas soldiers had an "average" breakfast of "bread (biscuit), steak, gravy, potatoes, apple sauce, coffee." Lunch...consisted of "stew meat (a la French), hominy, stewed peaches, hot tea, light bread." For supper, the young Arkansas troops typically had "hash, French fried potatoes, cream pudding, coffee, light bread."

Entertainment opportunities consisted of visiting the camp YMCA, which offered a small library, domino and checkers games, "and most every kind of game except cards." The YMCA also offered "free pictures, movies of from three to four reels, three nights in the week." The chaplain started a "grammar school," which offered two hour classes daily. The camp also had a hospital. Col. Stroupe concluded his reassuring letter by noting that "each regiment and many of the companies have baseball, basketball, and football teams, having games once or more times a week."

All of this activity was to deal with the most common problem facing the guardsmen--boredom. One historian has written that the soldiers faced "a daily grind of drill, drill, shoot, shoot, and fatigue, fatigue, and more fatigue." Gov. Charles H. Brough and state Adjutant General England were besieged by complaints and petitions for furloughs and discharges.

As every parent knows, bored young men are prone to becoming troublesome, and some of the Arkansas guardsmen behaved badly. On one occasion three men from the Second Arkansas used their military weapons to hunt jackrabbits and in the process sent bullets whistling over a nearby camp of Delaware guardsmen. Unaware of the source of the shooting, a Massachusetts machine gun unit was put on alert until the real culprits were identified.

The Pancho Villa campaign ended in February 1917 without his capture. But the brief service in the southwest proved useful to the military--which would be caught up in World War I in a matter of days.

Richard's remaining effects from this experience include three pictures, each with a handwritten comment on the front. One is of him standing with three other guardsmen, each holding their burden as though ready to depart, with the comment "On the eve of departure". The second is a distant view of him and other guardsmen camped on a hill, with the comment "Watching the sunset". The third shows him standing in the middle of a group of seven sergeants, which contains his caption "Sergeants of Company B, Second Arkansas Infantry."

Company B did not return until March 15, 1917. Richard had been promoted to 1st Sergeant.^[14] On April 4, 1917, less than a month after Richard's return, America declared war on Germany. On May 18, Richard's company was notified that the National Guard as a whole would soon be called into service.^[15] On July 16, the Company's staffing included 3 officers and 150 enlisted men.^[16]

Richard would not re-enroll at the University of Arkansas but he did maintain one non-academic attachment. In the 1917 Arkansas Razorback yearbook, Richard's name appears in a humorous quote next to the Sophomore picture of his soon-to-be wife, Gladys Warren: "Quiet but always talks when around Dick.^[17]

On August 5, Richard was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, National Guard.^[18] The Fayetteville Democrat reported: "Willis Commissioned..."Richard B. Willis, first sergeant of Company B, has been commissioned a Lieutenant in the Arkansas National Guard."^[19]

On August 6, National Guard units from throughout the state, including Richard's infantry regiment, began training near Little Rock, Arkansas.^[20]

Conversion from Infantry to Field Artillery

On October 1, 1917, it was announced that the companies in Richard's 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Arkansas National Guard were to be converted from infantry to artillery and renamed the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment:

The Second Arkansas, under command of Col. Henry Stroupe, will be transferred from an infantry organization into a field artillery unit and will form the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment of the Sixty-fourth Field Artillery organization. The machine gun company will become a unit of the 141st machine gun battalion. The Third Arkansas will also contribute a battalion to this organization.^[21]

On November 3, it was reported that Richard's company, Company B, was to be combined with Company E and would now be known as Battery E of the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment:

The 142d Field Artillery, formerly the Second Arkansas Infantry, Colonel Henry Stroupe commanding, is now an artillery regiment in organization as well as in name. The reorganisation was made yesterday and the company commanders assigned to the command of batteries composed of the old companies. Since an artillery regiment is composed of only about half as many men as an infantry regiment, the organization now is up to full strength of 1,700 with an additional three men. While equipment as an artillery regiment will not be received until the regiment reaches its training camp at Alexandria, La., artillery drill will be begun at once.^[22]

There followed a list of the 23 officers in the new regiment. Officers in Richard's company, described as "Battery E, composed of E and C Companies" were "Capt. Ernest C. Connelly, commanding; First Lieut. Oscar E. French, First Lieut. Charles C. Alexander, Second Lieut. M. W. Irby and Second Lieut. Richard W. [sic] Willis."

On November 3, the new regiment departed its base near Little Rock (Fort Roots) to begin artillery training at Camp Beauregard in Alexandria, Louisiana.^[23] The conversion of Richard's regiment from infantry to artillery marked the beginning of his lifelong career as a field artillery officer.

For this novice artillery regiment to become battle-ready in artillery would require a long period of training:

When the 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment was changed to artillery, the blue hat cord was changed to red and the collar insignia was changed from the crossed rifles to crossed cannons. But the big change was from the rifle to the six-inch howitzer, which was used in shelling enemy positions.^[24]

After several months of classroom training, the 142nd began live fire on the horse-drawn 4.7 inch weapon in April 1918.^[25]

What was the training like? Richard's training regimen would have been very similar to that of Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), who went through it about six months before Richard did. National Guard artillery training for World War I is described in David McCullough's book Truman:

He had little trouble rejoining the National Guard and went immediately to work organizing a new artillery battery, Battery F, expecting to be made a sergeant. Instead, he was elected a first lieutenant, officers in the Guard then still being chosen by the men as in Civil War days. (p.104)

His duties with the men included instruction in the handling of horses, trench-digging exercises, and artillery training with 3-inch guns which were few in number. Most artillery terms were already familiar from his earlier days in the Guard: Defilade, "Protection from view by an object in front, such as a hill, a wood or building..." Enfilade, "To rake a line lengthwise from the side, by rifle or shell fire..." Field of fire, "The area which is within range of a gun or battery and not protected by intervening obstructions or defilade." He stood inspection, played his part on the drill field. "I have been squads east and squads sideways, arms up and hands down until I can't open my mouth without telling someone to straighten up and get in step." He could march perfectly at the prescribed cadence of 120 steps a minute, 32 inches per stride. He was also acquiring an ability to curse like Captain Kidd, he said. (p.106)

