Lt. Andy Houghton has died.

Lt. Houghton was severely wounded in July by an RPG in Iraq. He was very strong in his will to live, but alas, God has asked him to join Him.

You do not know him, and he is no one to you, except someone who has offered his life, so that your's can be free. We are forever in his debt.

Andrew Houghton ’97 who passed away on Monday, August 9, 2004. Houghton, a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army with the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, died from injuries sustained on July 10, 2004 while serving in Iraq. A 1997 graduate of Strake Jesuit in Houston, Texas, Houghton was active while a student at Strake Jesuit. In addition to being named to the National Honor Society as a sophomore, he was a member of the football and track & field teams all four years while at Jesuit. Also, he served on the Crusader Guard, Yearbook staff, Freshman Retreat Team and Debate Team.

Putting this in for the record. I am not requesting you donate.

This e-mail is being sent to you because you visited the 
www.andyhoughton.org website and left a message. Thank you 
for visiting the website.  I hope you were encouraged and 
inspired by Andy’s wonderful life story as told in the 
many messages, photos, articles and the news about his 
valiant thirty day struggle for life after he was wounded 
while serving in Iraq. 

 

Andy was a wonderful son and he lived an exemplary life.  
He was a blessing to countless people whom he met and 
interacted with over the course of his life.  Andy truly 
cared about others more than he cared about himself.  The 
soldiers with whom Andy proudly served and his many other 
friends and loved ones bear witness to this truth.


In order to provide a lasting, perpetual memorial to Andy 
and the life he lived, I am very pleased to announce the 
formation of The Captain Andrew R. Houghton Foundation.  
The foundation was formed November 1, 2004 as a Texas non-
profit corporation.  It was organized and will be operated 
exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within 
the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code.  Contributions to the organization are tax 
deductible. 

 
Initial funding for the foundation will come from Andy’s 
life insurance.  We are also exploring the possibility of 
special fundraising events. Our hope is that the 
foundation will provide the following support and benefits 
on an annual and perpetual basis:


1. Emergency financial assistance for travel expenses to 
cadets attending the United States Military Academy at 
West Point;


2. Donations to the Laity Lodge Youth Camp Free Camp Fund 
to provide a wilderness camping experience for 
underprivileged children.  Laity Lodge Youth Camp is a 
coed, interdenominational Christian youth camp located in 
the beautiful Texas Hill Country.  Andy’s life was 
enriched by his experiences at Laity Lodge;


3. Grants to deserving students of Strake Jesuit College 
Preparatory in Houston, Texas.  Strake Jesuit is a 
wonderful place for young men to learn and grow.  Strake 
Jesuit strives to help mold each graduate into “a man for 
others”.  I believe they succeeded in Andy’s case;


4. Donations to Taping for the Blind, Inc. in Houston, 
Texas.  Taping for the Blind enriches the lives of people 
with visual and learning disabilities by literally turning 
sight into sound.  Andy volunteered many hours reading 
books on to audio tape when he was a high school senior.


If you are in interested in making a donation to The 
Captain Andrew R. Houghton Foundation please visit the 
www.andyhoughton.org website again and click on one of the 
links to the foundation for more information. Please know 
we won’t send you additional e-mails unless you subscribe 
to the mailing list on the website.  Regardless of whether 
or not you decide to donate to the foundation, from the 
bottom of my heart I thank you for your prayers, support 
and friendship.  Best wishes to you and your family this 
holiday season.


Sincerely,

George Houghton


 

P.S. – Please feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone 
that you think might be interested.

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