VADM William "Bill" Douglas Houser, USN (Ret), a longtime Virginia resident, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 11, 1921, son of Harry M. and Berenice (Horton) Houser. After attending Coral Gables and Marion Academy high schools, he entered the US Naval Academy in 1938 as a member of the Class of 42 at the age of 16.
Graduating early with his Class in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific, stationed aboard the cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43), which was involved in combat during the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, raids on Marcus and Wake Islands, and operations around Leyte and Luzon. Near the end of the war he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He again saw combat in Korea in 1953 as the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 44, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," and in the Vietnam War as commanding officer of the carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64). Other sea commands included VF-124 (the F-8 Crusader replacement training squadron), the USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division Two as a flag officer. Ashore he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and two tours on the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1962, he served as Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric and in 1965 as a member of the staff of the National Security Council. His final tour of duty was in the Pentagon as Vice Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from 1972 to 1976, having operational and budgetary responsibility for all US Navy aircraft carriers, air stations, air wings, squadrons, aircraft, and aviation personnel.
While on active duty, VADM Houser received numerous medals and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Air Medal (2 awards), Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat V, and numerous theater and campaign medals from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
He was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served during and after World War II as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Pharmacist Mate. Betty Lou passed away May 16th, 1997.
On September 5th, 2003, he remarried to Jan King Evans, who now survives him with his three daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter by his first marriage, Cindy Riera (Shelly, Scott, and great granddaughter, Stella Grace), Gayle Fogleman (Heather and Christopher), and Francie Washington (Evan and Emily), and two stepdaughters and grandchildren, Karla MacMahon (Adela, Edward, and Alexandra) and Louise Turner (Austin and Benjamin). VADM Houser peacefully passed away with Jan at his side Sunday evening, February 5th 2012 from pneumonia.
Graduating early with his Class in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific, stationed aboard the cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43), which was involved in combat during the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, raids on Marcus and Wake Islands, and operations around Leyte and Luzon. Near the end of the war he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He again saw combat in Korea in 1953 as the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 44, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," and in the Vietnam War as commanding officer of the carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64). Other sea commands included VF-124 (the F-8 Crusader replacement training squadron), the USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division Two as a flag officer. Ashore he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and two tours on the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1962, he served as Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric and in 1965 as a member of the staff of the National Security Council. His final tour of duty was in the Pentagon as Vice Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from 1972 to 1976, having operational and budgetary responsibility for all US Navy aircraft carriers, air stations, air wings, squadrons, aircraft, and aviation personnel.
While on active duty, VADM Houser received numerous medals and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Air Medal (2 awards), Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat V, and numerous theater and campaign medals from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
He was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served during and after World War II as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Pharmacist Mate. Betty Lou passed away May 16th, 1997.
On September 5th, 2003, he remarried to Jan King Evans, who now survives him with his three daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter by his first marriage, Cindy Riera (Shelly, Scott, and great granddaughter, Stella Grace), Gayle Fogleman (Heather and Christopher), and Francie Washington (Evan and Emily), and two stepdaughters and grandchildren, Karla MacMahon (Adela, Edward, and Alexandra) and Louise Turner (Austin and Benjamin). VADM Houser peacefully passed away with Jan at his side Sunday evening, February 5th 2012 from pneumonia.
VADM William "Bill" Douglas Houser, USN (Ret), a longtime Virginia resident, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 11, 1921, son of Harry M. and Berenice (Horton) Houser. After attending Coral Gables and Marion Academy high schools, he entered the US Naval Academy in 1938 as a member of the Class of 42 at the age of 16.
Graduating early with his Class in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific, stationed aboard the cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43), which was involved in combat during the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, raids on Marcus and Wake Islands, and operations around Leyte and Luzon. Near the end of the war he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He again saw combat in Korea in 1953 as the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 44, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," and in the Vietnam War as commanding officer of the carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64). Other sea commands included VF-124 (the F-8 Crusader replacement training squadron), the USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division Two as a flag officer. Ashore he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and two tours on the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1962, he served as Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric and in 1965 as a member of the staff of the National Security Council. His final tour of duty was in the Pentagon as Vice Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from 1972 to 1976, having operational and budgetary responsibility for all US Navy aircraft carriers, air stations, air wings, squadrons, aircraft, and aviation personnel.
While on active duty, VADM Houser received numerous medals and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Air Medal (2 awards), Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat V, and numerous theater and campaign medals from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
He was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served during and after World War II as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Pharmacist Mate. Betty Lou passed away May 16th, 1997.
On September 5th, 2003, he remarried to Jan King Evans, who now survives him with his three daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter by his first marriage, Cindy Riera (Shelly, Scott, and great granddaughter, Stella Grace), Gayle Fogleman (Heather and Christopher), and Francie Washington (Evan and Emily), and two stepdaughters and grandchildren, Karla MacMahon (Adela, Edward, and Alexandra) and Louise Turner (Austin and Benjamin). VADM Houser peacefully passed away with Jan at his side Sunday evening, February 5th 2012 from pneumonia.
Graduating early with his Class in December 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific, stationed aboard the cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43), which was involved in combat during the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, raids on Marcus and Wake Islands, and operations around Leyte and Luzon. Near the end of the war he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He again saw combat in Korea in 1953 as the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 44, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," and in the Vietnam War as commanding officer of the carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64). Other sea commands included VF-124 (the F-8 Crusader replacement training squadron), the USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division Two as a flag officer. Ashore he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and two tours on the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1962, he served as Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric and in 1965 as a member of the staff of the National Security Council. His final tour of duty was in the Pentagon as Vice Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from 1972 to 1976, having operational and budgetary responsibility for all US Navy aircraft carriers, air stations, air wings, squadrons, aircraft, and aviation personnel.
While on active duty, VADM Houser received numerous medals and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Air Medal (2 awards), Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat V, and numerous theater and campaign medals from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
He was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served during and after World War II as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Pharmacist Mate. Betty Lou passed away May 16th, 1997.
On September 5th, 2003, he remarried to Jan King Evans, who now survives him with his three daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughter by his first marriage, Cindy Riera (Shelly, Scott, and great granddaughter, Stella Grace), Gayle Fogleman (Heather and Christopher), and Francie Washington (Evan and Emily), and two stepdaughters and grandchildren, Karla MacMahon (Adela, Edward, and Alexandra) and Louise Turner (Austin and Benjamin). VADM Houser peacefully passed away with Jan at his side Sunday evening, February 5th 2012 from pneumonia.
Gravesite Details
Interment was scheduled for 28 June 2012
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