Each evening officers assembled for "school" on artillery fire and field service regulations, or to hear someone report on operations in France. "I learned how to say Verdun, Vosges, and Belgium, also camouflage," he wrote after a lecture from a French officer. Another night, having listened to an English colonel who had been on the Western Front, he wrote to Bess, "He made us feel we were fighting for you and mother earth..." In a twenty-four-hour exercise under "actual battlefield conditions," he spent a night in the trenches and observed for the first time the famous rapid-firing French 75 in action. At special instructions on gas protection, he learned to put on a mask, then sat in a so-called "gas house" for ten minutes.... (p. 106)

Family

On November 1917, Richard's mother wrote a patriotic poem that expressed the feelings of a mother whose son was going to be sent to war. The Fayetteville Democrat published the poem and wrote:

A poem of stirring patriotic vein, "We Give Our Sons," dedicated to President Wilson, by Mrs. R. B. Willis, formerly of this place, now of Montreat, N. C., has attracted considerable mention. Recently the lines were brought to the attention of the President who authorized a note of thanks sent to the author. The poem...has been widely copied throughout the country.^[26]

On December 22, during a break in his training, Richard married his college sweetheart, Gladys Warren.^[27] The following was printed in the Daily Arkansas Gazette:

Lieut. Richard B. Willis Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Willis, formerly of Fayetteville, and a member of the 142nd Field Artillery at Camp Beauregard, was married Saturday, December 22, to Miss Gladys Warren of Bearden [Arkansas] at Alexandria, La. The Rev. B. L. Price of the First Presbyterian church performed the ceremony, in the presence of relatives and intimate friends. Mr. and Mrs. Willis, parents of the groom, attended the wedding. Lieutenant and Mrs. Willis are both former students of the University of Arkansas, and it was there that the romance began. Mrs. Willis is a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, and had many friends throughout the state. Lieutenant Willis before entering the university was a member of the Marine Corps. His mother, Mrs. R. B. Willis, is very prominent in educational and club circles in this and other states.^[28]

France

On May 31, 1918, Richard was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.^[29] He and other officers were sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for its 10-week "school of fire" course.^[30] The course provided intensive training for officers who were going to provide artillery training to others. The Fayetteville Democrat wrote:

A letter from Mrs. R. B. Willis of Montreat, N. C. to friends here announces that Second Lieut. R. B. Willis, Jr., has been promoted to First Lieutenant and is now stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where Mrs. Willis, Jr., is with him, and where his sister, Miss Marguerite Willis is now visiting. Mrs. Willis states that she will not come to Fayetteville this summer as her friends had hoped, but will leave in July for Washington, D. C., and other eastern points.^[31]

On August 7, Richard was promoted to Captain in the National Army.^[32]

After completing training at Fort Sill, Richard left in August for France. He departed New York on August 8, 1918 and arrived in Liverpool on August 19.^[33] He is said to have arrived in France on September 7: "The142nd Field Artillery Regiment...arrived 7 September...in France, the 142nd drew equipment and began training on the tractor-drawn 155 mm howitzer."^[34]

Richard's mother wrote another poem, "Off for France," which was published in the Fayetteville Democrat, 5 Aug 1918:

Off for France," the poem which heads the Social and Personal department today, appeared as frontpiece to the "Presbyterian Standard" for July, and was composed by Mrs. R. B. Willis, formerly of Fayetteville, now of Montreat, N.C. Mrs. Willis' son, Lieut. R. B. Willis, Jr., is now overseas in the service of his country.

On October 11, news of Richard's promotion to Captain on August 7 was published in the Daily Arkansas Gazette:

Mrs. Richard B. Willis, dean of the Montreat Normal School for young women at Montreat, N. C., has received word that her son, Lieutenant Richard B. Willis Jr. now in France, has received his commission as captain in the 142d Field Artillery. Captain Willis, who is an Arkansas boy, is only 23 years of age.^[35]

On November 8, the 142nd Regiment completed its final training in France and became certified for combat. The war ended before it could actively engage: "The 142nd was certified for combat 8 November 1918, and the Armistice was signed on the 11th, preventing the 142nd from participating in combat."^[36]

Richard's effects include a picture of him leading his company as it marched through the Arc de Triomphe in a victory parade in Paris.

The 142nd Field Artillery remained in France and became actively engaged in the demobilization effort:^[37]

The 142nd stayed in France to conduct tests and exercises to develop techniques for motorized artillery battalions and won a commendation for efficient performance....

In March 1919 the 1st Battalion, 142nd Artillery, 39th Division was acting as a school battalion for the entire artillery forces of the American Expeditionary Forces with their headquarters at Valdahon, France.

In May 1919...the 142nd Field Artillery (old 2nd Arkansas) was doing convoy duty with the Army of Occupation and a segment was still firing for the Artillery School at Camp Valdahon.

The Northwest Arkansas Times, January 25, 1944, in its "25 Years Ago" section, contains the following missive written by Richard when he was in France following the end of the War:

January 25, 1919. Captain Richard B. Willis, son of the Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Willis writes from France where he was with the 142nd Field Artillery: "I roam into every old castle, cave, fortress and ruins of ancient Rome and also visit places of interest in France. At present I am at Valdahon, France], about 30 kilos from the Swiss border. I plan to stay in the service."

Richard would not return until June 16, 1919.^[38] On the trip home, his unit was given a big welcome:

It was not until early June when the 142nd Field Artillery left France on the transport Amphion to arrive 15 June 1919 at Newport News, Virginia. On the train trip to Little Rock, the 142nd Field Artillery was asked to march in a parade in Atlanta. This they were proud to do. On 21 June 1919, the group arrived at Camp Pike. On the following day the 142nd Field Artillery was featured in a big parade in Little Rock and then treated to a big show and picnic in the park.^[39]

Oklahoma

After his return from Europe, Richard was assigned to a post in Oklahoma City. Gladys joined him there.

