Mitchell J. Waters of Lake Barrington Shores A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mitchell J. Waters, 69, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington. Internment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Born April 11, 1935, in Evanston, the son of Jeffrey Francis and Genevieve Sloan Waters, he died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 after a long battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
He loved life, his family, his friends, the Marine Corps and his country. He took great joy in keeping up with his friends and bringing people together. He knew that having fun was the most important component in learning, leading and living. Mitchell graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1953. He attended Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1957.
He entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Program his sophomore year of college. After completing the Officers' Basic School at Quantico, Va., in February 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Cindy Fish, and then received orders to the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant prior to his release from active duty in June 1960.
After joining the Marine Corps Reserve in 1960, Gen. Waters' distinguished career included serving as commanding officer for four rifle platoons. three infantry companies, the 2nd Battalion 24th Marines that took part in the NATO Exercise Bold Guard in northern Germany in 1978. and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Camp Lejeune, 1987- 1990. He also served as director, Marine Corps Reserve Support Center, Overland Park. Kan.; was national president of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers' Association; chairman, secretary of the Navy's Marine Policy Board; and a member of the board of trustees for the Marine Corps University Foundation.
Gen. Waters' military career was highlighted with his promotion to brigadier general on July 1, 1986. He was promoted to major general on July 1, 1990, at which time he was assigned as deputy commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic in Norfolk, Va. (mobilization assignment). Following his recall to active duty in January 1992, to serve as the assistant deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, he testified before Congress. His retirement was honored at a reception at Fort Myer and along with a ceremony hosted by the commandant of the Marine Corps at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., in August 1993, after more than 39 years of service.
Maj. Gen. Waters was awarded the Legion of Merit for his "professionalism and dynamic leadership" in conceiving innovative programs for the integration of Active and Reserve Marines, which serve as the model for the operating forces to this day. Other personal military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal for his command of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines' during their outstanding performance in the NATO exercise "Bold Guard" in Northern Germany, September 1978; the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal with one bronze star; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
As a civilian, he was sales manager of Paktron, marketing manager of Buildex and project manager of Venture Programs for Illinois Tool Works, Inc. He was president/owner of PTE-Waters Industries, Inc. in Elk Grove Village, 1978-1988. He then became president of Christiana Industries from 1988 - 1994, after which he joined ATF, Inc. as vice president of sales from 1995 - 1999. In 2000 ATF started an American/German joint venture, Rifast, LLC, in which he served first as president and then as chairman. Gen. Waters loved initiating and being involved in numerous activities: During his children's youth he coached Little League baseball for Palatine Park District and was involved in the sports of all three children. He himself, completed five marathons including the Chicago Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon.
He was a very active livelong alumnus of both Evanston Township High School and Colgate University. He assisted the ETHS' class reunions and college fraternity reunions and has lifelong friends from grade school. After graduating from Colgate, he served two four-year terms on the alumni board of directors, Football and Advisory Committee on Athletics, and received the Maroon Citation in 1967 for outstanding contributions and the Football Coaches Award. He was also instrumental in starting reunions for his Marine Corps 3-57 Basic School class, which continue to this day. Gen. Waters never forgot a friendship and reveled in every gathering of friends.
Gen. Waters is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Cindy Fish Waters, also of Evanston and Barrington; three adult children and six grandchildren: Melissa Waters Blank of Oak Forest and her three daughters, Kendra, Morgan, Taylor; Julie Waters Price of Columbia, S.C. and her three sons. Sage, PJ, River; and Mitchell Jeffery Waters of Denver, Colo., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Gen. Waters is also survived by his sister, Sally Waters Robson of Lantana, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 410 S. Hager Ave., Barrington, IL 60010; Marine Corps University Foundation, P.O. Box 122, Quantico, VA 22134-0122; or Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.
From contemporary press reports:Past Lejeune general dies
January 30,2005
A former 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade commander at Camp Lejeune died last week, leaving behind a legacy in the reserve and active duty forces.
Major General Mitchell J. Waters died Thursday in Lake Barrington Shores, Illinois, after a long battle with brain cancer. He was 69.
