A True Hero
UT Track: 1963-1966, Manager
Military Experience: USMC; 1967 -1975; Captain; After completing The Basic School at Quantico and Flight School in Pensacola, Jimmy Watson went to Vietnam in November 1969 and flew helicopter missions there for about 13 months. A little more than five years later, on February 18, 1975, Captain Watson and three other Marines were killed in a helicopter crash at Camp Pendleton. The accident apparently occurred during a lead formation flight shift that caused an air collision.
Vietnam: November 1969 – January 1971, Assigned to NMH-361
MOS, Duties, Duty Stations: CH-53, Helicopter Pilot; Graduated from Officer’s Candidate School, Quantico, VA; Graduated from The Basic School, Quantico, VA; Graduated from Army Helicopter Training Program; HMH-363, Tustin, CA; HMT 301, Instructor, Tustin, CA
Jimmy was very appreciative of the opportunity that Coach gave him to have this wonderful experience during his years at UT. I am sure if Jimmy were here today, he would love to have the opportunity to say “Thank you, Coach Rohe.”
Medals: National Defense Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Medal
Comments from Obituary: Funeral arrangements are now complete for Capt. James Lloyd Watson, Jr., a former Clevelander, who was one of four airmen killed Tuesday in El Toro, California, after two large Marine helicopters collided in midair during a training flight near Santa Ana Marine Helicopter Base. Capt. Watson, whose wife, Sue Campbell Watson, is the daughter of the late Walter and Pauline Campbell, was a helicopter instructor at the Marine base. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Santa Ana, California. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens with full military honors.
Comments Submitted by Sue Watson Ogle (Jimmy’s Widow): Jimmy had great admiration and respect for Coach Rohe. He reinforced the proper work ethics that Jimmy had been taught by his parents. By working with Coach Rohe as a manager, he learned about the skills of being a good leader and being a team player, all of which are very important to an officer in the Marines. He was chosen to be the pilot for a General in Vietnam because of his ability to relate well to his superiors. The organization skills that were required to be a track manager carried over into his military jobs. Jimmy was very appreciative of the opportunity that Coach gave him to have this wonderful experience during his years at UT. I am sure if Jimmy were here today, he would love to have the opportunity to say “Thank you, Coach Rohe.”