illiam Frederick Simpson, Jr. was born in Kinston, NC on January 24, 1945 to William F. Simpson, Sr. and Geraldine S. Simpson.
After graduating from Pink Hill High School in 1963 he attended the UNC-Chapel Hill graduating in 1967 with an A.B. in Political Science. Shortly thereafter he joined the United States Marine Corps and reported to Quantico, Va. for Officers Candidate School.
Upon completion of OCS he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the Basic School for further training with the Class of 8-68. After completion of the Basic School curriculum he was granted a 30 day leave and received orders assigning him to duty with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.
Within two weeks of his arrival in Okinawa he received orders to report to the Third Marine Division headquartered in Dong Ha, Vietnam. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines as a rifle company platoon commander with “Mike” Company and subsequently with “Lima” Company.
His tour of duty while in Vietnam included combat action against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army, a short stint as Asst. S-1 with battalion headquarters and Executive officer of Battalion Headquarters and Service Company. He was later transferred back to Okinawa as Executive Officer of Headquarters and Service Company, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade.
While serving in Viet Nam he received the following decorations: Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, USMC Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, Vietnamese Service Medal with three stars, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm and frame.
Upon completion of his tour of duty in Vietnam he was assigned to “C” Company, 1St. Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division and stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina as Executive Officer. He then was deployed to the Mediterranean with Battalion Land Team 1/8 for a period of six months. While deployed he was made Company Commander of “C” Company and served in that capacity until he was released from active duty in December, 1970 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Corps with the rank of Captain on October 9, 1974.
After being released from active duty, he knocked around the United States for approximately two years before entering Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1972 and graduated with his J.D. degree in February, 1975. He returned to Lenoir County after graduation to open his law practice. He continues to practice law today but at a more leisurely pace.
His father, William F. Simpson, Sr. served in WW II with the United States Navy as a naval aviator and his son, Sergeamt William F. Simpson, III served two tours in Iraq with the United States Army.
