Milton Joe Watson Jr

Milton Joe Watson Jr transitioned from this life into glory on Monday, September 9, 2024.

Milton was born on November ninth in 1940 to the late Elder Milton Joe Watson and Marie Moner Watson in Coolidge Georgia. Milton was the sixth of twelve siblings. He and most of his siblings primarily grew up in Dewey City and on Felix Street in Thomasville, Georgia.

In 1960, Milton graduated from Douglass High School in Thomasville, Georgia. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. He completed Basic Training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and was assigned to USA Garrison at Ft. Gordon, Georgia for duty as a meat-cutter. Later he was assigned to Headquarters Detachment Berchesgarten, Germany and worked as a meat cutter and cook for nine months. He received a promotion to Private First Class (E-3) and was assigned to Headquarters Detachment Batolz, Germany as a meat cutter in the commissary meat market where he received a promotion to Specialist Four (E-4) and supervised the commissary meat market and five German Nationals.

In 1961, he married Carolyn Turner and although they later divorced, to this union Kathy Watson was born.

In 1962, he was assigned back to Ft. Hamilton, New York for discharge. He returned to his hometown of Thomasville, Georgia but saw very little prospects of success. He made the decision to reenlist in the Army for Radio Repair School and completed nine weeks of Radio Relay and Carrier School at Ft. Gordon, Georgia and was assigned to Company B, 54th Signal Battalion at Ft. Hood, Texas. It was there that he received a promotion to Sergeant (E-5) and was Team chief of Radio Relay Van and supervised three personnel.

In 1964, Milton was Assigned to 207th Signal Battalion Company (TROPO) at Karate, Thailand where he worked briefly with the microwave communications system. He was assigned to temporary duty to Udorn, Thailand as an advisor on 200 miles of VHF Thailand
Army Communications System and later became site chief of Radio Relay and Radio Terminal Sites.

In 1965, he returned to the U.S. and was assigned to Company B, 53rd Signal Battalion at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona and was the Team Chief of two Radio Relay Carrier Terminal Vans and conducted troubleshooting for communications equipment and radio systems.

In 1966, he was assigned as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of 22 men communication Detachment for the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He received The Bronze Star Medal as "Sergeant Watson distinguished himself by meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force during the period of April 1966 to April 1967 while serving as VHF Team Leader, Company B, 53rd Signal Battalion, in the Republic of Vietnam."

In 1967, Milton was assigned to HHC 11th AD Signal Battalion at Kaiserslautern, Germany and served as shift chief of a communication site and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Commanding General's UHF Communication vans. He received a promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-6) and assumed duties as communication site chief and Platoon Sergeant of 35 men. He later received a promotion to Sergeant First Class (E-7).

In 1970, Milton was assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia Signal School as Senior Instructor. While there he completed Instructors Training,  conducted classroom site and field instructions of AIT students, supervised maintenance and up keep of site and supervision of three instructor personnel, and attended Signal NCOES Course.

In 1974, Milton returned to Thailand as he was assigned to the 7th Army Security Agency in
Udorn and served as Supply Liaison for Brigade S-4. In 1975, he returned to the U.S. and
was assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, Fort Gordon, Georgia, as a Senior Instructor and

Platoon Sergeant. He gave formal instructions on Signal Communications Equipment and had direct supervision of 40 to 60 trainees as a Platoon Sergeant. Later Milton served as a Section Chief of 50 military and civilian instructors and received a promotion to Master Sergeant (E-8). During this time, a dear friend introduced him to Ernestine Faust.

In 1977, Milton was assigned to the 141st Signal Battalion in Ansbach, Germany where he was the Supervisor of the Personnel Administrative Center. In 1979 he was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions to the "maintenance of an effective combat readiness posture and thereby enhanced the ability of "Old Ironsides" in the Federal Republic of Germany to deter armed aggression."

In 1979, Milton was assigned to Company B 426th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina as First Sergeant of a Signal Company of 180 assigned personnel.

In 1981, Milton retired from the U.S. Army as First Sergeant and in 2003 as a civil service employee with a combination of 40 years of service.

While Milton received many awards, he was most consumed with his relationships with the Lord, his family, and his friends. He enjoyed good scotch, reading, grilling ribs and steaks, and playing poker. He frequently took long walks outdoors and loved listening to gospel
music and smooth jazz.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings: Margaret McKnight, Doris James, Emma Loraine Cowart, Lena Mae Delaney, Inez Spivey, Nadine Oliver, and George Watson.

His memory will be forever cherished by his daughters, Kathy Watson (Miami, Fl) and Shabeth (Fredrick) Okonneh (Frisco, TX); grandchildren Gregory Watson, Antonio (Telisha) Watson, David Okonneh and Elizabeth Okonneh; siblings, Lillie Ruth (Warren) Manning, Priscilla Martin, Joan Williams and Maxine Jones; nephews who were like sons, nieces whowere like daughters, God children, and devoted friends.