Posted by Steve Houston on March 30, 2012:

Colonel Darrell G. Houston, U.S. Army (Retired) passed away Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Slingerlands, NY. Son of the late L. Clarence Houston and Isabell West Houston, he was born on June 7, 1935 and raised in Dyersburg, TN, a cotton mill town near the Mississippi River. During his childhood, he made many lifelong friends and often told many great stories of their experiences growing up in this tight nit community - recollections that were bound tightly in him. All who met him knew immediately that he was a caring person of immensely strong will and integrity. These character traits personified his life as well as his love for his friends and family. After a year at University of Tennessee at Martin, he enlisted in the Army, made his way to the USMA Prep School and then reported to West Point in the summer of 1956. During his four years, he played B squad football, competed in rifle marksmanship, tangled in a fun-loving way with his tactical officers and professors, served as his company's Honor Representative, and made many more lifelong friends among his classmates. He met his wife of 51 years Patricia Truex while in Prep School, dated her all through his four years as a Cadet, and married her the day of his graduation from West Point in 1960. Again, his experiences and recollections of these times were extremely important to him and had a profound impact on him throughout his life. He loved his classmates and his wife. Upon commissioning as an Infantry Officer, he served first in the 101st Airborne Division, then with the newly formed 11th Air Assault Division. He deployed with the 1st Air Cavalry Division to Vietnam serving as Company Commander of C Company, 1st Battalion 12th Cavalry. He led his soldiers during several intense battles until he was severely wounded. He returned to Vietnam serving as Battalion Operations Officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and again while leading soldiers in combat he was severely wounded. During his two combat tours, he was awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star with V-device for gallantry in action, in addition to the two Purple Hearts for wounds received in action. He loved the soldiers he served with and would oftentimes recall stories of their heroism. Darrell served over 27 years in the Army. In addition to his combat experiences, he taught Leadership at West Point, twice commanded infantry battalions, and served on the Army Staff. He returned to West Point where he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Security. It was at the end of this tour at West Point, an historic place that he loved dearly, that he retired from the Army in 1984. His loving wife Patricia was at his side as she had been throughout the many triumphs and hardships of their Army life together. He worked for another 10 years as a businessman and VP for Key Bank living in the Albany, NY area. He and Patricia spent these years visiting their grandchildren and friends from Alaska to Europe. Darrell's service to his Country inspired his three sons to graduate from West Point serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his daughter to a career in the Department of Defense Education Activity serving overseas in Japan and Germany. His devotion to family has made their families strong and enduring. Survivors include his wife of 51 years Patricia, his sister Charlotte, his three sons Steve, Dave and Mark, his daughter Suzanne, and his eleven grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 12-1pm on Wednesday, April 11 at William F. Hogan Funeral Home, 135 Main Street, Highland Falls. Service will follow at 1:30pm at Old Cadet Chapel, West Point with interment in Post Cemetery, West Point. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for memorial donations to Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org on the Honor /Memory Donation page. "And when our work is done, Our course on earth is run, May it be said, 'Well Done; Be Thou At Peace.' E'er may that line of gray Increase from day to day, Live, serve, and die, we pray, West Point, for thee."

admin