Willis Watters

Willis Watters (July 20, 1932 – May 28, 1951) was a soldier from Scott County killed in action during the Korean War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born July 20, 1932, Willis Watters was the son of John Melton Watters (1884-1938) and Ella Foster (1889-1958) of the Foster Crossroads community west of Oneida. The Watters family was originally from Fentress County, but Willis’s father moved to Oneida after marrying Ella Foster, whose family has deep roots in the Foster Crossroads area.

Willis’s siblings included Jewell Boyatt (1911-1986), Vida Lucille King (1916-2016), Christeen Watters (1919-1921), Myrtle “Ginger” Manley (1921-2001), Warren Watters (1924-2001), Holland F. Watters (1927-1990), and Olan Watters.

Korean War

Sgt. Watters enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action in South Korea on May 28, 1951.

Aftermath

Sgt. Watters’ body was returned to Oneida on Nov. 6, 1951, and a funeral service was held at Foster Crossroads United Baptist Church the following day. He was buried in the Foster Crossroads Cemetery.

He received the Purple Heart award. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.