~WAR IN IRAQ TAKES PERRYTON NATIVE
PERRYTON -- The war in Iraq came home to a northern Panhandle city Sunday in the same way the cost of war has announced itself throughout much of history - with a horrifying knock on the door of an unsuspecting family.
Perryton's HUSTON family needed no words from the three Marines on the front porch at 4 a.m. Sunday to know what had happened: Their son and brother, Seth HUSTON, had died in Iraq.
"We were asleep in the back bedroom, and our youngest son came in and yelled to his mother that something was wrong," said Seth HUSTON's father, Steven D. HUSTON, as he choked back tears. "When I stepped through the door and saw them standing there in their dress blues, with their medals and white gloves, I knew what happened."
Seth HUSTON's mother, Renee HUSTON, needed no words from the Marines, either, but it took a little while to sink in that her son would not return alive from Iraq.
"They didn't even get to open their mouths," Renee HUSTON said of the Marines. "I came in and said, 'No way. It's not him, because I just talked to him two days ago.' There was no way it could be Seth, but it was him."
According to the Department of Defense, Perryton native Seth HUSTON, 19, was killed Saturday during fighting in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Details surrounding his death are still sketchy, but it appears Huston's unit was involved in a firefight with Iraqi insurgents when an explosion killed Huston and two other Marines assigned to the Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The two days since the news arrived have been a horrible combination of grief and unrelenting activity for members of the HUSTON family.
Steven and Renee HUSTON, who were wearing Marine Corps shirts Tuesday in honor of their son, said they have been inundated with offers of support from friends, family and even complete strangers.
"We've gotten phone calls from people we have no idea who they are," Steven Huston said. "I didn't realize how many people he touched. No longer than he was here, to have touched that many people really says something."
The Marines made a return appearance at the Huston home Tuesday, coming by to make arrangements for the return of Seth HUSTON's remains, which were flown into Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday night.
The shock had lessened some for the family, but the grief was still near the surface.
The fallen soldier's father said his son would be cremated, but he could not bear the thought of that happening before he had a chance to say goodbye to the man he called his "best friend."
"I want to be able to put my hand on my son's casket. I don't want to ..." he said before trailing off into sobs.
As the members of the HUSTON family struggled with their grief Tuesday, the city of Perryton was coming together to deal with the loss of one of their own and a war now made all too real.
"It's almost like the war is a TV show," said Marlon Sparks, pastor of Victory Family Church. "It just didn't seem real until it hit home."
Sparks said it didn't matter to the people of Perryton whether they had met Seth Huston once or a hundred times, he belonged to the people of the city now.
"I announced it in a church full of people Sunday, and everyone was crying tears," Sparks said. "I'd venture to say 90 percent of those people didn't really know him, but it didn't matter to them."
Flags across the county were flying at half staff Tuesday by order of Ochiltree County Judge Kenneth Donahue.
"I think everyone is feeling it," Donahue said of HUSTON's death. "Little communities like this are a lot like a family. You know everyone and their families and you watch their kids grow up."
The town will get a chance to say goodbye to its fallen hero this week.
The military will take up to two weeks to return Seth Huston's remains home, but his family has decided not to wait.
A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Full Gospel Community Worship Center.
"Judging by the amount of support we've received, I'll bet three-fourths of this town is going to turn out to say goodbye to Seth," Steven Huston said. "I think that says something about who he was."
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Wednesday, August 25, 2004.)~OBITUARY OF SETH RYAN HUSTON
PERRYTON -- Seth Ryan HUSTON, 19, died Saturday, August 21, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Leatherman Park with the Rev. Marlon Sparks and the Rev. Michael Waterbury officiating. Cremation will be by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.
Lance Cpl. HUSTON graduated from Perryton High School in 2003. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Renee HUSTON of Perryton; two brothers, Steven William HUSTON and Heath Marshall HUSTON, both of Perryton; and his grandparents, William and Lois HUSTON of Arkansas and Tom and Marie LEAVENS of Michigan.
The family suggests memorials be to Seth Huston Memorial Fund in care of First Bank Southwest, P.O. Box 929, Perryton, TX 79070.
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Friday, August 27, 2004.)
~
Marines
2nd Battalion
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
PERRYTON -- The war in Iraq came home to a northern Panhandle city Sunday in the same way the cost of war has announced itself throughout much of history - with a horrifying knock on the door of an unsuspecting family.
Perryton's HUSTON family needed no words from the three Marines on the front porch at 4 a.m. Sunday to know what had happened: Their son and brother, Seth HUSTON, had died in Iraq.
"We were asleep in the back bedroom, and our youngest son came in and yelled to his mother that something was wrong," said Seth HUSTON's father, Steven D. HUSTON, as he choked back tears. "When I stepped through the door and saw them standing there in their dress blues, with their medals and white gloves, I knew what happened."
Seth HUSTON's mother, Renee HUSTON, needed no words from the Marines, either, but it took a little while to sink in that her son would not return alive from Iraq.