The next 20 years of Richard's service spanned the period between the two World Wars. The work done by the US Army during this period is explained in the Forward of Steven E. Clay's comprehensive four-volume series US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941:

....the story of the American Army, its units, and its soldiers, during a period of neglect by a parsimonious Congress and others who perhaps believed in the notion that a “War to End All Wars” had actually been fought. Indirectly, it tells the story of a diminutive Regular Army that continued to watch faithfully over the ramparts of freedom in far-flung outposts like Panama, Alaska, the Philippines, and China, as well as the many small and isolated garrisons throughout the United States; a National Guard that was called on frequently by various governors to prevent labor troubles, fight forest fires, and provide disaster relief to their state’s citizens; and an Organized Reserve whose members attended monthly drills without pay and for 20 years creatively and conscientiously prepared themselves for another major war.^[40]

On October 31, 1919, Richard received an Honorable Discharge for a nine-month period, perhaps related to the Army's post-War demobilization.^[41] During this period he is listed in the 1920 census, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (January 8 and 9 visitation dates):

Richard B. Willis, age 24, Civil Engineer, Engineering Company, born in Virginia, father born in North Carolina, mother born in Virginia

Gladys Willis, age 23, born in Texas, father born in Illinois, mother born in Arkansas

Richard and Gladys lived at 304 W. 10th Street.^[42] On February 9, 1920, Richard was in Fort Sill, Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles away from his home in Oklahoma City. On that date, he wrote a postcard to Gladys. It was sent to Mrs. Richard B. Willis, 304 W. 10th St., Okla. City, Okla. The postcard reads as follows: "W. J. S.: If any mail comes there for me please hold it. Saw Gen. Pershing, shook hands with him and heard him speak twice."

On or before July 1, 1920, Richard rejoined the Army and on October 5 was assigned to the 1st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with the rank of Captain.^[43]

Richard's son, Richard Bocock Willis Jr., was born in Fort Sill, Comanche County, Oklahoma on March 4, 1921.

In 1923 Richard was a Captain in the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Field Artillery, at Fort Sill. He was becoming involved in his lifelong hobby--polo. The inscription on his earliest-dated polo trophy reads as follows: "Fort Sill Polo Tournament, 1923. Won by 2nd Battalion, First Field Artillery. 1. Capt. R. B. Willis, 2. Lieut. L. E. Jacoby, 3. Lieut. A. E. Higgins, Lieut, A. F. Spear, 4. Lieut. T. F. Keefe."

On December 31, 1923, Richard and Gladys were divorced in Comanche County.^[44] According to Gladys, at the end of World War I Richard had "returned changed." Gladys disliked his drinking. But, according to Gladys, Richard, Sr. was fond of his son, Richard Jr., and supported the family. He once sent Richard Jr. materials from an Army map course. Richard Jr. even lived with him and his (second) wife for a short period in 1930 when Richard Sr. was stationed in Philadelphia. He also paid for Richard Jr's attendance at a prep school in New York, which helped him gain entrance to West Point.

Maryland and Texas

Official military personnel files were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. However, Richard's activities can be determined from saved newspaper clippings, remaining Army records, other published records, and inscriptions on his polo trophies.

In November/December 1924, Richard was a Captain in the Sixth Field Artillery, stationed at Fort Hoyle, Maryland.^[45]

In 1925, Richard's polo activities were mentioned in The Field Artillery Journal:

The Polo Club has friendly relations with the Maryland Polo Club and the Third Corps Area Polo Club. Every month of the playing season sees these three clubs engaged in matches. The competition is very keen and the teams are well matched. During August the team went to Washington and played games with various War Department Teams; at the time of writing this article the ponies are enroute to Washington for the fall tournament. Major Dawley, Captain Woodward, Captain Willis, Lieutenant Cort and Lieutenant Reed have been doing most of the playing for the post this season, with Lieutenants March, Oliver and Dodd substituting in several games. Also a large number of younger officers have turned out for practice during the last season.^[46]

Richard's name is inscribed on two 1926 polo trophies:

Maryland Polo Club, Spring Tournament, 1926. Won by Sixth Field Artillery. Lieut. Cort, Lieut. Dodd, Lieut. Oliver, Lieut. Reed, Capt. Willis, Capt. Woodward

War Dept. Polo Club, Low Goal Tournament, Spring 1926. Won by Sixth Field Artillery. 1. Lt. R. O. Oliver, 2. Lt. Hugh Cort, 3. Capt. R. B. Willis, 4. W. R. Woodward

Richard's soon-to-be second wife, Kathleen Raymond (Shepherd) Fitzgerald Willis ("Ray"), of Baltimore, Maryland, said she thought Richard looked dashing while playing in a polo match. She joked that he didn’t seem quite as dashing when he took off his polo helmet, exposing his bald head.^[47]

By 1927 Richard was assigned to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, near San Antonio, Texas, where he was stationed until June 1929.

Richard's marriage to Ray occurred in San Antonio on July 16, 1927. The marriage invitation states: "Mrs. Frank Lockwood Shepherd announces the marriage of her daughter Ray Shepherd Fitzgerald to Captain Richard Bocock Willis, Field Artillery, United States Army, on Saturday, July the sixteenth, nineteen hundred and twenty seven, San Antonio, Texas." Ray was the widow of John Joseph Fitzgerald, who had died of influenza on October 30, 1918, only seven months after their marriage in Baltimore, Maryland on March 27, 1918. Richard's grandson, David Warren Willis possesses a silver cup that was given them as a wedding present by the officers in Richard's regiment. It is inscribed:

Richard's daughter-in-law, Winifred Nancy (Miller) Willis said that Richard was well known and that he was loved by his troops. She recalled that when General Hap Arnold handed Richard's son, Richard Jr., his diploma on the stage at his West Point graduation, he spoke with him about his father for about a minute.

The inscription on a 1928 polo trophy reads: "Open, Houston Fourth Annual Invitation Polo Tournament, April 22 (to) May 6, 1928. Won by Fort Sam Houston. 1. Capt. R.B. Willis, 2. Lt. H. Cullins, 3. Capt. J. A. Smith, 4. Capt. H. K. Coulter." A picture of team is contained in the tournament's program, with the heading "Eighth Corps Area Polo Team." In 1929, Richard won a silver tray at the Fifth Houston Invitational polo tournament. The inscription reads: "OPEN, Houston 5th Annual Invitation POLO TOURNAMENT, Apr. 21st (to) May 5th, 1929. Won by Fort Sam Houston. 1. Capt. R. B. Willis, 2. Lt. H. Cullins, 3. Capt. J. A. Hettinger, 4. Capt. J. A. Smith."

