Birth: 1949, Tokyo, Japan

Ohio State: Business Student in the Class of ‘75

Death: 1984

Cause of Death: Helicopter crash during training

Dorm: Houston House

Career:

John Hideo Houston was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1949 and moved to the United States in 1965. He began studying at Ohio State in 1969 and was soon diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a battle that he would fight for 2 years and ultimately win when he was declared cancer-free after two years of intense treatment. On campus, he majored in business and was involved in the Karate Club. According to his brother, he heroically rescued an American flag from protestors on campus who threatened to burn it in 1970. He continued his training in the Marines after his graduation in 1975 and earned many accomplishments with the Marine Corps including a Humanitarian Medal by flying supplies to the Sri Lankan government. He died in 1984 after his helicopter crashed due to poor weather actions, killing 29 soldiers. He left behind a lasting legacy of service and often spoke fondly of his days at Ohio State. His brother, Bill, remarked that although he was born in Japan, he loved being an American.

Research by Alex Stamatis, 2020