John Lucius Houston
Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 6 July 1964, Sergeant John Lucius Houston was serving with Detachment A-726, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SGT Houston was a Radio Operator, serving with Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, he participated with outstanding effectiveness in defending the installation. As he was moving to his battle position, he noticed that one of his team members had been knocked down by an exploding mortar. SGT Houston rushed through a hail of small arms fire and exploding mortars and, after reaching the unconscious soldier, placed him in a covered position and stayed with him until he fully recovered, before proceeding to his battle station. After moving only a few yards, he was slightly injured by an exploding mortar. SGT Houston then pressed on toward a large mound of dirt that afforded him excellent observation and fields of fire. From this position, he single-handedly shattered the enemy assault in his sector and killed many of the enemy troops. As the hostile forces retaliated with an intense grenade assault on his position, he again deterred the enemy action. Although his ammunition was running out, he refused to take cover and called out to a fellow soldier to throw additional rounds to him. He then reloaded the magazine while exposed to the heavy enemy gunfire and remained in that dangerous position for over 2 hours to defend the camp. He continued his valiant efforts until mortally wounded by the enemy. SGT Houston's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On the day before the above battle, SGT Houston received a letter from home informing him that his wife was about to give birth to twins. One of them, John L. Houston, Jr., died at birth and is buried with his father at Arlington Cemetery. The wife of MSG Gabriel Alamo [Honoree Record ID 231272], the other posthumous DSC recipient from that battle, was the only other spouse of a team member pregnant at the time of the battle. Upon learning of her husband's death, she miscarried, compounding the terrible tragedy.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John Lucius Houston (ASN: 14706416), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment A-726, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Houston distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 July 1964 as a Radio Operator, serving with the United States Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong, Sergeant Houston demonstrated fortitude, courage, and determination when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting five hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, he participated with outstanding effectiveness in defending the installation. As he was moving to his battle position, he noticed that one of his team members had been knocked down by an exploding mortar. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he rushed through a hail of small arms fire and exploding mortars, succeeded in reaching the unconscious soldier, placed him in a covered position, and stayed with him until fully recovered before proceeding to his battle station. After he had moved only a few yards and was slightly injured by an exploding mortar, Sergeant Houston pressed on toward a large mound of dirt which afforded him excellent observation and fields of fire. From this position, he single-handedly shattered the vicious enemy assault in his sector and annihilated many of the enemy troops. As the hostile forces retaliated with an intense grenade assault on his position, he again deterred the enemy action. Although his ammunition was running out, he refused to take cover, called out to a fellow soldier to throw additional rounds to him, and reloaded the magazine while exposed to the heavy enemy gunfire. Undaunted by the overwhelming onslaught, he remained in this dangerous position for over two hours to defend the camp and displayed his valiant efforts until mortally wounded by the enemy. Sergeant Houston's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 8 (March 9, 1965)

Honors

The name John L Houston is located on Panel 1E Line 57 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Sergeant John Lucius Houston is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 41, Site 1316.

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