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{{Short description|American general (1906–1989)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{other people|John Waters}} {{other people|John Waters}}
{{Infobox military person {{Infobox military person
|name = John K. Waters | name = John K. Waters
|birth_date = December 20, 1906 | birth_date = 20 December 1906
|death_date = {{death date and age|1989|1|9|1906|12|20}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1989|1|9|1906|12|20|df=y}}
|birth_place = ], ], United States | birth_place = ], ], United States
|death_place = ], United States | death_place = ], United States
|placeofburial=] | placeofburial = ]
|image = John K. Waters.jpg | image = John K. Waters.jpg
|caption = General John K. Waters | caption = General John K. Waters
|nickname = ''Johnnie'' | nickname = ''Johnnie''
|allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}} | allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}
|serviceyears = 1931–1966 | serviceyears = 1931–1966
|rank = ] ] | rank = ] ]
|branch = {{army|United States}} | branch = {{army|United States}}
|commands = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>] | commands = ]<br />]<br /> ]<br />]
|unit = | unit =
|battles = ]<br/>] | battles = ]<br />]
|awards = ]<br/>]<br/>] (3) | awards = ]<br />]<br />] (3)
|laterwork = | laterwork =
|relations = ] (father-in-law)}} | relations = ] (father-in-law)
}}
{{Commons category|John K. Waters}} {{Commons category|John K. Waters}}


'''John Knight Waters''' (December 20, 1906 &ndash; January 9, 1989) was a ] four-star general who served as commander, ] from 1964 to 1966. He was also the son-in-law of General ]. During ], he was taken prisoner while fighting in ] in 1943, leading Patton to set up the controversial ] to break him out. '''John Knight Waters''' (20 December 1906 &ndash; 9 January 1989) was a ] four-star general who served as commander, ] from 1964 to 1966. He was also the son-in-law of General ]. During ], he was taken prisoner while fighting in ] in 1943, leading Patton to set up the controversial ] to break him out.


==Early career== ==Early career==
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The task force, known as ], reached the camp, which was 50 miles behind the front lines, on 27 March 1945 with some losses after running into several German units detraining in a marshalling area. It had been shadowed by a German observation ] while en route, and its intentions were anticipated. The task force, known as ], reached the camp, which was 50 miles behind the front lines, on 27 March 1945 with some losses after running into several German units detraining in a marshalling area. It had been shadowed by a German observation ] while en route, and its intentions were anticipated.


Lt. ] who was a POW with Waters at the camp, documented the events of that day.<ref>http://www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Oflag%20XIII-B/Prell/Prell-Donald.pdf</ref> Lt. ], who was a POW with Waters at the camp, documented the events of that day,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Oflag%20XIII-B/Prell/Prell-Donald.pdf |title=Donald B. Prell|website=indianamilitary.org|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref> as did Father Paul. W. Cavanaugh, a U.S. Army Chaplain and fellow POW.<ref>{{cite web | title=American priest in a nazi prison | website=studylib.net | date=2 March 2016 | url=https://studylib.net/doc/8010536/american-priest-in-a-nazi-prison | access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>


Waters had been shot by a defending guard as he and a German officer were trying to contact the task force<!-- according to article on Task Force Baum.-->. Badly wounded, he was treated by a ] ], Colonel Radovan Danic, the chief surgeon of the former Yugoslavian Army, who was also interned at the camp. The camp was liberated about a week to ten days later, but the only prisoners there were badly wounded and sick, the rest (including the remnants of Task Force Baum) having been moved farther east. Waters had been shot by a defending guard as he and a German officer were trying to contact the task force<!-- according to article on Task Force Baum.-->. Badly wounded, he was treated by a ] ], Colonel Radovan Danic, the chief surgeon of the former Yugoslavian Army, who was also interned at the camp. The camp was liberated about a week to ten days later, but the only prisoners there were badly wounded and sick, the rest (including the remnants of Task Force Baum) having been moved farther east.
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He was promoted to brigadier general in 1952 when he deployed to Korea as Chief of Staff for ]. His major command assignments include Commanding General for the ] and Commanding General for ], both in Europe, as well as Commanding General for the ], then headquartered in Chicago. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1952 when he deployed to Korea as Chief of Staff for ]. His major command assignments include Commanding General for the ] and Commanding General for ], both in Europe, as well as Commanding General for the ], then headquartered in Chicago.


