William Simpson

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William Simpson Biography

William Simpson was born May 18, 1888, at Weatherford, Texas. After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1909, he was commissioned into the infantry. Before U.S. involvement in World War I, Simpson served in the U.S. and in the Philippines, including the Pancho Villa Expedition, in 1916. He was promoted to Captain in May 1917 and served with the 33rd Division throughout World War I, receiving temporary promotions to Major and Lieutenant Colonel and becoming divisional Chief-of-Staff. In the inter-war years, 1919–1941, Simpson filled staff appointments and attended military schools, both as student and as instructor. From 1932 to 1936, he served as the Professor of Military Science at Pomona College in Claremont, California. From April to September 1941 he was the first commander of the country's largest Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Wolters, locate in Mineral Wells, Texas. In mid-1940, he was appointed to command the Ninth Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Before U.S. entry into World War II, he had commanded divisions and received a promotion to temporary Major-General, taking the 35th Division from Camp Robinson, Arkansas, to a training site in California.)

The Best Poem Of William Simpson

City Sidewalks

Pockets of people and clusters of some;
the running of errands while businesses hum;
Lights all on timers and small garbage lay
on the edges of streets which see traffic all day.

People of purpose all scurry about
to buildings and buses; hop in and jump out:
Opulence here and poverty right there;
some in between; and one with green hair!

Loud horns and whistles scare birds from behind
before they have found all the food they can find;
Noises and voices and scuffling feet all blend
in high decibels here on the street.

The song of the city continues this way, as day fades
to darkness, and then slips away;
the glow of the city seen both far and near
lights the stage for this symphony that we all hear.




(William Simpson - original pen: 2002; re-worked 2009)

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