Pennsylvania

Through much of his career in the Army, Richard trained others in field artillery.

On June 21, 1929, Richard was transferred to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he assumed responsibility for field artillery training of members of the Army's Organized Reserve:

Washington, June 21.---Captain Richard B. Willis, Field Artillery, was today ordered relieved from duty with the 15th Field Artillery, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and assigned to the Organised Field Artillery Reserve group at Harrisburg. He succeeds Major Fred H. Gallup, Harrisburg, assigned to Fort Bragg.^[48]

Richard tried to organize a polo team:^[49]

Captain Richard B. Willis, Field Artillery Reserve Units, Third Corps Area, said yesterday that at least one polo team should be organized in Harrisburg and vicinity...competition should be instituted if possible.

The captain said that he is very much interested in polo and would help to organize a polo team. He also said that any persons who might be interested should get in touch with him as soon as possible. His office is located in the Keystone Building on Third below Market street.

The captain became instructor of the 571st, 578th and 580th Field Artillery Reserve units two and one half months ago. He is 34 years old and came here from Fort Sam Houston.

Information about any American field artillery unit between the years 1919 and 1941 at the regiment level and above can be found at Steven Clay's US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010 (4 vols.).^[50]

Richard and Ray are listed in the 1930 census, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (April 15 visitation date):

Richard B. Willis, age 34, married, age at first marriage 22, Officer in the Army, Organized Reserves, born in Virginia, father born in North Carolina, mother born in Virginia

Ray S. Willis, wife, age 33, married, age at first marriage 30 [This was her second marriage, her first marriage occurring in 1918.], artist - own studio, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland

About May 1930 Richard moved from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, where he joined the 580th Field Artillery Regiment. It had responsibility for Organized Reserve units in Philadelphia.^[51] The following article, published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on June 22, 1930, explains the challenges of training for the Organized Reserve and mentions Richard:^[52]

Another step in the organization of the 580th Field Artillery, whose personnel largely is composed of Philadelphians, will be undertaken at 8 o'clock tomorrow night with the arrival in this city of Colonel W. R. Doores, chief of staff of all non-divisional artillery in the Third Corps Area. Colonel Doores will be joined at the meeting of the organized reserves, in Room 1009, Gimbel Building, by Colonel Edward J. W. Proffitt, regimental commander; Captain R. B. Willis, regular Army instructor, and commissioned officers and enlisted personnel already assigned to the new unit. The 580th Field Artillery, a first period mobilization unit, is the only one of its type in this vicinity....

"There are many problems in the programme of instruction for the organized reserves," Colonel Doores said. "This programme is of the greatest importance under our present military policy....In addition to the instruction provided by the extension schools and in the conferences, funds oftentimes are available for reserve officers who wish to attend the Army war college, command and general staff schools, special service schools and other places where theoretical and practical work is blended with the military art... Following the inactive period of training, members of the reserve corps have the opportunity of training in the field."

"Generally it is more difficult to instruct the organized reserves than the officers of the regular army and National Guard."

On June 8, 1930, Richard wrote a letter to Lynwood Baldwin Jackson, second husband of his first wife, Gladys Warren. Gladys was going through a divorce with Lynwood, a wealthy real estate investor who had suffered losses at the onset of the Depression. Richard's son, Richard Bocock Willis Jr., who was then nine years old, would soon move to Philadelphia to live temporarily with Richard and Ray. The primary subject of the letter was financial arrangements for young Dick. The following are excerpts:^[53]

...I am now, and for several years have been, contributing $75.00 each month toward the purchase of a house in Asheville, N.C. which we mutually agreed was to be an investment for, and become the property of my son, Richard, and the value of which was, upon its disposal, to be used to recompense yourself and Mrs. Jackson [Gladys] for all legitimate expense incurred on behalf of Richard prior to that time....

I am...getting settled in a new city. [Philadelphia]

...we have obtained a suitable home here with proper facilities for the temporary, satisfactory care of Richard. This can be done without great additional financial outlay and will, without any expense whatever to Mrs. Jackson [Gladys], provide Richard with a home in which he will be happy, educated and trained. Both Mrs. Willis and myself will do all in our power for him, it being specifically understood that his mother may see him or obtain his custody at any time desired.

While Dick was living with his father in Philadelphia, Richard and Ray took many pictures of "young Richard." who obviously was enjoying the visit. He was smiling or laughing in almost every picture, including several of him with their 12-year-old bull terrier, "Big Boy."

In a Philadelphia newspaper clipping, Richard is pictured on his polo pony about to drive the ball between the goal posts. The caption under the picture reads:

P.M.C. [Pennsylvania Military College] about to score in Polo Game with Rumson, on the Bryn Mawr turf. Captain Willis, at right, No. 1 player for Pennsylvania Military College, is shown about to drive the ball between the goal posts during the third chukker. Sullivan, who plays back position for Rumson, is making a vain attempt to prevent the shot.^[54]

In January 1932, Richard was transferred to Manila, Philippines. The officers in Richard's regiment presented Richard with a silver pitcher engraved as follows:

The motto of the 580th Field Artillery is "Mort de Loin," which is French for "Death from Afar." In Richard's effects is a reddish insignia pin showing lightning bolts spreading from a central pole, with the motto "Mort de Loin" beneath it.

Manila, Philippines

Richard B. Willis, Captain, Field Artillery, departed San Francisco for Manila on February 4, 1932 on the U.S. Grant, arriving Manila on February 26.^[55]

Richard joined the 24th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stotsenburg, Manila. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Regiment is said to have built an artillery trail from Fort Stotsenburg over the Zambales Pass to the China Sea.^[56]

In October 1932 Richard had an assignment in or near Tientsin (Tianjin), a city on the northeast coast of China. Because of tensions between the Chinese and Japanese, western nations were allowed to maintain garrisons there to ensure open access to Beijing.^[57] This was considered a cush assignment, as American officers and their families living there had servants and were able to buy luxurious goods at low prices. Richard's wife, Ray, joined husband there. The following is from a Tientsin, China newspaper clipping, October 26, 1932:

A large number of American army officers and their families reached here yesterday from Chinwangtao, and are guests at the Astor House, Court and Imperial Hotels. They came from America by the army transport Republic. Those staying at the Astor House include: --Mrs. R. B. Willis, Capt. and Mrs. A. Johnson and family, Capt. and Mrs. W. D. Webb, Jr..... [and many others]