"They didn't even get to open their mouths," Renee HUSTON said of the Marines. "I came in and said, 'No way. It's not him, because I just talked to him two days ago.' There was no way it could be Seth, but it was him."
According to the Department of Defense, Perryton native Seth HUSTON, 19, was killed Saturday during fighting in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Details surrounding his death are still sketchy, but it appears Huston's unit was involved in a firefight with Iraqi insurgents when an explosion killed Huston and two other Marines assigned to the Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The two days since the news arrived have been a horrible combination of grief and unrelenting activity for members of the HUSTON family.
Steven and Renee HUSTON, who were wearing Marine Corps shirts Tuesday in honor of their son, said they have been inundated with offers of support from friends, family and even complete strangers.
"We've gotten phone calls from people we have no idea who they are," Steven Huston said. "I didn't realize how many people he touched. No longer than he was here, to have touched that many people really says something."
The Marines made a return appearance at the Huston home Tuesday, coming by to make arrangements for the return of Seth HUSTON's remains, which were flown into Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday night.
The shock had lessened some for the family, but the grief was still near the surface.
The fallen soldier's father said his son would be cremated, but he could not bear the thought of that happening before he had a chance to say goodbye to the man he called his "best friend."
"I want to be able to put my hand on my son's casket. I don't want to ..." he said before trailing off into sobs.
As the members of the HUSTON family struggled with their grief Tuesday, the city of Perryton was coming together to deal with the loss of one of their own and a war now made all too real.
"It's almost like the war is a TV show," said Marlon Sparks, pastor of Victory Family Church. "It just didn't seem real until it hit home."
Sparks said it didn't matter to the people of Perryton whether they had met Seth Huston once or a hundred times, he belonged to the people of the city now.
"I announced it in a church full of people Sunday, and everyone was crying tears," Sparks said. "I'd venture to say 90 percent of those people didn't really know him, but it didn't matter to them."
Flags across the county were flying at half staff Tuesday by order of Ochiltree County Judge Kenneth Donahue.
"I think everyone is feeling it," Donahue said of HUSTON's death. "Little communities like this are a lot like a family. You know everyone and their families and you watch their kids grow up."
The town will get a chance to say goodbye to its fallen hero this week.
The military will take up to two weeks to return Seth Huston's remains home, but his family has decided not to wait.
A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Full Gospel Community Worship Center.
"Judging by the amount of support we've received, I'll bet three-fourths of this town is going to turn out to say goodbye to Seth," Steven Huston said. "I think that says something about who he was."
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Wednesday, August 25, 2004.)~OBITUARY OF SETH RYAN HUSTON
PERRYTON -- Seth Ryan HUSTON, 19, died Saturday, August 21, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Leatherman Park with the Rev. Marlon Sparks and the Rev. Michael Waterbury officiating. Cremation will be by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.
Lance Cpl. HUSTON graduated from Perryton High School in 2003. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Renee HUSTON of Perryton; two brothers, Steven William HUSTON and Heath Marshall HUSTON, both of Perryton; and his grandparents, William and Lois HUSTON of Arkansas and Tom and Marie LEAVENS of Michigan.
The family suggests memorials be to Seth Huston Memorial Fund in care of First Bank Southwest, P.O. Box 929, Perryton, TX 79070.
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Friday, August 27, 2004.)
~
Marines
2nd Battalion
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
~WAR IN IRAQ TAKES PERRYTON NATIVE
PERRYTON -- The war in Iraq came home to a northern Panhandle city Sunday in the same way the cost of war has announced itself throughout much of history - with a horrifying knock on the door of an unsuspecting family.
Perryton's HUSTON family needed no words from the three Marines on the front porch at 4 a.m. Sunday to know what had happened: Their son and brother, Seth HUSTON, had died in Iraq.
"We were asleep in the back bedroom, and our youngest son came in and yelled to his mother that something was wrong," said Seth HUSTON's father, Steven D. HUSTON, as he choked back tears. "When I stepped through the door and saw them standing there in their dress blues, with their medals and white gloves, I knew what happened."
Seth HUSTON's mother, Renee HUSTON, needed no words from the Marines, either, but it took a little while to sink in that her son would not return alive from Iraq.
"They didn't even get to open their mouths," Renee HUSTON said of the Marines. "I came in and said, 'No way. It's not him, because I just talked to him two days ago.' There was no way it could be Seth, but it was him."
According to the Department of Defense, Perryton native Seth HUSTON, 19, was killed Saturday during fighting in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Details surrounding his death are still sketchy, but it appears Huston's unit was involved in a firefight with Iraqi insurgents when an explosion killed Huston and two other Marines assigned to the Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The two days since the news arrived have been a horrible combination of grief and unrelenting activity for members of the HUSTON family.
Steven and Renee HUSTON, who were wearing Marine Corps shirts Tuesday in honor of their son, said they have been inundated with offers of support from friends, family and even complete strangers.
