Houston, Kevin Arthur

Kevin Arthur Houston was a 35-year-old Chief Petty Officer from West Hyannisport, Massachusetts, serving with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). His service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa as part of U.S. counterterrorism operations.

On August 6, 2011, Houston was killed in Wardak province, Afghanistan. A U.S. military helicopter, a CH-47 Chinook, was shot down by Taliban insurgents. The crash resulted in the single greatest loss of American life in the Afghan war, killing all 38 people on board, including 30 U.S. service members, most of whom were from the Naval Special Warfare community.

Houston died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. By 2011, the conflict was in its tenth year, characterized by a U.S. troop surge and a resilient Taliban insurgency. The war focused on counterinsurgency and training Afghan security forces.

In the aftermath, the crash was widely reported as a significant tactical setback. The Department of Defense released the names of the deceased, and memorial services were held across the country. President Barack Obama called the fallen troops "patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Houston's name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Navy SEAL Museum and on the National Navy UDT-SEAL Memorial. He is remembered among the special operations personnel lost in the 2011 Chinook crash, an event that underscored the persistent dangers of the conflict.

Kevin Houston was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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