In Manila, Richard and Ray were well provided for. Among their effects is a picture of the three servants assigned to attend to their needs. Richard continued to play polo. His team won the following tournaments in the Philippines:

Christmas Polo Tournament, Fort Stotsenburg, 1932. Won by 24th Field Artillery. 1. Capt. R. B. Willis, 2. Major H. L. McBride, 3. Capt. W. C. Green, 4. Capt. J. H. Keatinge

Fort Stotsenburg, Mounted Sports Week, 1932. Polo "A" Tournament. Won by 24th Field Artillery. 1. Capt. R. B. Willis, 2. Capt. G. C. Hayes, 3. Capt. W. C. Green, 4. Major H. L. McBride

Manila Polo Club, Rockwell Cup. Won by 24th Field Artillery. 1. Lt. J. Q. Brett, 2. Capt. R. B. Willis, 3. Lt. D. N. Sundt, 4. Capt. W. C. Green and Lt. R. M. Cannon

Stotsenburg Club, Fort Stotsenburg, P.I. [Philippine Islands]. Christmas Polo "A" Tournament, 1933. Won by 24th Field Artillery. 1. Capt. R. B. Willis, 2. Capt. M. I. McCreary, 3. Lieut. D. N. Sundt, 4. Capt. W. C. Green

Fort Stotsenburg, P.I. [Philippine Islands]. Mounted Sports Week. Polo "B" Tournament, 1934. Won by 24th Field Artillery. 1. Captain A. M. Sheets, 2. Captain R. B. Willis and Captain W. C. Green, 3. Lieut. F. G. Terry, 4. Captain G. J. Downing

Christmas Polo Tournament, 1934, Fort Stotsenburg. Won by 24th Field Artillery. Lt. W. H. Hill, Capt. R. B. Willis, Lt. T. L. Sherburne, Capt. W. C. Green

Phil. [Philippines] Dept. Polo, 1935, 6 Goal. Won by 24th Field Artillery. Lt. W. H. Hill, Capt. R. B. Willis, Lt. T. L. Sherburne, Capt. W. C. Green. A picture of the winning team was printed in "The Sunday Tribune Magazine," Manila, January 13, 1935. The caption says: "Picture shows the members of the 24the Field Artillery team who captured the championship of the Army six goal polo tournament by defeating the 27th Cavalry 'A' team by the score of 9 to 4 last Wednesday afternoon."

Richard returned to America in May 1935. He was a passenger on the ship Bremen, which departed from Cherbourg, France and arrived May 9, 1935, in New York, New York.^[58] He is described as Richard B. Willis, age 40, born in Hampden Sidney, Virginia. His address was listed as 18 Warwick Road, Asheville, North Carolina. This is where his recently widowed mother was living.

On August 14, 1935, Richard was promoted to Major.^[59] In April 1936, Richard is listed as Richard B. Willis, Major, 36th Field Artillery, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.^[60]

New York City

On June 22, 1936, Richard was transferred to the Second Military Area of the Second Corps, 641 Washington Street [Federal Building], Manhattan, New York City. He was stationed there for the next five years. The Second Military Area provided support to the Organized Reserve in the metropolitan New York area. In the New York Times, January 20, 1937, Richard is listed as "Major Richard B. Willis, Field Artillery" under "Regular Army Officers Detailed/Metropolitan District." Its training activities are described in Steven E. Clay's US Army Order of Battle, Vol. 2:

305th Field Artillery Regiment (75-mm G) (77th Division) Organized Reserve New York. Headquarters Manhattan, New York …. Reconstituted in the Organized Reserve on 24 June 1921, assigned to the 77th Div., and allotted to the Second Corps Area….with regimental HQ at Manhattan, NY. Subordinate battalion HQ concurrently organized as follows: 1st Bn. at Manhattan and 2d Bn. at Bronx, NY. Conducted summer training most years with the 7th Field Artillery at Pine Camp, New York, and some years with the 6th Field Artillery at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. Conducted field artillery CMTC [Citizens Military Training Camp] training some years at Madison Barracks, New York, as an alternate form of annual training. Primary ROTC feeder school was Princeton University. Designated mobilization station was Camp Dix, New Jersey. Location 7 December 1941-Manhattan, NY….^[61]

Richard continued to engage in polo competition. On October 12, 1937, he was on the Governors Island's polo team. In his effects is a bronze polo pony, crafted by Jennings Brothers, standing on a base that contains the inscription "GOVERNORS ISLAND 7, RAMAPO 6, 10-12-37." His team had defeated the Ramapo team by a score of 7 to 6.

In April 1939, Richard is listed in "Officers of the Regular Army on Duty with the Organized Reserves."^[62] The list included four Colonels, four Lt. Colonels, and nine Majors. Richard was one of only two Field Artillery officers on the staff, both Majors,

In 1939 Major Richard B. Willis was one of the members of the Court Martial of the infamous World War 1 draft dodger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll.^[63] They convened at the YMCA gymnasium on Governors Island. Bergdoll was found guilty and was imprisoned until 1944.^[64]

In April 1940, Richard is listed as Richard B. Willis, Major, Field Artillery, Organized Reserve, Federal Building, 641 Washington Street, New York, New York.^[65] On August 20, 1940, Richard was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.^[66] On October 13, 1940, he was listed as a Lieutenant Colonel under National Guard Bureau, Second Corps Area (New York City).^[67] On October 13, 1940, Richard was listed as a Lieutenant Colonel, under Col. John M. McDowell, in the 2nd Corps Area, New York, New York.^[68]

World War II - Training Americans

In the first quarter of 1941, Richard was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A large training facility, the Field Artillery Replacement Center, had been established there on March 25 to train troops that would later be sent to Europe:

By March 25th, they were ready for the trainees. The Replacement Center Headquarters has a headquarters battery and band. The five training regiments contain a total of sixteen battalions. Each battalion contains four training batteries, making a total of 64 batteries. Each battery contains 250 men, of which 31 are the cadre and 219 are trainees.... Cannoneers and drivers will be trained for 75-mm. gun, 155-mm., both howitzer and gun, and 240-mm. howitzer batteries.^[69]

Richard was appointed commander of the 14th Battalion of the 5th Field Artillery Training Regiment.

