Cov. Vet awarded for service
Source: Kent County Daily Times
August 13, 2008
PROVIDENCE - Nearly 40 years after he served in Vietnam, a Coventry man has been honored with an air medal for over 30 hours of flight time in a combat situation.
Robert D. Houghton, whose helicopter was shot down twice when he was a door gunner, said he was grateful to be recognized by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for his service in 1969.
"It was really nice to get the award," he said.
Having his family at the ceremony was particularly nice, he said. "It was nice that my kids got to be there."
Houghton was joined by his wife, Alma French, their daughter Brandy, Brandy's husband, Mattieo Alibrio, and grandchildren Dante and Cole, their son Robert Houghton Jr., his wife, Sabrina, and grandchild Amelia yesterday at Whitehouse's office on Westminster Street in Providence. His mother, Elsie Houghton, also attended, Houghton said. His daughter Kerry was unable to make it.
He served in Vietnam for a year and a half, during two tours, Houghton said.
Houghton served with the 191st Assault Helicopter Company, 4th Infantry Division as a UH1, Huey mechanic and door gunner in the Pleku province, according to a press release from Whitehouse's office.
When he wasn't in combat, he served as crew chief, Houghton said.
This was his second air combat medal, Houghton said. He received the first while he was still in the service. In addition to the air combat medal he received yesterday, he also received three bronze stars for his service during various battles in Vietnam.
Most combat situations were on night missions, Houghton said, during which his craft would defend troops under attack by the North Vietnamese.
Reflecting on his time as a door gunner, Houghton said his youth made him fearless.
After being shot down, "I was just anxious to get back flying," he said. "It didn't bother me much because I was young then. If it happened now - well, I'd never go up in that thing. It was quite an experience getting shot down; just hoping you would make it to the ground in one piece - and we did."
The citation Whitehouse presented to Houghton reads, "Attention to orders: The following awards are announced. The U.S. Army's Air Medal Second Award, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star attachment is awarded to Mr. Robert D. Houghton for meritorious service while serving against an armed enemy of the United States during the Vietnam War. Exemplary performance of duty in active combat was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, and the United States of America."
Houghton was raised in the Lakewood section of Warwick, and moved to Coventry in 1989.