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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES 5 July 2, 2009 MEMORY of CAPT. GEORGE HOUGHTON ALEX R. LLOYD/U.S. Air Force The Hill Air Force Base Honor Guard stand beside the 421st Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon in Hangar 37 before a memorial ceremony June 26. The aircraft bears the image of the late Capt. George Houghton, 421st FS pilot, which was placed near the plane's canopy in memory of the pilot. Above, a four-ship of F-16s display the Missing . Man formation flyover ; after the memorial service. held June 26 in honor of fallen pilot Houghton. At left, the burial flag is held closely by an Honor Guard member prior to being presented to Houghton's wife, Josie. Below, Chaplain (Capt.) David McGuire (left), 388th Fighter Wing, pauses in speech, while Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carl Wright 75th Air Base Wing, looks at the ' • crowd. Team Hill, family rememberjallen pilot country and because of that he 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs has hundreds of brothers and sisembers of Team Hill and the local community paid tribute to ters in this wing and beyond; in a fallen Airman, husband, son, the end that is brother, warrior and friend at a memoreally why we all rial service June 26 in Hangar 37. serve — for each Capt. George B. "Ice" Houghton, a other." pilot from the 421st Fighter Squadron, died during an F-16 accident June 22 at Dennis shared the Utah Test and Training Range. The this passage Candler, N.C. native was 28. from John 15:13, The service included the presentation "Greater love of the Meritorious Service Medal and has no man than U.S. flag and a Missing Man flyover. this, that a man His wife, Josie, father, George Hough- lay down his life ton, mother, Darlene Houghton, and two for his friends." brothers, Staff Sgt Daniel Houghton and He compared U.S. Air Force Academy cadet Patrick this to military Houghton, as well as several out-of-town service. friends and family were in attendance. "That's what "In this memorial service, we will — our service is about, that's in fighter pilot tradition — both mourn what George his passing while we celebrate his life," was all about, said Col. Scott Dennis, 388th Fighter that is why he Wing commander at the time of the service, in what he described was the most was training for the upcoming combat sacred and solemn duty of honoring a deployment," Dennis said. "What we fallen warrior. do is vitally important — in Iraq and Afghanistan, we save lives of our comon the ground. "When George married Josie,rades "This wing's actions in combat has saved countless lives, and prevented I gained a daughter When families from losing their sons and he died, I gained a squadron, other daughters. Ice knew this, like we all do, and that's why he and the rest of us do a wing, all of you... You are what we do." all my family now." Dennis added that the wing's Airmen honor Houghton by being committed to the same thing he was committed to GEORGE HOUGHTON, father ... "by continuing our professionalism — by winning in combat - because it's "Josie, thank you for the honor of my vitally important to other families, and speaking today and allowing me to honor to our country." George's service to our country," Dennis Lt. Col. Tim Gosnell, 421st FS comsaid. "George and Darlene, there are no mander, said Houghton had many sides words I can say that will ease your pain to him including "jokester, DJ, profesat the loss of your son, but I hope you sional, proud brother and talented pilot. will come to know how much George "On several occasions I got to fly meant to us, and what a wonderful with Ice the extremely talented, combatyoung man you raised." ready Black Widow Viper driver, who "Like your other two sons, George couldn't hide his excitement about doing made a commitment to serve this great the job that he loved," Gosnell recalled. BY MAJ. BERNADETTE DOZIER M He was someone during this time of war "And through this last week, I got to who did not shrink from service to our meet Ice, the amazing family man who country. And he was willing to stand fast touched so many lives with his heart and as a husband, son, brother and wing- -> strength," Gosnell said. "Even though man when we needed him," Dennis said. he is not here now, I know he will be with all of us for our combat deployment "God rest his soul, and may God bless'all of us today." and throughout the rest of our lives. Sawadee, Ice" The Black Widows of the 421st Fighter JS Houghton's brothers and father also Squadron wish to honor their fallen comrade' shared their memories of him calling, by establishing a memorial foundation in his ~ describing him as an "inspiration and name. All funds collected will be distributed to hero." the scholarship or charity'of the family's choice. There are four options to donate to this fund: His father noted the enlarged family • Cash: Donation containers are located Houghton bestowed before his passing. within the 421 st, 4th and 34th Fighter Squad- , "When George married Josie, I irons, as well as the 388th FW, 419th FW, 388th; gained a daughter. When he died, I OSS and the 421st AMU. Wells Fargo: Stop by any Wells Fargo "( ,*;. gained a squadron, a wing, all of you," and donate to the "George Ice Houghton Me^- '1 his father said as he pointed to the morial Fund." Wells Fargo will accept any forrr^ crowd. "You are all my family now." of payment. [ '* Houghton said his son wanted to be , • Paypal: Create an account (if needed)" * and donate to: ** a fighter pilot, even though there was georgehoughtonmemorial@gmail.com. First some danger involved. "His profession click the "send money" tab, then "personal," didn't take (him) away ... God did," his then "gift." The donation will go to the Wells * '"•* Fargo account connected to the email address. father concluded. • Any Bank: Provide any bank the account "As we all reflect today, let us renumber and routing number of the "Ice Hough; member that George Houghton was an [ton Memorial Fund," provided by personnel at American Patriot, who was willing to ie donation container stations listed above. ; (the dor face the challenges that try our souls. . |