Military family’s July 4th goodbye

CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WISH) - Private First Class James Waters, 19, died July 1 in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his Army unit with an IED.

His parents, Garry and Valerie Waters, displayed pictures at their Cloverdale home, James wearing the uniform he loved most.

Jimmy, as his family calls him, was due to be married in December to his high school sweetheart, Jordan.

“No one prepares you, you always know that chance,” Jimmy’s father, Garry Waters, said through tears. ”You've got to let him go.”

Garry and Valerie traveled to Dover, Del. Saturday to identify their son.

“He was just a good kid,” Garry said. “I thank God for 21 years.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set.