Significant other assignments for Waters were as Chief of the American Military Assistance Staff in Yugoslavia from 1955 to 1957, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Material Developments, ], Virginia. He also commanded the latter unit before taking command of ] in Hawaii. He retired on August 31, 1966. Significant other assignments for Waters were as Chief of the American Military Assistance Staff in Yugoslavia from 1955 to 1957, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Materiel Developments, ], Virginia. He also commanded the latter unit before taking command of ] in Hawaii. He retired on 31 August 1966.


Major awards for Waters include the ] for his actions leading fellow prisoners, the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ]. He died on January 9, 1989 at the ] in Washington, due to heart failure.<ref name="MyUser_The_New_York_Times_February_26_2015c">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/13/obituaries/gen-john-knight-waters-82-fought-in-world-war-ii-and-korea.html |title=Gen. John Knight Waters, 82 – Fought in World War II and Korea |newspaper=The New York Times |date= January 13, 1989 |author=Alfonso A. Narvaez|accessdate= February 26, 2015}}</ref> Major awards for Waters include the ] for his actions leading fellow prisoners, the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ]. He died on 9 January 1989, at the ] in Washington, due to heart failure.<ref name="MyUser_The_New_York_Times_February_26_2015c">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/13/obituaries/gen-john-knight-waters-82-fought-in-world-war-ii-and-korea.html |title=Gen. John Knight Waters, 82 – Fought in World War II and Korea |newspaper=The New York Times |date= January 13, 1989 |author=Alfonso A. Narvaez|access-date= February 26, 2015}}</ref>


==Family== ==Family==
He married Beatrice Patton, daughter of General ], on June 27, 1934. The wedding took place at St. John's Church in ], Massachusetts, with a reception immediately afterward at the Patton home of Green Meadows, ], Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Blumenson, Martin |author2=George Smith Patton |title=The Patton Papers - 1885-1940 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |volume=1 |date=1972 |location=New York |pages=902 }}</ref> The couple had two sons, John and George P. This union lasted until her death on October 24, 1952. He married Beatrice Patton, daughter of General ], on 27 June 1934. The wedding took place at St. John's Church in ], Massachusetts, with a reception immediately afterward at the Patton home of Green Meadows, ], Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Blumenson, Martin |author2=George Smith Patton |title=The Patton Papers - 1885-1940 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |volume=1 |date=1972 |location=New York |pages=902 }}</ref> The couple had two sons, John Knight and George Patton. George Patton has a son named George Patton Waters, Jr. who was born in ], attended ] and currently owns a real estate firm called Waters Investments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Team |url=http://www.waterspettit.com/team |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Waters & Pettit |language=en-US}}</ref> The marriage lasted until her death on 24 October 1952.