In April 1941, now 45 years old, Richard was still playing polo:

The Pinehurst polo aces will meet Uncle Sam's Fort Bragg polo team Sunday afternoon. The game will be the finals of the Pinehurst-Bragg series of the season, before the annual Spring polo tournament gets underway Saturday, April 12. Uncle Sam's North Carolina army post has strengthened its polo ranks to a high-gear point, with the addition of Lieut. Col. Richard B. Willis, commanding officer of the 15th Battalion, fifth regiment of Bragg. Lieut. Col. Willis has recently taken this command, having been transferred from command of the famous 77th , New York.^[70]

The name “Famous 77th” came from the bravery of the Regiment's New York City troops in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. After the War, the 77th Division was reconstituted Organized Reserve.^[71]

Richard was promoted to full Colonel on June 17, 1942.^[72] He was transferred to the 141st Field Artillery Regiment, Camp Blanding, Florida, a training center for the Florida National Guard.^[73]] In his son's 1943 college Graduating Class Questionnaire, Richard was listed as Col. Richard B. Willis, 141st Field Artillery, Camp Blanding, Florida. The Coat of Arms of the 141st Field Artillery was the face of a growling tiger, and its motto was "Try Us." Among Richard's remaining effects are two red pins showing a growling tiger and the motto "Try Us" written at the bottom.

Winifred (Miller) Willis Blackmon, Richard's future daughter-in-law, shared her memories of Richard. She said she first met him In late May 1943, when they attended his son's graduation at West Point on June 1. He was invited to dinner at her parents' house. He showed up late. Winifred took a train and bus with him and Richard Jr. to attend Dick's graduation. Her impression of him was that he had much charisma, a person who became the center of attention in a room full of people. She said he was loved by his troops. She said that when Hap Arnold handed his diploma to Richard Jr. on stage, he spoke with him about his father for about a minute .

In mid-1943 Richard sent a letter to Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair, commander of U.S. Army Ground Forces, requesting a combat command. The following are excerpts from the reply sent by General McNair: "...my request to the War Department to ship additional group headquarters batteries was disapproved," and that "the battalions you have trained are a great contribution, and will justify in combat, I am certain, the complete confidence you have in them."

World War II - Training the Chinese

In 1942, Lieutenant General Joseph Stillwell had been given responsibility for overseeing the Chinese military forces, who were in a "desperate" situation against the Japanese forces.^[74] In February 1943, Stillwell "had managed to establish artillery, infantry, and signal training centers at Kunming."^[75]

In March 1943, a Field Artillery Training Center near Kunming was being established. An inspection undertaken by two artillery officers confirmed that the Chinese field artillery forces were badly in need of training:^[76]

While preparations were being completed for the starting of the Field Artillery Training Center in Yunnan Province it was considered that an inspection of an army at the front should be made. Col. Hubert M. Cole and Col. Garrison B. Coverdale were ordered to make this inspection and the necessary approval was obtained from the Chinese High Command. My Chinese assistant, Colonel Tai, was to accompany us to act as translator....

We left Kunming early in March [1943].... We were escorted...to Wenshun.....The Army Commander...told us his battalion of Field Artillery was right there at Wenshun and had been for about a year. It was Pack Artillery equipped with Japanese 75-mm pack howitzers. Only 6 howitzers were in serviceable condition, the other 6 being at the Chinese Ordnance. Further questioning brought out the fact that the Chinese Ordnance had had these howitzers for several months and there was small chance of their being returned inside of six months or a year.... Only one battery had enough animals to be mobile.... this was the artillery for a field army!.... After a considerable time the first shot was fired at the base point.... We held a critique pointing out the extreme slowness and particularly the poor state of training of the gun squads....

....We tried to get permission to go to the front....The Army Commander estimated it would take about 10 days, and as that would make us late for the opening of the Yunnan Field Artillery Training Center at Kunming we decided against the trip. We left Wenshun after spending three days there, telling the Army Commander he should make every effort to send all his Field Artillery officers to our School.

The need for the School and Training Center appeared more important than ever at this time.... Training...was started at the Field Artillery Training Center upon our arrival at Kunming.

About February 1944, Richard was transferred to Kunming, where he was responsible for training Chinese field artillery officers. Kunming was located close to the Chinese/Japanese battlefront.

Joseph B. Kelly, a young officer at the training camp during the time Richard was there, wrote about his experience:^[77]

I was assigned to an artillery training center which the U. S. Army had set up about 20 miles outside Kunming. Its purpose was similar to our Fort Sill or Fort Bragg, i.e., to train Chinese artillery units in the use of U. S. artillery. Our billets were small rooms in one story buildings which overlooked rice paddies and other ridges stretching out below and east of us. We were on the very edge of a high ridge. At night in the rice paddies lights could be seen. They were small yellow lights, like a firefly but larger, which approached from nowhere and ran for a while before going out, as if someone were out there. I understand that the moving lights were caused by gas from the paddies. The local Chinese had ghost stories concerning them. (page 460)

I was an instructor and accompanied the Chinese units who were there to train to put in place their 105 howitzers and to survey in and fire them at targets. It was a busy training center and the Chinese artillery men were in good spirits. (page 460)

Since China had many dialects, it was sometimes difficult for officers to give commands to troops in formation. Some of the soldiers would understand the command and others would not. These different dialects stemmed in part from the fact that China had no alphabet and, consequently, the Chinese characters represented no inherent sound. (page 460)

Kunming was at least 20 miles away. Occasionally I drove there with one or two other Americans. It was an old Chinese walled city with cobble stone streets. On the way there and back, the roads were all dirt, only 1 1/2 lanes wide at most. Consequently, the jeep or military truck ahead of you would throw clouds of dust back at you all the way to your destination unless you could get around the vehicle. No one wanted to be passed and eat someone else's dust. (page 461)

It was a great artillery training center which the U. S. Army had established for the Chinese units equipped with U. S. artillery pieces. Spirits were high and the training programs were well developed. (page 461)

According to a certificate dated April 26, 1944, Richard completed a training course in the Chinese language. The certificate states: "Colonel Richard B. Willis, Field Artillery, United States Army, is hereby saluted as a worthy student of the Chinese language. Attested by the Faculty, April 26, 1944." It is signed by "William Law, Lt. Col FA [Field Artillery] Ad" and "Chester W. Kupper [?] Jr., Lt. Col. FA [Field Artillery] P+TO."

