Roland G. Watier, 72, died suddenly Friday, September 2nd, 2016 at home after an anaphylactic reaction to a yellow jacket sting. Born in Portland on November 23, 1944 (and spoiling his mother’s Thanksgiving dinner) he is the son of Roland Gerard Watier Sr. and Thelma Claire Tucker Watier. He grew up, went to school in Gardiner, Maine, graduating from Gardiner Area High School in 1964. Like most young men at the time, he was drafted and chose the “color of his uniform” and enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1965. After boot camp, he went to Joint Intelligence Command School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. He was then assigned to Light Photon 63, Miramar Naval Air Base in San Diego, California. From 1965 to 1969, Roland served as a photographic intelligence analyst in Vietnam. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer First Class/E6 in 4 years, and he ultimately served 10 years and 4 months in the Navy. During those years he was deployed to active combat duty in Vietnam on the aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany. And then on October 26 1966 in the South China Sea, the Oriskany exploded, killing 44 seamen and severely injuring 33 other brave men in an onboard fire. The following year, he was assigned to the USS Bonhomme Richard (CVA 31) aircraft carrier for another Vietnam combat cruise. Then he was assigned to the USS Intrepid (CVA 11) aircraft carrier. This combat cruise occurred during The Seven Day War between Egypt and Israel. The Intrepid found itself fully involved in this conflict as it transited the Suez Canal. The ship was on total lockdown, except for Roland and several other intelligence analysts/photographers who were assigned to be on deck. The ship came under small arms fire and the tanker and a cargo ship following in the Intrepid’s wake were sunk by other forces, thus blocking the Suez Canal for about a decade. Later while on board the Intrepid, the ship encountered 100 foot seas while going around the Horn of Africa. Roland was then assigned to the Commander, Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT), Naval Air Station, Brunswick, where with his top secret clearance, he handled much classified information. While in Brunswick he spearheaded the start of Maine’s first recycling center. His colorful sudden last assignment was on the USS Forrestal in the Mediterranean due to his disapproval of Navy exercises (Operation Sandy Beach) on top of fragile Maine sand dunes in front of the press, preventing the exercises from being conducted. Once aboard, because of over staffing of his billet on the ship, he spent his last six months in the Navy painting a mural outside the admiral's quarters. After discharge in 1975, Roland returned to Maine. His first act was to move a barn and transform it into his family’s home. Roland became a farmer, barber, storyteller, award winning poet, myth hunter, children’s book author, sculptor, sign artist, and Father Christmas. He has also been, for 27 years, a contributing elder in the Men’s Council, an annual 3 day gathering of men, that focuses on exploring the deeper issues of manhood, that is held at his farm. He was also a Presidential Volunteer Service award recipient due to his service to the Union community and Come Spring Food Pantry. He for many years delighted the children of Union and Washington, DC by providing magical interactions with Father Christmas. Some of the most notable Christmas wishes included a young Union girl who asked for a “Big, Fat Piggie” and a DC police officer who wanted to abduct Father Christmas just to show him off to her fellow officers. Last year, Roland saved a man from bleeding to death in a devastating tractor trailer truck accident on Rt. 17 in Washington, Maine and was awarded the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award by the Union Maine Fire Department. He was an active member of the Veteran writing’s group at Togus VA where he wrote poetry and he was awarded 3rd place prize nationally at the National Veterans’ Creative Art Festival. Roland is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol Watier, and his daughter Katherine Watier Ong, and her husband Harry Ong, and granddaughter Abigail of Falls Church, VA; as well as his son Matthew Watier and his wife Vivian Liang of Vienna, VA. He is also survived by his brother David Watier of Santa Rosa, CA. He is joining his brother Robert Watier who died May of 2016. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews who know him as crazy Uncle Ron. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 6-8 PM at Hall’s of Waldoboro, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro. There will be a funeral service coordinated by the Men’s Council at Chez Watier’s residence at 715 Sennebec Rd in Union, Maine on Sunday, Sept 11, 2016 at 1 pm. Even though Roland's reaction was a first time reaction, the family would encourage everyone to read the Allergy and Asthma Foundation’s Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan and if you have an epipen prescription update it yearly. You can apply for financial support via http://bit.ly/2bTn4xz. Or if you wish, you can send donations to the Men’s Council of Maine via David Daniels at (207) 8 92-4675. Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, light a candle for Roland, or to share a story or pictures, visit his Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.