==Dates of rank== ==Dates of rank==
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|align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 19 July 1945<ref name="1948_Register"/> |align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 19 July 1945<ref name="1948_Register"/>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || Lieutenant colonel || Army of the United States || 1 June 1946 (reverted)<ref>{{cite book |date=1949 |title=Official Army Register |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi1949unit/page/558/mode/2up|pages=559 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || Lieutenant colonel || Army of the United States || 1 June 1946 (reverted)<ref>{{cite book |date=1949 |title=Official Army Register |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi1949unit/page/558/mode/2up|pages=559 }}</ref>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || Lieutenant colonel || Regular Army || 1 July 1948<ref name="1951_Register">{{cite book |date=1951 |title=Official Army Register |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi1951unit/page/704/mode/2up|pages=705 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || Lieutenant colonel || Regular Army || 1 July 1948<ref name="1951_Register">{{cite book |date=1951 |title=Official Army Register |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi1951unit/page/704/mode/2up|pages=705 }}</ref>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || Colonel || Army of the United States || 7 September 1950<ref name="1951_Register"/> |align="center" |] || Colonel || Army of the United States || 7 September 1950<ref name="1951_Register"/>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 4 July 1952<ref name="1955_Register">{{cite book |date=1955 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19551unit/page/844/mode/2up|pages=845 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 4 July 1952<ref name="1955_Register">{{cite book |date=1955 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19551unit/page/844/mode/2up|pages=845 }}</ref>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 1 July 1951 (backdated)<ref name="1958_Register">{{cite book |date=1958 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19581unit/page/940/mode/2up|pages=941 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 1 July 1951 (backdated)<ref name="1958_Register">{{cite book |date=1958 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19581unit/page/940/mode/2up|pages=941 }}</ref>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || Colonel || Regular Army || 3 August 1953<ref name="1955_Register"/> |align="center" |] || Colonel || Regular Army || 3 August 1953<ref name="1955_Register"/>
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|align="center" |] || Brigadier general || Regular Army || 22 May 1957<ref name="1958_Register"/> |align="center" |] || Brigadier general || Regular Army || 22 May 1957<ref name="1958_Register"/>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || Major general || Regular Army || 2 August 1960<ref name="1963_Register">{{cite book |date=1963 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19631unit/page/556/mode/2up|pages=556 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || Major general || Regular Army || 2 August 1960<ref name="1963_Register">{{cite book |date=1963 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19631unit/page/556/mode/2up|pages=556 }}</ref>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 30 August 1961<ref name="1963_Register"/> |align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 30 August 1961<ref name="1963_Register"/>
|- |-
|align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 28 February 1963<ref>{{cite book |date=1966 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19661unit/page/590/mode/2up|pages=591 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> |align="center" |] || ] || Army of the United States || 28 February 1963<ref>{{cite book |date=1966 |title=Official Army Register (Volume I) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19661unit/page/590/mode/2up|pages=591 }}</ref>
|- |-
|} |}
<ref name="1948_Register">{{cite book |date=1948 |title=Official Army and Air Force Register (Volume II) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi48unit/page/1910/mode/2up|pages=1910 |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> <ref name="1948_Register">{{cite book |date=1948 |title=Official Army and Air Force Register (Volume II) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi48unit/page/1910/mode/2up|pages=1910 }}</ref>


== Notes == == Notes ==
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==External links== ==External links==
*http://taskforcebaum.de/main6.html *
*http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/06/01/special_reports/life_times/15_03_415_29_04.txt *
* *
*] http://106thinfdivassn.org/photos/prell/donaldprell_story_1944.pdf *]
{{USGovernment|sourceURL=}} {{USGovernment|url=http://www.usarpac.army.mil/history/cgbios/cg_waters.asp|agency=United States Army}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, John K.}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, John K.}}
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Latest revision as of 13:05, 9 December 2024

American general (1906–1989)

For other people named John Waters, see John Waters (disambiguation).
John K. Waters
General John K. Waters
Nickname(s)Johnnie
Born20 December 1906
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died9 January 1989(1989-01-09) (aged 82)
Washington, D.C., United States
BuriedSparks, Maryland
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1931–1966
Rank General
CommandsU.S. Army, Pacific
Fifth Army
V Corps
4th Armored Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (3)
RelationsGeorge S. Patton (father-in-law)

John Knight Waters (20 December 1906 – 9 January 1989) was a United States Army four-star general who served as commander, U.S. Army, Pacific from 1964 to 1966. He was also the son-in-law of General George S. Patton. During World War II, he was taken prisoner while fighting in Tunisia in 1943, leading Patton to set up the controversial Task Force Baum to break him out.

Early career

Waters graduated from The Boys' Latin School in Baltimore in 1925 and then attended Johns Hopkins University in Maryland for two years before deciding he wanted a military career. He relocated to Illinois in order to obtain an appointment to the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1931 with a commission in the cavalry.

World War II

Waters was captured in Tunisia at Dejebel Lassouda when German forces attacked Sidi bou Zid during World War II.

Waters, who had married General George S. Patton's daughter Beatrice in 1934, was one of many officers interned at Hammelburg. Patton claimed that he did not know that Waters was at OFLAG XIII-B and that he feared the Germans would execute the POWs rather than let them be liberated. According to some sources the Third Army had received intelligence that Waters was indeed at the camp, having recently been moved there from Oflag 64.

