JOHN M. WILLISON
EAST LIVERPOOL TRIBUNE
OCT. 2, 1919
SON WILL FIND VACANT CHAIR
William P Willison, Back From France, to Have Sad Home Coming.
William P. Willison, headquarters company, 329th infantry, 83rd division, who has arrived from overseas at Camp Mills, N.Y., according to a telegram received today by the mother, will find a vacant chair at the home fireside when he gets back to East Liverpool. The father, John M. Willison of 645 Minerva street, a bedridden invalid when the son sailed for France, July 23, died on October 2. On account of the delay of the mails the son failed to receive the letter bearing the message of his father’s death until a few days before he embarked on an army transport for home.
“Our first duty when Billy gets back will be to carry flowers to the father’s grave in St. Aloysius cemetery,” the widowed mother said, her eyes shining with joy as she read the telegram, then quickly dimming with tears at thought of the vacant chair.
The young soldier said in the telegram that he will be at Camp Sherman next Sunday and that he expects to be at home within two weeks.
Willison was trained at Camps Gordon and Merritt. In France he was stationed for the most part at LoMans. He was a potter before joining the army. His father was a carpenter and upholsterer.