Ishmael Laverne Willsey 1924-2014 Ishmael Laverne Willsey was born October 6, 1924 in Sebastian Co., Arkansas to Fred Clarence and Vergial Elmore Willsey. May 25, 1946 Ishmael married Abigail Helen Cochran who was from Barber, Sebastiaa Co. Ar. December 18, 1942 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. Ishmael registered for the military draft. He enlisted in the US Navy. His rank at discharge was Seaman 1c. More about the activites on board the USS Shamrock from the time he boarded, May 24, 1944 till the end of the war are below. Ishmael Laverne Willsey died January 8, 2014 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar He was buried in Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Milltown, Sebastian Co., Ar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. Ishmael Willsey, of Greenwood, Arkansas, died Wednesday, January 8, 2014, in a Fort Smith hospital. Mr. Willsey was 89 years, 3 months and 2 days old. He was a retired employee of Riverside Furniture of Fort Smith, Arkansas; a United States NAVY veteran of World War II; a member of the Harris-Hannah V.F.W. Post #6527; and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Willsey was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years: Gail Willsey; 2 daughters: Kathy Jones of Greenwood, Arkansas and Kay Nichols of Summerfield, Flordia; 2 sisters: Connie (Willsey)Odom and Iva (Willsey) Hicks, both of Greenwood, Arkansas; 3 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; other relatives; and many dear friends. A private service was held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Dawson Cemetery in Milltown, Arkansas. Pallbearers were: Justin King, Danny King, Jeff Littlefield, Andy Pipkins, Perry Wynn, and Mac Jones. Ships Muster Rolls USS Shamrock Bay May 24, 1944 - October 1945 Ship Number or Designation: CVE-84 USS Shamrock Bay was commissioned into service in Mar 1944, and until Jun 1944 she remained off the west coast of the United States qualifying pilots for carrier landings. In mid-1944, she conducted several aircraft and personnel ferrying missions across the Atlantic Ocean. In Dec 1944, she joined the US Navy 7th Fleet in the Pacific Ocean. With 12 TBM Avenger and 20 FM-2 Wildcat aircraft on board, she contributed to the air cover over Task Groups 79.1 and 79.2 and the invasion beach between 31 Dec 1944 and 17 Jan 1945 in Ligayen Gulf in the Philippine Islands. The rest of the USS Shamock Bay activites during the time Ishmael was aboard can be found HERE. June 30, 1944 September 30, 1944 October 13, 1944 November 30, 1944 December 1, 1944 March 31, 1945 July 1, 1945 October 1, 1945