The task force, known as Task Force Baum, reached the camp, which was 50 miles behind the front lines, on 27 March 1945 with some losses after running into several German units detraining in a marshalling area. It had been shadowed by a German observation plane while en route, and its intentions were anticipated.

Lt. Donald Prell, who was a POW with Waters at the camp, documented the events of that day, as did Father Paul. W. Cavanaugh, a U.S. Army Chaplain and fellow POW.

Waters had been shot by a defending guard as he and a German officer were trying to contact the task force. Badly wounded, he was treated by a Serbian doctor, Colonel Radovan Danic, the chief surgeon of the former Yugoslavian Army, who was also interned at the camp. The camp was liberated about a week to ten days later, but the only prisoners there were badly wounded and sick, the rest (including the remnants of Task Force Baum) having been moved farther east.

Later career

Waters returned to duty in 1946 and became commandant of cadets at West Point. In 1949 he became an hereditary member of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati.

He was promoted to brigadier general in 1952 when he deployed to Korea as Chief of Staff for I Corps. His major command assignments include Commanding General for the 4th Armored Division and Commanding General for V Corps, both in Europe, as well as Commanding General for the Fifth United States Army, then headquartered in Chicago.

Significant other assignments for Waters were as Chief of the American Military Assistance Staff in Yugoslavia from 1955 to 1957, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Materiel Developments, Fort Monroe, Virginia. He also commanded the latter unit before taking command of U.S. Army, Pacific in Hawaii. He retired on 31 August 1966.

Major awards for Waters include the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions leading fellow prisoners, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Korean Service Medal. He died on 9 January 1989, at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, due to heart failure.

Family

He married Beatrice Patton, daughter of General George S. Patton, on 27 June 1934. The wedding took place at St. John's Church in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, with a reception immediately afterward at the Patton home of Green Meadows, South Hamilton, Massachusetts. The couple had two sons, John Knight and George Patton. George Patton has a son named George Patton Waters, Jr. who was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attended Southern Methodist University and currently owns a real estate firm called Waters Investments. The marriage lasted until her death on 24 October 1952.

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date
No insignia Cadet United States Military Academy 1 July 1927
Second lieutenant Regular Army 11 June 1931
First lieutenant Regular Army 1 August 1935
Captain Army of the United States 9 September (accepted 8 October) 1940
Captain Regular Army 11 June 1941
Major Army of the United States 1 February 1942
Lieutenant colonel Army of the United States 1 August 1942
Colonel Army of the United States 19 July 1945
Lieutenant colonel Army of the United States 1 June 1946 (reverted)
Lieutenant colonel Regular Army 1 July 1948
Colonel Army of the United States 7 September 1950
Brigadier general Army of the United States 4 July 1952
Major general Army of the United States 1 July 1951 (backdated)
Colonel Regular Army 3 August 1953
Brigadier general Regular Army 22 May 1957
Major general Regular Army 2 August 1960
Lieutenant general Army of the United States 30 August 1961
General Army of the United States 28 February 1963

Notes

  1. "Donald B. Prell" (PDF). indianamilitary.org. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. "American priest in a nazi prison". studylib.net. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  3. Alfonso A. Narvaez (13 January 1989). "Gen. John Knight Waters, 82 – Fought in World War II and Korea". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  4. Blumenson, Martin; George Smith Patton (1972). The Patton Papers - 1885-1940. Vol. 1. New York: Houghton Mifflin. p. 902.
  5. "Team". Waters & Pettit. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ Official Army and Air Force Register (Volume II). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1948. p. 1910.
  7. Official Army Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1949. p. 559.
  8. ^ Official Army Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1951. p. 705.
  9. ^ Official Army Register (Volume I). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1955. p. 845.
  10. ^ Official Army Register (Volume I). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1958. p. 941.
  11. ^ Official Army Register (Volume I). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1963. p. 556.
  12. Official Army Register (Volume I). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1966. p. 591.

External links

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army

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