E. Peter Houben

Col. E. Peter (Pete) Houben passed away July 24, 2022 at age 93. Pete was born in Detroit, Michigan of parents Joseph and Mary Houben, both who were born in The Netherlands and arrived on the Holland America steamship, The Rotterdam II in 1913, and settled in Detroit.

Pete graduated from Annunciation High School and then enrolled in the University of Detroit. After completing his Freshman year, his family moved to Southern California. After completion of his Sophomore year at Glendale College, he enrolled in University of California Los Angeles. He was working part time and attending school, but before completing his first semester, “Uncle Sam” wrote him a nice letter inviting him to serve his country, which he did for the next 30 plus years. He completed his basic infantry training at Camp Roberts, CA, after which he was selected to attend The Officer’s Infantry Training School in Ft. Benning, GA, in late 1952. After commissioning, Pete was ordered to Campy Cooke, CA (now Vandenberg, US Airforce Base) where he served as an Infantry Instructor for a short time.

Pete’s next assignment was Korea, where he was assigned to the US Army, 2d Inf Div. His unit, 1st Bn, 9th Inf Regt, was, at that time, positioned along a trench line in the forward battle area of the Division. Main activity for Infantry soldiers during that time was to identify, by using small patrols, of where and how many, enemy troops were forward of the regimental front lines. During one of these recon patrols, Pete was seriously wounded by Chinese heavy mortar fire. He spent about a month in a U.N. hospital in Pusan, Korea, recovering. Several months after he rejoined his unit, a Peace Fire Agreement was signed (July 1953) between North Korea and the United Nations.

His next assignment was Camp (now Fort) Carson, CO, home of the 5th US Army Division. While at Ft. Carson, Pete received orders to attend the Parachute Training School at Ft. Benning, GA. After his marriage, Pete, with his new bride, was given orders to report to his next assignment: The 25inf Div, Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii. After a great tour and two offspring, he and his new family then traveled to Fort Benning, Georgia and resided there while he attended the US Advanced Infantry School. He was promoted to Captain while at Fort Benning.

After Benning, Pete received orders for duty as a Military Advisor for several Army Reserve units in and around Milwaukee, WI.

Next, Europe would be the place for Pete to be. With his family along for the assignment, Pete was assigned to the US Army Europe 8th Inf. Div, West Germany. After his assignment as the Commander of the 8th Infantry Division Non-Commisioned-Officer’s School, Baumholder (former training grounds of German tank expert Rommel), Pete was promoted to Major and assigned as the G-3 Training Officer of 8th Inf Div, headquarters located in Bad Kreuznach, close to the Rhine River.

After Germany, Pete had orders to US Army Command and General Staff College, Fr. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon school completion, Pete was off to South Vietnam and assignment to 3d Brigade, 25Inf Div. The 25th Division’s area of responsibility at that time was Central South Vietnam (East China Sea to the Cambodian border). It’s operational area stretched from the East Coast of Vietnam near Dak To, to Pleiku in The Highlands. After about six months as S-3 (Ops Officer) 3d Brigade, Pete was promoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned to the G-3 section of the 4th inf Division. At this time, Dec 1967, the 25 Inf Div and 4th Inf Div swapped IDs but no troops nor locations changed. The 4th Inf Headquarters near Pleiku was situated in the Highlands of South Vietnam. Many tough, both small and large, combat battles were fought in these Highlands in 1967 to 1968. Notable was the famous “Battle of Dak To which occurred at the close of 1967. The 4th Inf Division was awarded “The Presidential Unit Citation”: The US Army’s highest unit award, for this action.

After Vietnam, Pete was assigned to Washington, D.C. Development and Training Section. While there, he received orders, again, for Vietnam. Before departing for Vietnam, he attended the US State Department Foreign Service and Vietnamese Language Schools in Washington, D.C.. Pete was assigned as the Senior Military Advisor to the Province Chief of Bien Hoa, a large area adjacent to Saigon, now Ho Chi Min City.

Pete’s next assignment was to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the XVIII Corps (Airborne) consisting of the II Corps (Airborne) Logistics Command, 82nd Airborne Div, Fort Bragg, and 101st Airborne Div, Fort Campbell, KY. During his tour at Ft. Bragg, he was promoted to Colonel and was assigned to the US Army Readiness Command (REDCOM), now the US Central Command (CENTCOM), with duties on the J-2 Staff (Ops and Training).

After he completed this assignment in 1980, Pete retired, after having served his country for thirty years (“From Private to Colonel in 30 Years”). He received over 20 military awards and citations, including: Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (2, with 1 “v”), Purple Heart, Air Medal (V), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge (with star, 2 awards), Master Parachutist Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Republic of Korea, Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam, Gallantry Cross Citation and several other foreign awards.

After Retirement, Pete was offered and accepted a job with a US Company, which had a contract with the Saudi Arabian government. While in his 5th year in this company, in 1985, his wife, Mary, contracted cancer. Peter returned home immediately. She passed away shortly thereafter.

Shortly thereafter, Pete accepted the position as The Senior JROTC Instructor at San Diego High School, San Diego, CA. After 7 years, he retired. This position he said was “enlightening and rewarding.”

Pete received his BS degree from Colorado State University and did his graduate work in Teaching at American University, Washington, D.C. while stationed in D.C.

They say Never say Never, and In 1997, Pete, with love, married Louse Ferguson.

Pete was a member of 13 major veteran’s organizations in San Diego County, including: The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, The Purple Heart Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, and several others. He was voted “Veteran of the Year” for San Diego County in 2000.

He assisted in establishing the United Veterans Council of San Diego and was a Chairman of that organization. He was very involved in health care for veterans. He and several other veterans established a close communication and dialog between veterans and the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in San Diego. This coordination eventually led to an advisory board, which then named The One V.A. and is still functioning. Pete was the first Chairman of that match up.

Pete loved just about all sports. He lettered in the three major sports of high school and during his Army tour in Hawaii, coached and played with the 35th Infantry Regimental Baseball Team. He also liked golf and played for many years.

Pete is survived by his dear wife, Louise, and three married children: Patricia Langgle (Tampa, FL), Julie Mansfield (Lewisville, TX), Jacqueline Heffner (Lewisville, TX), and son Peter (Dallas, TX) and step granddaughter Jennifer Curcio (Syracuse, NY) and Great Grand Daughter, Nailah Curcio (Syracuse, NY).

Pete’s family recommends that donations be made on his behalf to any Veteran’s organization, instead of spending money on flowers. It will be much appreciated.

A memorial mass for Pete will be held Wednesday, August 24, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Mission San Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego, CA 92108. Following the memorial mass will be a reception from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Mission San Diego de Alcala (California Room), 10818 San Diego Mission R., San Diego, CA 92108.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.goodbodymortuary.com for the HOUBEN family.