Kevin A. Houston was born in Atlanta, GA, and grew up in Hyannis, MA, where he attended Barnstable High School. Since he was nine years old, Kevin aspired to become a SEAL. He was a member of the Sea Cadet Corps from age 10-16, and joined the navy in 1995. After completing BUDs training with class 221, he joined SEAL Team 4. In January 2008, he had successfully completed the necessary training to become a member of SEAL Team 6. He was KIA in Afghanistan in 2011. “He grew up to become a defender of the ‘little guy,’” says his mother, Janette. “He was highly respected both in high school and at his command. He was an excellent SEAL who was admired and loved by his brothers-in-arms and he felt the same way about them.” He is remembered by his wife, Meiling, his children, Jaina and Ethan, his stepson, Michael McElroy, his younger brother, Craig, and his mother and father, Janette and Arthur. Kevin’s sister, Miranda, predeceased him in 2005.
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Benjamin "Ben" Norman was born in Manchester, CT, and graduated from Coventry High School. After high school, he completed one year of college before enlisting in the Navy in 2017. Ben was in the final stage of training to become a Machinist Mate (Nuclear Propulsion Engineer) at the time of his death. Growing up, Ben always wanted to become a Naval Officer and then transition to politics. He had two dogs (Cloudy and Ripple) and loved playing all kinds of games (electronic, board, virtual). He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and met his fiancé Asia, while in Poland with his Scout troop. “Ben had a real joy of life and surrounded himself with a group of friends and family whom he truly loved,” said his mother. Ben is lovingly remembered by his parents Sam and Teri, his sister, Rebecca, his brother, Daniel, and his fiancé, Asia.
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Matthew grew up participating in Royal Rangers at church and earned Ranger of the Year several times. He was also in several Christmas plays, even having the lead role in one. As a teen he helped in the puppet ministry and especially liked being a human blacklight puppet. At high school Matthew was a member of JROTC. In his senior year he served as his school's Battalion Commander. After high school Matthew went to an art school in Atlanta, intending to become a famous movie producer. While in Atlanta he married his high school sweetheart. Realizing he needed a stable source of income, Matthew signed up with the Navy (following his brother and two cousins). Falling back on computer skills he had learned in high school, after boot camp, Matthew went to an A-school in Pensacola. Hearing that the top graduate could earn a rank, Matthew made that his goal. Upon graduating at the top of his class, his official title ranking was CTM3. Matthew was then stationed at Fort Meade and while there, he was deployed on a special assignment. He was to be gone for four months, but couldn't tell us where he would be. He was able to call home several times during the first two weeks. However, his last call to his wife one Saturday morning turned out to be his last call home. He hadn't even been gone one whole month when we learned he was one of two Americans killed in Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Served in the Navy from 2012 - 2020.
Ethan was born in Mission Viejo, CA; two years later the family moved to Gilbert, AZ. After 10 years the family moved to Mesa, AZ where Ethan graduated from Red Mountain High School in 2010. Ethan’s love of the military strategy started very early with computer games, history books, movies and his beloved PlayStation. After 4 years at Safeway grocery store, Ethan decided to join the Navy in 2012. Ethan spent 5 years on the USS Gridley (DDG101) that included 2 deployments. USS Gridley was ported 4 years in San Diego and 1 year in Everett Washington. After completing duty on the USS Gridley, Ethan went back to San Diego for 2 years to USS Zumwalt (DDG1000) to get the ship sea ready. By July 2019 Ethan was assigned to the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG108) in Hawaii which included 1 deployment. Ethan earned numerous awards and promotions including 5 Navy and Marine Achievement Corps Medals. Ethan was known by many shipmates to be consistently hardworking and someone you could count on. Ethan was known for caring for shipmates professional and personal issues. Ethan was known for smiling and using humor to help everyone get through the long days. Ethan leaves behind a family who loves him and misses him every day .
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John Michael Odell grew up on Orcas Island, off the Washington coast. He was the third of four children, his family and friends called him "Mick". He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brothers and friends, had a talent for music and played both basketball and football in high school. The Odell family lived in the Lodge built by the CCC located in Moran State Park where his father was the park ranger.Mick graduated from Western Washington University, WWU, in Bellingham WA where he majored in history. There he met his future wife, Kathy Kandlik. Mick and Kathy married that December. Mick had an amazing tenor voice where he was lead singer in the Odell family band, and singing in the WWU chorus. The Odell family appreciated the military. His brother Kim had joined the Air Force, while brother Don and wife were teachers on a US Military base in Germany. Mick, however always admired the Marine Corps, and after graduating from WWU he enlisted and was accepted for the Officer Candidate Course. Basic class 6-67 graduated in November 1967 at Quantico. Mick drove Kathy back to Washington State after graduation, where Kathy would live with her parents during Mick's Vietnam duty. On April 30, 1968 Mick's platoon was conducting patrols. Earlier that morning when a Navy Landing Craft Utility(LCU) boat was ambushed from the vicinity of An Lac, a village southeast of Dai Do. Mick was given orders to cross the Cua Viet River and attack An Lac. His platoon was ambushed and Mick died. The commanding officer of 3rd Marines, Colonel Milton Hull commented later that during the fighting he saw during World War II and Korea, he had never seen such a huge volume of enemy fire as he did on that day. Kathy has been to the site in Viet Nam where he was killed with other Marines to honor his leadership during the battle. It was a very healing experience for her, and a great honor to meet several of his fellow Marines that served with him. There is a Tribute Monument at Quantico to honor Mick and his fallen brothers from Basic Class 6-67.Mick is buried on Orcas Island where he grew up and is missed by his family every day.
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Our son was 18 years old when he joined the U.S. Navy. He was our eldest, leaving behind 2 siblings. He was full of life! He enjoyed helping people, especially, elders. He was an avid runner, enjoyed scuba diving and fishing. What I, missed the most was his great sense of humor. And love for his family.
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