▁States ▁Navy ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁at ▁Buff alo , ▁New ▁York . ▁ ▁Navy ▁career ▁After ▁instruction ▁at ▁the ▁Naval ▁Training ▁Station , ▁New port , ▁Rh ode ▁Island , ▁he ▁served ▁success ive ▁t ours ▁of ▁sea ▁duty ▁in ▁, ▁, ▁and ▁ ▁before ▁he ▁under w ent ▁av iation ▁training ▁at ▁the ▁Fle et ▁Air ▁Base , ▁C oco ▁Solo , ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁Zone . ▁After ▁he ▁att ained ▁the ▁rate ▁of ▁av iation ▁mach in ist ' s ▁mate ▁ 3 d ▁class ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁and ▁extended ▁his ▁en list ment ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 3 6 , ▁Wat erman ▁served ▁with ▁Util ity ▁Squadron ▁ 1 ▁into ▁mid - 1 9 3 9 . ▁▁ ▁Trans ferred ▁to ▁Pat rol ▁Squadron ▁ 2 1 ▁( VP - 2 1 ) ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁Wat erman ▁joined ▁that ▁unit ▁in ▁time ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁trans p ac ific ▁flight ▁from ▁Hawai i ▁to ▁the ▁Philippines ▁of ▁V P - 2 1 ' s ▁P BY - 4 ' s ▁to ▁rein force ▁the ▁A si atic ▁Fle et ' s ▁pat rol s ▁out ▁of ▁Cav ite ▁and ▁O long ap o . ▁For ▁his ▁role ▁in ▁that ▁movement , ▁Wat erman ▁received ▁a ▁comm end ation ▁from ▁Commander , ▁Pat rol ▁Wing ▁( Pat W ing ) ▁ 2 , ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Arthur ▁L . ▁Br istol ,