Chief Quartermaster Waters was born in Charleston, South Carolina on July 30, 1943.  He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves at age 17 in the fall of 1960.  During summer vacation, 1961, he attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Submarine Reserve and U.S. Naval Basic Submarine Training School in New London Conn., Class-231, Section-438. After leaving High School at the age of 19, he entered active duty in the U.S. Navy in November, 1962.

After induction at the Charleston Naval Station he reported aboard the USS TROUT (SS 566) a Tang Class Submarine home ported in Charleston, S.C. and worked five (5) months in the deck force before beginning to strike for Quartermaster.   After an extensive yard period in the Charleston Naval Ship Yard, from April to November 1963, the Trout was sent on a Mediterranean Cruise where he was involved with various NATO operations and had an opportunity for valuable training in celestial navigation.  The Trout made port in Lisbon, Portugal, Cannes and Toulon, France, Naples, Italy, Athens, Greece, Malta and Gibraltar.   Upon completion of his enlistment, having attained the rank of QM3(SS) he returned to civilian life and reafilliated with the Naval Reserve in Charleston, (Submarine Unit), where he served as Assistant Master at Arms under Chief Gunnersmate Wm. E. "Billy" Easterlin.  While drilling in Charleston and Columbia he attended The University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. and graduated in June 1970 with a Bachelors Degree in Ancient History with minors in Religion and Economics.  He was employed by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission as an economic analyst in May 1971.

Before attending college in Columbia he transferred from the Charleston Naval Reserve Center Submarine Unit to the INSHORE UNDERSEA WARFARE DIVISION (IUWD 6-1), a unit tasked with protecting estuaries and Amphibious Landing Areas, (ALAs) and classified as a ground combat unit. While in college he affiliated with Naval reserve Center Columbia where he was advanced to QM2(SS) on May 16, 1968 and served as LPO (Leading Petty Officer) of the Division Color Guard.   After college he transferred back to his old unit which had been renamed the MOBILE INSHORE UNDERSEA WARFARE (MIUW 907) in Charleston, S.C. and served in the Operations Division as Navigation Plot supervisor and Radar operator.  After a total of seven (7) years service in this unit the unit was disbanded by DOD and he was transferred to the USS FEARLESS (MSO 442) an ocean mine sweeper home ported in Charleston, S.C. where he was advanced to QM1(SS) on May 16, 1981 and served as Senior Petty Office of the Watch in the Navigation Division. While onboard Fearless he participated in four (4) "Solid Shield" Operations in addition to regular monthly weekend deployments.   After five (5) years of service in the Fearless' reserve crew he transferred to HARBOR DEFENSE COMMAND AND CONTROL (HDCC 807), a staff operation of the 6th Naval District in Charleston, S.C. This unit was tasked with developing and writing the operational defense plan for Charleston Harbor.   After three (3) years of service he transferred as a plank-owner in to the new unit CONVOY COMMODORE 107 (Charleston ~ Los Palmos) housed in the Naval Reserve Center in Columbia, S.C.  While at this command he was advanced to Chief Quartermaster, QMC(SS) on May 16, 1985 and served as the unit's Command Chief Petty Officer until his retirement in December of 1990.