In early March 1944 Richard wrote a letter to his son, Richard, Jr., who was stationed in Europe. Mail was slow during the war. The envelope has over fifteen postmarks, the earliest March 6 and the latest July 20th. Richard could not disclose his location or what he was doing.

March 1944

Happy Birthday! Am sending greetings and salutations today altho it is possible you won't receive this for months or years to come if ever. I am in an unmentionable place - having been delayed in route to destination - which is also unmentionable - which adds up to dizziness but what the hell is this war if not dizzy....

Present deploy is not of much significance insofar as my well being and health are concerned.... I know that you were expecting early overseas orders prior to my departure and I suspect that by this time you are either en route or have already arrived. Consequently this letter may have to follow you from pole to pole and perhaps around the equator a couple of times before it reaches you. But I devoutly hope it finally arrives and finds you happy and in good health. I am sending it care the Adjutant General as I am afraid to place it at the tender mercies of the Camp Gruber contingent.

Of course I have no information as to Ray's situation - where she is or what she is doing but I suppose she is still in Raleigh and I expect she has some sort of a job with the State Highway Dept. I saw some of her work at the school there and it was damn good. [Ray was an artist.]

Since there is nothing else I can say under existing censorship rules I won't prolong this letter but I do hope you get it before too long and please write me when you can and tell me as much of you and your activities as you are permitted.

All my love and best wishes to you Dick and it gives me such a happy feeling to know that wherever you are or whatever you are doing your actions and production will be above reproach. You are a grand kid and my hopes and prayers are ever with you.

Affectionately, Dad

Richard's effects include several pictures of Richard standing next to the Great Wall of China.

Unexpected Death

On September 5, 1944, Richard died suddenly while stationed in Kunming. His wife, Ray, was told he got a headache while playing baseball with his troops and went into a tent to lie down. He was later found dead, lying down in the tent. Officially, it was recorded that he died from a "coronary thrombosis," but this assessment my have been made without an autopsy, given the war conditions. Of interest is that Richard's grandson, David Warren Willis, at the age of 60, had a freak brain hemorrhage while playing racquetball, resulting in an extreme headache. He went and lay down. An ambulance was called, which took him to a hospital, where he was treated immediately. David spent two weeks in the hospital's intensive care unit and fortunately recovered fully. The type of brain hemorrhage is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage (breakage of an artery or vein in the space between the skull and the brain, which contains spinal fluid). It is said that it can occur during rigorous athletic activity.

After Richard's death, the War being in progress, his widow, Ray, was informed only that he was "reverently interred in a military cemetery in the area in which he was serving." On January 25, 1949, his body was was transferred to Hawaii, where it was interred in Section (Plat) C, Row O, Grave 422, in the Hawaii National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which is located inside the Diamondhead volcano in Honolulu.

The following is information is from the National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration:

Richard B. Willis
Army, Serial/Service Number 006542
Dates of Service: August 5, 1917 to September 5, 1944
Rank/Grade: Colonel
Decorations and Awards: American Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, World War II Victory Medal, World War I Victory Medal, World War I Victory Button (Bronze)
Place of Entry: North Carolina
Date of Death: September 5, 1944
Place of Burial: Honolulu, Hawaii (Plat C, Row O, Grave 422)
[National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813]

Richard, Sr.'s second wife, Kathleen Raymond Shepard ("Ray"), who lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, kept in touch with the Willis family until she died in 1971.

DNA Evidence

Y-DNA evidence has confirmed Richard’s patrilineal descendance from the American immigrant Henry Willis of Long Island, 1628-1714. Results of Y-DNA tests at Family Tree DNA, Inc. for Richard’s grandson David Warren Willis (Kit No. 8404) are posted under the Henry Willis of Long Island group at https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Willis?iframe=ycolorized. David is one of 13 Willis-surname males whose patrilineal descendance from Henry Willis of Long Island is proven through Y-DNA testing. The Willis-surname lineages supplied by these descendants can be found on Family Tree DNA's Public Website for the Willis Group Project by going to https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/willis, clicking on the Results tab in the middle of the page, and scrolling down to the Henry Willis of Long Island group.

Research Notes

Research of the the following collection at Florida State University would likely shed more light on Col. Richard Bocock Willis's service in China in 1944:

This collection relates to U.S. Army Major James D. Hinchliff who served with the 76th Division Artillery and Field Artillery Training Center (F.A.T.C.) in Kunming, China.... Majority of material found in 1943-1945... He attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army during his service in China from 1943-1945. This collection contains two scrapbooks of Hinchliff, which include rich materials of his experiences during WWII in the China Burma India Theater. Those materials include photographs, maps, order books, newspaper cuts, letters, postcards, and artifacts. The materials in the scrapbooks were carefully arranged, and annotated by Hinchliff. Most of the materials of this collection relate to China and training the Chinese...^[78]

