[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4768-S4769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING VICE ADMIRAL WILLIAM D. HOUSER, USN

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor a great naval 
officer and a true friend. Yesterday, VADM William ``Bill'' Douglas 
Houser, USN, Retired, was buried with full military

[[Page S4769]]

honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His was a life spent in service 
to our great country and its Navy and sailors.
  An Atlanta native, Admiral Houser entered the Naval Academy in 1938 
at the age of 16, as part of the class of 1942. He was commissioned 
early with his class in 1941, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. 
During World War II, he served for 3 years as a deck officer aboard the 
USS Nashville, which saw combat in the battle for Guadalcanal, raids on 
the Marcus and Wake Islands, and operations around Leyte and Luzon in 
the Philippines. In 1945, Admiral Houser entered flight training and 
was designated a naval aviator the following year. He saw combat in 
Korea as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 44 and during the 
Vietnam War as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS 
Constellation. Other commands-at-sea included Fighter Squadron 124, the 
USS Mauna Loa, and Carrier Division TWO as a flag officer.
  Ashore, Admiral Houser served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff from 1960 to 1962 and again from 1967 to 1968 as Director, 
Strategic Plans Division. He was the Military Assistant to the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense from 1962 through 1963; a member of the staff of 
the National Security Council in 1965; and Director of Aviation Plans 
and Requirements for the U.S. Navy from 1968 through 1970. He was 
promoted to Vice Admiral in 1972 and served his last tour of duty from 
1972 to 1976 as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, where 
he was responsible for all Naval aviation matters. Admiral Houser said 
that his most satisfying accomplishment as Deputy Chief was saving the 
F-14 fighter from cancellation.
  Admiral Houser received numerous medals and decorations while on 
Active Duty. They include the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards; 
the Legion of Merit, four awards; the Bronze Star with Combat V; and 
the Air Medal, two awards. In retirement, he was also honored to 
receive the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association 
Distinguished Graduate Award in 2003.
  After retirement from the Navy, Admiral Houser went on to a 
successful career in the telecommunications industry, working for the 
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Communications Satellite 
Corporation, and Com21, among others. But he always remained dedicated 
to the Navy he so loved. He served as a trustee of the U.S. Naval 
Academy Foundation for 30 years. He served on the International Midway 
Memorial Foundation and helped establish the annual Navy Midway Dinner. 
He spearheaded the creation of a Midway Memorial in the yard of the 
U.S. Naval Academy.
  Beyond all his accomplishments, Bill was a great friend. When I 
returned home from prison in Vietnam, he was instrumental in helping me 
return to flying status. I remain forever indebted to him for his 
support and assistance.
  Bill passed away on February 5, 2012, and is survived by his wife 
Jan; his 3 daughters, Cindy, Gayle, and Francie; his 2 stepdaughters, 
Karla and Louise; 11 grandchildren; and 1 great-granddaughter. 
President John F. Kennedy once said, ``Any man who may be asked in this 
century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond 
with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, `I served in the United 
States Navy.''' By that standard, VADM William D. Houser, USN, Retired, 
lived a life of immeasurable worth. God bless and Godspeed, old friend.

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