Rank: Private, Pv-2 (Army), Pvt (Airforce, Marine Corps)
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Awards: Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: M-113A1, ACAV, K-13
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 26-Dec-1947
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Marital status: Married to Shirley A. Houser
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 21-Oct-1966
Incident date: 21-May-1967
Date of casualty: 21-May-1967
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, died while missing. Unknown. Burns.
Jerry Lee Houser was on combat operation when engaged with hostile forces.
Seventeen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 William Phillip Centers Jr
SGT Eugene Harold Dickinson
PVT Jerry Lee Houser
SP4 Toler Lee Hutchins Jr
SP4 Phillip Earl Ireland
SSG James Albert Jackson
SGT Alfred Lee
PFC Patrick Michael Loisel
SP4 Henry David McInnis
SP4 James David McWhorter
SP4 Anthony Wilfred Roybal
PFC Rodolfo Andres Saenz
SSG Walter Stephen Simpson
PFC William Charles Stanley
SP4 James Thomas Steighner
SP4 Dwight Elmer Timberlake
SP4 Larry Allen Williamson
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JERRY LEE HOUSER
21 MAY 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Houser distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 May 1967, while serving as a machine gunner abroad an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle that was participating in a convoy operation near Soui Cat, Republic of Vietnam. As the cavalry moved along a highway it was suddenly attacked by an estimated battalion of Viet Cong using recoilless rifles, mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. Private Houser immediately began to return fire, placing devastating machine gun fire into enemy positions. As the exchange of rounds intensified, Private Houser was hit and critically wounded when his vehicle was struck by several anti-tank rounds. Although in agonizing pain, he valiantly remained his post and continued to fire until he lost consciousness. The fire Private Houser placed upon the Viet Cong was instrumental in their eventual rout. Private First Class Houser’s courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 1936 (27 June 1967)