John K. Waters
| John K. Waters | |
|---|---|
General John K. Waters
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Johnnie |
| Born | December 20, 1906 Baltimore, MD, United States |
| Died | January 9, 1989 (aged 82) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Buried at | Sparks, Maryland |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1931–1966 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held |
4th Armored Division V Corps Fifth Army U.S. Army, Pacific |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Purple Heart |
| Relations | George S. Patton (father-in-law) |
John Knight Waters (December 20, 1906 – January 9, 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.
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.
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.
...
Wikipedia