Gordon Douglas Houck
28 November 1945 – 8 May 2013
I don’t know if any of the readers remember my wonderful husband Gordon Houck.
Perhaps you remember him with less of the wonderful?
J.
Sadly at only 67, Gordon passed away on 8 May 2013.
He had hoped to hook up with some of his old buddies but it didn’t work
out for him, so I asked the team on the Blackhawk bulletin if I could just say
hi to you all and tell you a little about him.
Gordon was born and lived in Norwich, NY, he also lived for a time in Sanford
and Debary, FL. He moved to
Riseley, England where we married and enjoyed a peaceful and happy life.
Gordon served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968.
He was kitted out at Fort Dix, NJ then shipped out to Fort Hood, TX for
his basic training with A troop 2/1st Cav, 2nd Armoured
Division. He did a good share of KP
at Fort Hood, including on his first day and enjoyed a party or two. One story
he retold often was of an (unauthorised) A Troop party that ended up with B
Troop taking the wrap from the MPs for all the trash (his version was much
longer than mine).
He shipped out to Vietnam in August 1967 as a member
of A troop 2/1st Cav, 4th Infantry Division where
he served as a gunner on a track.
Gordon was always ready to tell his many funny stories such as rifle and bayonet
training, where he “just followed orders” and his “favourite” sergeant falling
in a hole and breaking his leg but he didn’t talk much to family and friends
about his actual service in Vietnam as like many others, it was a painful time
for him. He did share with me so I
can understand why it left a lasting effect on him which was with him to the
end. We visited DC only last year
for his first visit to The Wall – it had taken him a long time to go there, but
was pleased that he finally had chance to salute his friends.
He received the Army Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart for the wounds he
received when his track was hit by rockets, just north of Kontum during the Tet
Offensive in 1968. He recovered
physically and served the rest of his time in Vietnam, shipping back in August
1968 via Fort Lewis, WA.
He was very proud to have served his country and honoured that he was eligible
for burial in Arlington National Cemetery and I will be taking Gordon’s ashes
from England to Arlington, VA once the scheduled date has been agreed.
He loved life and celebrated the beauty of the world around him every day,
bringing laughter and love into the lives of his family and friends.
I will miss him every day and I am and always will be so very proud of
him.
If anyone remembers Gordon and would like to get in touch I would love to hear
from you at
kehouck@sky.com
and if you find yourself in sunny England drop me a line and perhaps we can meet
up to share pictures and stories.
Thank you all for your service.
Karen Houck (June 2013)
)
Gordon Houck (1966 Fort Hood
Gordon Houck (1968 Pleiku)
Gordon Houck (1967 Vietnam)
Gordon Houck (2012)