waldron was born on august 24, 1900 at fort pierre, south dakota, son of rancher charles westbrook waldron and jane van metre grandson of lawyer and probate judge george prentiss waldron, and a sixth great nephew of richard waldron. he was of colonial new hampshire families on his father's side, and of oglala lakota and southerner background on his mother's side.. his family immigrated to canada when he was a child and homesteaded near lashburn, saskatchewan where he spent his youth before returning to the usa. in the midst of his armed forces career he married adelaide wentworth and had two daughters. he studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. world war ii navy commander george philip jr., a navy cross recipient and namesake of , was the son of waldron's sister alice island waldron.