★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
LT John "Joe" Houston, USN '02, was lost on October 28, 2009 when the T-34 plane he was aboard crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
"Joe was the embodiment of the Naval Academy mission. He was disciplined, methodical, quick to praise others, selfless in his time with friends, a servant who participated in humanitarian causes outside the Academy, and above all else, wholly devoted to the Navy and his country. The hallmarks of Joe that we in 2nd Company came to know were: a pristine uniform, flawless physical conditioning, a humble manner, and perhaps a late study light that always seemed to be burning. Joe was an exemplary midshipman, scholar and patriot who yearned to be a leader."
Later: "He loved being an engineer, adventuresome, loved Texas A&M (that's where his dad went), always had an A&M hat on during liberty. Some of his stories I can't tell in public...but one of the funnier ones, we had finished a Friday parade, showered, ready to go out on a Friday night for dinner, movie, etc, he can't find his keys anywhere...we're all tearing apart his room, the 3-1 deck, wardroom, etc. No luck. Finally decide to either walk or another person go get his illegally parked car. We walk outside Gate 3 by the chapel, his car is parked there, keys in the ignition, running, lights on; he had gone to get his parked car, got a spot outside the gate, and just gone blonde on us..."
Joe was survived by his son Asher, fiancée Jennifer, parents, brother, and sister-in-law.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_J._HOUSTON,_LT,_USN