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<em>Rodney Lee ‘Rod’ Waterstrat</em> was born on September 2, 1929 to Walter and Lillian Waterstrat of Sanborn, NY, on the Niagara frontier. From an early age, Rod benefitted from his religious training and was a strong participant in church activities. He attended high school in Tonawanda, NY and excelled in his studies. Graduating in 1947, he subsequently enrolled at the University of Buffalo, where he met Elaine Westbrook and began a courtship that lasted seven years.</p>
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In 1947, Rod enlisted in the Army National Guard. He served four years in the Guard, and from there he won an appointment to West Point and entered in the summer of 1951. Cadet life apparently agreed with Rod, as his progress in academics and in intellectual endeavors was steady. He was active in the Debate Council, the Dialectic Society, and the German Club, and he served on the Honor Committee. He taught Sunday School for three of his four years at the Academy, reflecting his strong religious grounding. He and Elaine stayed in close contact throughout his cadet career, and they were married on graduation day.</p>
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Rod chose Air Defense Artillery upon his commissioning and was stationed early on with a Nike site on the Niagara frontier. At one time he was commander of the Cambria Nike Base in Sanborn, his hometown. Subsequent Artillery assignments were with field units in Germany. In 1961 Rod’s request for transfer to the Ordnance Corps was approved, and he began a series of assignments which groomed him to become an expert in Army maintenance and logistics for the rest of his Army career. His first assignment in this branch was to command an Ordnance company in Munich, Germany, a position he held for two years.</p>
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Additional command and staff assignments were in the Army’s Tank, Automotive, Mobility, and Materiel Commands. He served in Vietnam and on Army staff at the Department of the Army. Returning to Germany, he commanded an Army maintenance plant and served in U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) headquarters and in the 43rd Support Group. Rod’s assignments took him to many stations in the United States and overseas. He served at Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Benning, GA; Fort Niagara, NY; Fort Sill, OK; Aberdeen, MD; Detroit, MI; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Fort Carson, CO; and in Vietnam and seven years in Germany.</p>
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Rod retired in 1979, moved to Scottsdale, AZ, and began a second career in real estate.</p>
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Rod treasured the friendships found at West Point, and this comraderie carried over to his retirement years when he often met with his classmates in the greater Denver, CO area and was an active participant in the planning and execution of the first Class of 1955 mini reunion, held in Colorado Springs in 1992.</p>
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Rod was a strong family man. His marriage to Elaine produced two daughters, Kathryn and Susan, a son, Steven, and 11 grandchildren. He had a very dry sense of humor, which stood him in good stead with people, and he had many friends. He was a good golfer, and he played regularly on two teams at his country club. He enjoyed swimming, was an active member of his church, active in Rotary, and headed a cooking team at the golf club. He spent hours working in his yard and garden. All his life, Rod was loyal to his country, his God, his family, and his friends. He was a loving husband, father, and a proud grandfather. </p>
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On February 20, 2001, Rod died after an unsuccessful medical procedure. Elaine and their three children lost a most considerate and loving husband and father. Rod leaves a legacy of having given his utmost in service to his nation by upholding the Long Gray principles of Duty, Honor, Country. Well done, Rod.</p>
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Do not think of me as gone; I am with you still in each new dawn <em>(Native American Prayer)</em>.</p>