"He is the father of the modern-day Marine Corps Reserve," said former Marine Commandant retired General Carl E. Mundy.
Waters graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, in 1957. He entered the Marine Corps after completing the officer basic school in February 1958 - the same year he married his high school sweetheart, Cindy Fish. Waters then spent a three-year tour with Camp Lejeune's 2nd Marine Division.
"Mitch and I were classmates at the basic school," Mundy said. "He was truly a fine and exceptional man."
As a reserve officer in the 1960s and 1970s, Waters commanded four rifle platoons, three infantry companies and an infantry battalion.
As deputy commander of the reserve 4th Marine Division, Waters also commanded the 2nd Marine Brigade from 1987 to 1990 when it was transferred to Lejeune and changed from a reserve unit to active duty.
In 1991 Waters became the Corps' deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, but in those days most reservists were limited to no more than 179 days on active duty.
"We needed to achieve a total force and stop talking about the separation of active duty and reserve," Mundy said. "He sought to fix it so that there is one Marine Corps today. In six months, he restructured and put together the modern day Marine Corps Reserve."
"I recall vividly when Mitch came over to the Armed Services Committee with his list of 30 initiatives," said retired Major General Arnold L. Punaro.
His view of the future helped the reserve to move smoothly into the active duty forces following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and subsequent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We really don't have a reserve anymore," Mundy said. "Most are on active duty right now."
Since his retirement in 1993, Waters coached youth sports and ran in five marathons, in addition to an extensive civilian career. He was a sales manager and CEO for Christiana Industries, which specializes in semi-conductor chip technology.
"He took great joy in keeping up with his friends and bringing people together," said his daughter Melissa Waters Blank. "He knew that having fun was the most important component in learning, leading and living."
A memorial service for Waters will be held Saturday, February 5, 2005, in Illinois. He'll be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.
Story-telling Marine general dies of cancer
By Ashok Selvam
Courtesy of the Daily Herald
Posted Sunday, January 30, 2005Retired Marine Corps General Mitchell J. Waters enjoyed a distinguished career in the military that took him to the Pentagon, Germany and officer's candidate's school in Quantico, Virginia.
But for the loyal Cubs fan, Wrigley Field may have been his favorite place.
"He loved the Cubs," said his daughter Julie Waters Price.
General Waters, 69, of Lake Barrington Shores, died Thursday after battling brain cancer.
Waters was born April 11, 1935, in Evanston and graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1953, before earning a degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. While in college he joined the Marine Corps. That lead him to officer's basic school in 1958 in Quantico, Virginia.
At about the same time he finished at Quantico, he married his high school sweetheart, Cindy.
"He knew how to make people laugh," she said.
Waters joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1960 and commanded four rifle platoons, three infantry companies and the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. The latter took part in the NATO exercise Bold Guard in 1978 in northern Germany.
He also held various positions where he helped develop administrative policy. That culminated with a promotion to major general in 1990.
After being recalled to active duty in 1992, he served as the assistant deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Reserve affairs in Washington and testified before Congress. The job required Waters to work in the Pentagon.
Waters loved to share stories, and loved military life, Waters Price said.
"He loved to tell people about the good things, the positive things about the military," she said. "Some of the most peace-loving people are the soldiers, he would say."
Waters received awards including the Legion of Merit, which thanked him for his efforts in writing policy for the Marine reserves.
His successful military career translated in the business world, longtime friend and colleague Don Surber said.
"He was a born leader," Surber said.
Waters' civilian life included starting his own business and mentoring youngsters, Surber said.
He also coached Little League baseball for Palatine Park District. Many of his players then went on to the Fremd High School baseball team. Some even made it professionally, including former Cubs catcher Todd Hundley.
Sports, including baseball, played a significant part in Waters' life. Before illness sidelined him last year, he spent the last 15 years traveling to Cubs spring training camp.
The day doctors found a brain tumor, Waters was adamant on attending the June 5, 2004, Cubs game - even though his doctors advised against it.
"He said he was going to heaven, and heaven was Wrigley Field," Surber said.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
