PFC COLUMBUS WATSON, JR
“Junior” as he was known to his friends, was born in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 20, 1951, to Columbus Watson, Sr., and Lillie Mae Watson. He was the fourth born into a family of six children. Siblings were Earnest Rountree, Sallie Mae Rountree Wilson, Lillie Ann Watson Mitchell, Junior and then five years later came Hannah “Pat” Watson and Danny Lee Watson.
He grew up in the Dunbar Community and attended school there until his junior and senior year where he spent time with his mother in Boston, Georgia. The class of 1970 still recognized him as a graduate. One of the best memories is his spending his first grade year playing “Zorro”, nearly always seen with his signature cape and sword. His sister, Pat remembers him as the best big brother you could ever want. They spent time fishing and just taking walks and talking. But most of all, they remember his big loving smile, even after 43 years after his death.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and began his tour of duty in Vietnam, on August 23, 1971. Just prior to his return home, he gave his life for our Country in a helicopter crash in Ben Hoa Province on March 17, 1972.
He served with Aero Rifle Plt, F Trp, 9th Cav, 1st Cav Div and received Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service w/2 Bronze Stars Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal.
On a personal note, My name is Charles Reed, Life Member VVA 594, I have been involved in a project with other VVA 594 Associate Life Members Donna Gerber and Lori Augustyn, to honor our Vietnam Fallen. We finished our original project for our 5 area Florida counties Lee, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, and Collier, of finding pictures and life bio’s of our 80 fallen Veterans, and had a dedication on November 9th, 2014, at the Museum of Military Memorabilia at the Naples Airport, Naples Florida. We are still looking for photos of our fallen, if you know of someone or have a picture of one of these Veterans I ask you to send me an email at c4him2@gmail.com and post that picture on the vvmf.org wall of faces so these 5 will not be forgetton. The names of the 5 Veterans still missing a picture from our area are:
Army SSgt. George Hayes Barger, - Air Force MSgt Harold Clarence Cook, -Army Sgt Christopher Michael Daniels, -
Army SP4 Jacky Lee Drury, - and Army WO1 William Colqueth Hix Jr.
The 3 of us spent over 2 years trying to locate the family of Columbus Watson, as they are the only ones who can request a headstone for him, as his headstone was stolen from his grave. As luck would have it we finally found his family and a headstone was request for his grave with the dedication held on 5/19/2014.
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