Sources

1. ↑ Army Register, year 1921, page 580. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
2. ↑ New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. Ancestry.com.
3. ↑ Newport Daily Independent (Newport, Arkansas), 9 Jan 1905. Page 2.
4. ↑ Daily Arkansas Gazette, 8 Jan 1911. Page 2.
5. ↑ Wikipedia. "United States occupation of Veracruz." Accessed March 17, 2023.
6. ↑ Muster Roll of Officers and Enlisted Men of the U.S. Marine Corps. U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1787-1958. Ancestry.com.
7. ↑ University of Arkansas Annual Catalog, 1916-1917. Vol. II, No. 4, May 1917. Google Books. Richard is listed as an Engineering major "Special."
8. ↑ 2016 Arkansas Razorback Yearbook. Click here.
9. ↑ 1923 Army Register, page 502. Also, Army Registers, 1798-1969, Fold3.com.
10. ↑ Fayetteville Democrat, 7 Jul 1916. Page 1.
11. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed March 12, 2023. "On 24 March 1894, Rev. R. B. Willis, of Newport was named chaplain of the Second Regiment."
12. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, Fayetteville (Washington County) section. Click here. "At the beginning of the Spanish-American War in 1898, favorite sons and university students volunteered for service. The Mexican border conflict followed, and on June 16, 1916, Company B, Arkansas National Guard, received orders to mobilize."
13. ↑ Dillard, Tom. Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 10 Jul 2016. Click here.
14. ↑ 1921 Army Register, page 580. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
15. ↑ Wikipedia. "Arkansas National Guard during World War I." Accessed March 3, 2023.
16. ↑ Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 16 Jul 1917. Page 1.
17. ↑ Click here. Page n62. Gladys's picture is the first one on the second row from the bottom.
18. ↑ 1921 Army Register, page 580. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
19. ↑ Fayetteville Democrat, August 6, 1917. Page 1.
20. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
21. ↑ Arkansas Democrat, 1 Oct 1917, Page 3. The other Arkansas National Guard infantry regiments remained infantry.
22. ↑ Daily Arkansas Gazette, 3 Nov., 1917. Page 3.
23. ↑ Arkansas Democrat, 9 Nov 1917. Page 1.
24. ↑ Wikipedia, "Arkansas National Guard during World War I." Accessed March 3, 2023.
25. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
26. ↑ Fayetteville Daily Democrat, 7 Nov, 1917. Page 4.
27. ↑ Marriage License No. 3293, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
28. ↑ Daily Arkansas Gazette, 27 Dec 1917. Page 4.
29. ↑ 1921 Army Register, page 580. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
30. ↑ Arkansas Democrat, 10 Aug 1918. Page 14.
31. ↑ Fayetteville Democrat, 21 Jun 1918. Page 2.
32. ↑ 1921 Army Register. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Page 580. Ancestry.com. His Oath of Office paperwork ("acceptance") for the promotion was recorded October 11.
33. ↑ Officers Sailing from New York to Europe on the S.S. “Balmoral Castle”. Sheet No. 2, Officers 39th Division. U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939. Ancestry.com.
34. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
35. ↑ Daily Arkansas Gazette, 11 Oct., 1918. Page 4.
36. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
37. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
38. ↑ Richard B. Willis, North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919. Ancestry.com.
39. ↑ Wikipedia. "142nd Field Artillery Regiment." Accessed February 28, 2023.
40. ↑ Clay, Steven E. US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 1: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010. Page vii. From the Forward, written by Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan. Click here.
41. ↑ Army Registers, 1798-1869, (1923). Page 502. Fold3.com.
42. ↑ 1920 Oklahoma City Directory. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Ancestry.com.
43. ↑ Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Volume LVI. Sixty-sixth Congress, third session, from December 6, 1920, to March 4, 1921. Index Part II. Page 1599.
44. ↑ Divorce Index of Comanche County, Oklahoma, 1901-1928. Case 7805. FamilySearch (familysearch.org). Click here.
45. ↑ The Field Artillery Journal, Vol. XIV, November-December 1924, No. 6. Page 591. Click here.
46. ↑ The Field Artillery Journal, Vol. XIV, November-December 1925, No. 6. Page 617. Click here.
47. ↑ Recollection of Richard's grandson, David Warren Willis, when he and his sister and mother visited with Ray at her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, in1963.
48. ↑ Harrisburg Telegraph, 21 Jun 1929. Page 13.
49. ↑ Harrisburg Telegraph, 3 Oct 1929. Page 16.
50. ↑ Click here.
51. ↑ Clay, Steven E. US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010. Page 767. Click here.
52. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 Jun 1930. Page 17.
53. ↑ Letter in possession of Richard's grandson, David Warren Willis.
54. ↑ Philadelphia Evening News, June 26, 1931.
55. ↑ U.S. Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, Military Passengers to Manila. Ancestry.com.
56. ↑ Clay, Steven E. US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010. Page 774. Click here.
57. ↑ Wikipedia. "Tianjin". Accessed 12 Mar 2023.
58. ↑ New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. Ancestry.com.
59. ↑ Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Volume LXXVI, part II, Seventy-fourth Congress, first session, from January 3, 1935 to August 26, 1935. Index - part II, p.2382.
60. ↑ Army List and Directory, April 20, 1936 (published semiannually), page 97. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
61. ↑ Clay, Steven E. US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010. Page 846. Click here.
62. ↑ Army List and Directory, April 20, 1939 (published semiannually),.page 37. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
63. ↑ New York Times, Sep. 19, 1939.
64. ↑ Wikipedia. "Grover Cleveland Bergdoll", Accessed 16 Mar 2023. Bergdoll, who was born to a wealthy brewing family, had escaped to Germany to avoid service in World War I. He had publicly surrendered in May 1939.
65. ↑ Army List and Directory, April 20, 1940 (published semiannually), page 382. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Ancestry.com.
66. ↑ Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Volume LXXXII, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session, from January 3, 1940 to January 3, 1941. Index - part II, p. 2752.
67. ↑ The Field Artillery Journal, November-December, 1940. Vol. 30, No. 6. Page 500. Click here.
68. ↑ The Field Artillery Journal, Nov/Dec 1941. Vol. 31, No. 5. Page 500. Click here.
69. ↑ Lt. Col. Edwin P. Parker. The Field Artillery Journal, May 1941. Vol. 31, No. 5. Page 276. Click here.
70. ↑ Robesonian (Lumberton, North Carolina), April 4, 1941.
71. ↑ Wikipedia. “77th Sustainment Brigade,, accessed 17 Mar 2023.
72. ↑ U.S. Army Register, 1944. Page 1007.
73. ↑ Camp Blanding Museum & Memorial Park, Starke, Florida. Click here.
74. ↑ Wikipedia. "Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45."
75. ↑ The US Army Campaigns of World War II, "China Defensive." Pages 10-15. Click here.
76. ↑ Coverdale, Col. Garrison B. "Chinese 52nd Army. Inspection Trip--March 1943. Page 466. The Field Artillery Journal, July 1944. Click here.
77. ↑ Kelly, Joseph B. (2003) "Memoirs of World War II (An Odyssey, Chiefly Concerning the China, Burma, India Theater)," Penn State International Law Review: Vol. 21: No. 3, Article 3, 1 May 2003. Click here.
78. ↑ Field Artillery Training Center (Fort Kunming, China. James D. Hinchliff collection, Florida State University Special Collections & Archives.Identifier: 10.0086. Date acquired: 12/08/2010. Click here.