Houck, Eric Michael

Also known as: SGT, HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, 3RD BATTALION, 320TH FIELD ARTILLERY, FORT CAMPBELL, KY

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedJune 10, 2017

Age25 years old

Location of DeathJALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN

Cause of DeathKilled by small arms fire in an insider attack (green-on-blue) by an individual in an Afghan military uniform.

Conflict Operation Freedom's Sentinel

U.S. Army Sergeant Eric Michael Houck, 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, was killed in a hostile insider attack in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on June 10, 2017.

Their Story

Eric Michael Houck was a 25-year-old sergeant from Baltimore, Maryland. He served with the U.S. Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S.-led mission that succeeded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

On June 10, 2017, Sergeant Houck was killed by small arms fire in the city of Jalalabad, in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. The attack was perpetrated by an individual wearing an Afghan military uniform, an incident categorized as an insider or 'green-on-blue' attack. He died alongside two other American soldiers, Private First Class Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Sergeant William M. Bays.

Operation Freedom's Sentinel began in January 2015, following the conclusion of the NATO combat mission. Its stated objectives included counterterrorism operations against groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, and training, advising, and assisting Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Insider attacks, while not frequent, remained a persistent tactical threat to coalition personnel throughout the conflict.

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the casualties the following day. Sergeant Houck's body was returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held in his hometown. His death was reported by major news outlets, including The Baltimore Sun and national wire services.

Sergeant Houck was posthumously promoted from the rank of specialist to sergeant. He was survived by his wife and two young children. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.