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name
WATERS, Graydon E - Date of
birth
November 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Felts Mills, Jefferson County, New York -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32287207 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
242nd Infantry Regiment,
42nd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 January 1945 - Place of
death
Hatten, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William A. Waters (father)
Cora M. (Wells) Waters (mother)
Nellie M. Waters (sister)
Pearl A. Waters (sister)
Beulah A. Waters (sister)
Louie A. Waters (brother)
Doretta V. Waters (sister)
More information
S/Sgt Graydon E. Waters attended high school for three years and was a truck driver.He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for his actions on the day of his death. The citation stated:
"When his battalion's main line of resistance had been overrun by flame throwing tanks supported by artillery, Sgt Waters held his squad in position and directed a gallant defense in the face of point-blank fire from the enemy tanks. Climbing up to a dangerously exposed position in the tower of a pillbox, Sgt Waters adjusted friendly artillery fire which put four enemy tanks out of action and, as the crews attempted to escape, he coolly picked them off with his sniper's rifle. Sgt Waters remained in this exposed position encouraging the defenders by his splended example until he was mortally wounded by an artillery burst. His outstanding courage, initiative and self-sacrifice played a major role in the successful defense of Hatten for which his battalion received a Presidential Citation."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Knudsen Noftsier Family Tree / 1930/1940 Census, www.findagrave.com - J Karl / Margie von Marenholtz
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Have Paws will travel / Margie von Marenholtz