- Date Of Birth: November 28, 1936
- Date Of Death: December 9, 2012
- State: Colorado
Lt. Col. William L. “Muddy” Waters, USMC Ret., 76, passed away December 9, 2012 in Canon City, CO. He was born November 28, 1936 in Canon City to Virgil Gordon and Mabel (Pretty) Waters. Bill graduated from Canon City High School in Canon City, CO in 1955 and entered Adams Sate College in Alamosa, CO the fall of 1955. Bill played Varsity Basketball and Baseball for three years at Adams State, and graduated in May 1959 with a BA Degree, with majors in Health and Physical Educations and Secondary School Educations and minors in History and Political Science. In Sept. 1959, Bill entered the United Sates Marine Corps (USMC) via the 25th Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base (MCB), Quantico, VA. Commissioned a 2nd Lt. in Dec. 1959, he went on to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training to become a Marine Aviator in Jan. 1960. 2nd Lt. Waters received his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator on May 23, 1961, and designation as a Marine Helicopter Pilot. He was transferred to the Third Marine Aircraft Wing (3rdMAW) at MCAS El Toro, CA. July 1962 with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-One Six Three (HMM-163). Upon arrival overseas at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa Japan, HMM-163, RVN. In Aug. 1966, Capt. Waters checked into AWS at Quantico and graduated in Jan. 1976. Capt. Waters was then assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) at MCAF Quantico, VA in Feb. 1967. He was promoted to the rank of Major in Nov. 1967 and provided Helicopter Transportation for the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government and in Aug. 1968 was designated a Marine Presidential Helicopter Pilot, one of five so designated at any one time. During his tour at HMX-1, he flew President Johnson (6 times) and President Nixon (33 times). In Dec. 1969, Major Waters completed his tour at HMX-1 and was reassigned back to RVN for a third tour. On Sept. 1, 1983, Lt. Col. Waters retired from the USMC. He then moved to Virginia and worked as a consultant to Navel Air Systems Command. In his career, Lt. Col. Waters was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, Single Mission Air Medal, 54 Strike Flight Awards, Navy Commendation Medal and many RVN awards for his three tours of duty in RVN.
