UNION — Roland G. Watier, 72, died suddenly on Sept. 2, 2016, at home after an anaphylactic reaction to a yellow jacket sting. Born in Portland on Nov. 23, 1944, (and spoiling his mother's Thanksgiving dinner) he was the son of Roland Gerard Watier Sr. and Thelma Claire Tucker Watier.

He grew up and went to school in Gardiner, 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 U.S. Navy in January 1965.

After boot camp, he went to Joint Intelligence Command School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colo. He was then assigned to Light Photon 63, Miramar Naval Air Base in San Diego, Calif. 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 four 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, U.S.S. Oriskany. And then on Oct. 26, 1966, in the South China Sea, the Oriskany exploded, killing 44 seamen and severely injuring 33 other brave men in an on board fire. The following year, Roland was assigned to the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard (CVA 31) aircraft carrier for another Vietnam combat cruise.

Then he was assigned to the U.S.S. 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, U.S. 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 U.S.S. 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 three-day gathering, at his farm, of men that focuses on exploring the deeper issues of manhood. 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, D.C., 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 D.C. 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 Route 17 in Washington, Maine, and was awarded the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award by the Union Fire Department. He was an active member of the veterans writing group at Togus VA, where he wrote poetry, and he was awarded third 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; his 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, Calif.

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, Sept. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hall's of Waldoboro, 949 Main St. in Waldoboro.

There will be a funeral service coordinated by the Men's Council at Chez Watier's residence at 715 Sennebec Road in Union on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m.

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 here. Or if you wish, you can send donations to the Men's Council of Maine via David Daniels at 207-892-4675.

Hall's of Boothbay has care of the arrangements.