Joe Waters to Report For Training in Army Air Corps February 22
Joe Waters, who enlisted in the army air corps at Omaha about three months ago, has received his call to report in Omaha, Feb. 22. He will be sent from there to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for his basic training.
Joe, who is the oldest son of A. J. Waters, was graduated from Carroll High School in the spring and has been attending Creighton University, Omaha, having started his second semester’s work when he received his call. He has come home from Creighton to be with his father and family until he leaves for duty.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, February 15, 1943 (photo included)
JOE WATERS’ ADDRESS
Joe Waters, who is receiving his basic training in the army air forces at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., has the following address: Pvt. Joseph F. Waters, Squadron D, 29th Tr. Grp., A A. F. TTC., Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Joe is the oldest son of A. J. Waters.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, March 20, 1943
Joe Waters, Jr., Receives Commission
2nd Lt. Joe Waters, who received his commission in the army air corps at San Marcus, Tex., Feb. 26, arrived last night to spend a ten-day leave with his father, A. J. Waters, and family.
Lt. Waters, who is a navigator reports at Fresno, Calif., at the conclusion of his leave.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, February 29, 1944
Bob Matt Host at Dinner Pary for Lieut. Joe Waters
Bob Matt was host at a dinner party for nine at his home last night in honor of Lt. Joe Waters, who is home on leave. Guests included Donald Hannasch, formerly of Carroll, who is a student at the University of Minnesota under the Navy V-12 program, Jim and Bill Waters, Joe Schmich, Carl Heider, Maurice Nurse, Jack Marget and Vincent Langenfeld.
Lt. Waters and Donald Hannasch told the boys about the type of work they are doing in the service.
After the 6:15 dinner, the group went to the high school building to attend the civil air patrol meeting.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, March 1, 1944
Lt. Joe Waters, who has spent a ten-day leave with his father, A. J. Waters, and family, is leaving this afternoon to report at Fresno, Calif.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, March 10, 1944
FORMER GRADUATES MISSING IN ACTION
WATERS LOST IN GERMANY
Lieutenant Joe Waters, oldest son of A. J. Waters, was graduated from C.H.S. in 1942. He was vice-president of his class three years, a member of the football team four years and captain of the team in his senior year. Joe joined the army air forces in February, 1943, and had completed 12 missions as navigator of a B-26 according to the last information received by his father. He is reported missing in action over Germany since October 5.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, October 30, 1944
A.J. Waters Hears From Son, Lieut. Joe, In German Prison Camp
A.J. Waters has just received a card from his son, Second Lieutenant Joseph F. Waters, a prisoner of the Germans, who has been moved to another camp. He is now at Stalag 7-A, near Moosburg and not far from Munich.
Lieutenant Waters wrote, " I am unable to write often as at first. I hope that you will and that all is well. I find that a Kregy camp is a fine source of knowledge, especially psychology. Our usual discussions are on war and food. Today is an anniversary for me (two years since I went into the service). I expect to see you before the corn is knee high, at the latest."
This card, written Feb 26., was the first word Mr. Waters had received directly from his son since one dated Dec. 19.
Source: Carroll Daily Times Herald, April 25, 1945 (photo included)
Lt. Waters To be Home Soon
Lieutenant Joe Waters, of the army air forces, who was liberated from Stalag 7-A Moosburg, Germany, April 29, expects to be home soon. In a letter dated May 11, and received by his father, A. J. Waters this morning, he wrote that he was then in France, waiting for a boat trip home. He said that he would contact his father as soon as he arrives in the States.
Lt. Waters had been a prisoner of the Germans since last October.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, May 21, 1945
LIEUT. JOE WATERS COMING HOME SOON
Lieutenant Joe Waters, of the army air forces, recently released from Stalag 7-A at Moosburg Germany, is back in the States. He called his father, A. J. Waters, from New York last night, and said he expects to be home in about a week.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, June 4, 1945
Lt. Joe Waters, Former German Prisoner, Home
Lieutenant Joseph Waters, navigator with the Eighth Air force, who was liberated from Stalag 7-A at Moosburg, Germany, April 29, is home to sepnd 60 days with his father, A. J. Waters and family.
Lt. Waters came to the States by boat from France and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., arriving home from there Friday night.
He has been in the service about two and one-half years. His plane was shot down over Kassel, Germany, October 7, 1944. He was taken prisoner of the Nazis immediately afterwards and was at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan, Germany, before being moved to Moosburg, where he spent about three months.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, June 11, 1945
Lt. Joe Waters To College After Terminal Leave
Lieutenant Joe Waters is on terminal leave until Dec. 6, when his discharge from the army air forces is to become final. His release is being granted at San Antonio, Tex.
Lt. Waters, son of A. J. Waters, is home until the fore-part of January, when he plans to enter Iowa State college, Ames, at the beginning of the new quarter.
He has been in the service a little more than three years, with an overseas record of more than one year. He was navigator on a B-24 of the Eighth Air Force, based in England.
On his sixteenth mission, Waters’ plane was shot down over Germany. He was taken prisoner and confined in two camps, Stalag 3 and Stalag 7-A, the latter at Moosburg, Germany, where he was liberated last April 29.
Returning to the States June 7, he was home on leave before reporting at San Antonio, Tex.
He will be discharged from the service as a first lieutenant.
Lt. Waters has the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster and the E.T.O. ribbon with two campaign stars.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, October 24, 1945
***Further Research:
Joseph Francis “Joe” Waters was born Sept. 13, 1924 to Anthony Joseph and Mary Loretta Heeney Waters. He died Jan. 27, 2008 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Omaha, NE.
Source: ancestry.com
