Bill Davis at Vietnam Veterans Against the War 40th anniversary

Bill Davis, my friend and fellow activist, died.

You can read and sign a guest book dedicated to him on the VVAW website.

But there's no substitute for primary sources. Below you can hear Bill speak in his own voice.



Part 2 and Part 3.

Bill Davis has died

Bill Davis of Oak Park was a union leader and a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. See VVAW's website for pictures of Bill. Last night I received an email stating that he had died.

Bill was an all-around good guy. He was a practical organizer. Since the invasion of Iraq he put much of his activist energy into U.S. Labor Against the War.

Thinking back, Bill didn't talk much about himself or his accomplishments. His union represented Village of Oak Park employees. And Bill had some leadership role, but I'm not sure of his title. I think he was involved in Oak Park Little League.

Bill could be counted on to give a solid speech for Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

But I was always glad to see Bill or his wife Joan, a York high school history teacher, at events. If Bill and Joan were involved I knew that it would be competently organized and they always made me feel good to see them and talk to them.

Their son Josh died in his first weeks of college. This loss hit both Bill and Joan hard.

Part of the shock of Bill's death is that I saw him about a month ago at the VVAW 40th anniversary celebration at Roosevelt University. See VVAW press release. Bill seemed good.

Joan and their daughter Becky have invited people to celebrate Bill's life:

When: September 7-9, 2007 from 2:00-8:00 PM
Where: 1006 S. Wesley, Oak Park, Illinois