The military says a Hawaii-based soldier from Texas died from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Monday Army Staff Sgt. Houston M. Taylor, 25, of Azle, died Thursday in Kunar province after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Taylor was born in Portsmouth, VA, on July 29, 1986. He grew up in Azle and enlisted in the Army on May 5, 2005. He deployed twice with Alpha Company, 2-8 Infantry Battalion before he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks on Oahu.
Taylor’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal 2 OLC, Army Achievement Medal 3 OLC, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, NATO Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.
He is survived by his wife Kelsey Rae, his son Rylan Wade, his daughter Avery Laine, both his parents Shawn Taylor and Renee Cremean, and his brothers Austin and Dallas.