"We've gotten phone calls from people we have no idea who they are," Steven Huston said. "I didn't realize how many people he touched. No longer than he was here, to have touched that many people really says something."
The Marines made a return appearance at the Huston home Tuesday, coming by to make arrangements for the return of Seth HUSTON's remains, which were flown into Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday night.
The shock had lessened some for the family, but the grief was still near the surface.
The fallen soldier's father said his son would be cremated, but he could not bear the thought of that happening before he had a chance to say goodbye to the man he called his "best friend."
"I want to be able to put my hand on my son's casket. I don't want to ..." he said before trailing off into sobs.
As the members of the HUSTON family struggled with their grief Tuesday, the city of Perryton was coming together to deal with the loss of one of their own and a war now made all too real.
"It's almost like the war is a TV show," said Marlon Sparks, pastor of Victory Family Church. "It just didn't seem real until it hit home."
Sparks said it didn't matter to the people of Perryton whether they had met Seth Huston once or a hundred times, he belonged to the people of the city now.
"I announced it in a church full of people Sunday, and everyone was crying tears," Sparks said. "I'd venture to say 90 percent of those people didn't really know him, but it didn't matter to them."
Flags across the county were flying at half staff Tuesday by order of Ochiltree County Judge Kenneth Donahue.
"I think everyone is feeling it," Donahue said of HUSTON's death. "Little communities like this are a lot like a family. You know everyone and their families and you watch their kids grow up."
The town will get a chance to say goodbye to its fallen hero this week.
The military will take up to two weeks to return Seth Huston's remains home, but his family has decided not to wait.
A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Full Gospel Community Worship Center.
"Judging by the amount of support we've received, I'll bet three-fourths of this town is going to turn out to say goodbye to Seth," Steven Huston said. "I think that says something about who he was."
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Wednesday, August 25, 2004.)~OBITUARY OF SETH RYAN HUSTON
PERRYTON -- Seth Ryan HUSTON, 19, died Saturday, August 21, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Leatherman Park with the Rev. Marlon Sparks and the Rev. Michael Waterbury officiating. Cremation will be by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.
Lance Cpl. HUSTON graduated from Perryton High School in 2003. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Renee HUSTON of Perryton; two brothers, Steven William HUSTON and Heath Marshall HUSTON, both of Perryton; and his grandparents, William and Lois HUSTON of Arkansas and Tom and Marie LEAVENS of Michigan.
The family suggests memorials be to Seth Huston Memorial Fund in care of First Bank Southwest, P.O. Box 929, Perryton, TX 79070.
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Friday, August 27, 2004.)
~
Marines
2nd Battalion
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
PERRYTON -- The war in Iraq came home to a northern Panhandle city Sunday in the same way the cost of war has announced itself throughout much of history - with a horrifying knock on the door of an unsuspecting family.
Perryton's HUSTON family needed no words from the three Marines on the front porch at 4 a.m. Sunday to know what had happened: Their son and brother, Seth HUSTON, had died in Iraq.
"We were asleep in the back bedroom, and our youngest son came in and yelled to his mother that something was wrong," said Seth HUSTON's father, Steven D. HUSTON, as he choked back tears. "When I stepped through the door and saw them standing there in their dress blues, with their medals and white gloves, I knew what happened."
Seth HUSTON's mother, Renee HUSTON, needed no words from the Marines, either, but it took a little while to sink in that her son would not return alive from Iraq.
"They didn't even get to open their mouths," Renee HUSTON said of the Marines. "I came in and said, 'No way. It's not him, because I just talked to him two days ago.' There was no way it could be Seth, but it was him."
According to the Department of Defense, Perryton native Seth HUSTON, 19, was killed Saturday during fighting in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Details surrounding his death are still sketchy, but it appears Huston's unit was involved in a firefight with Iraqi insurgents when an explosion killed Huston and two other Marines assigned to the Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The two days since the news arrived have been a horrible combination of grief and unrelenting activity for members of the HUSTON family.
Steven and Renee HUSTON, who were wearing Marine Corps shirts Tuesday in honor of their son, said they have been inundated with offers of support from friends, family and even complete strangers.
"We've gotten phone calls from people we have no idea who they are," Steven Huston said. "I didn't realize how many people he touched. No longer than he was here, to have touched that many people really says something."
The Marines made a return appearance at the Huston home Tuesday, coming by to make arrangements for the return of Seth HUSTON's remains, which were flown into Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday night.
The shock had lessened some for the family, but the grief was still near the surface.
The fallen soldier's father said his son would be cremated, but he could not bear the thought of that happening before he had a chance to say goodbye to the man he called his "best friend."
"I want to be able to put my hand on my son's casket. I don't want to ..." he said before trailing off into sobs.
As the members of the HUSTON family struggled with their grief Tuesday, the city of Perryton was coming together to deal with the loss of one of their own and a war now made all too real.
"It's almost like the war is a TV show," said Marlon Sparks, pastor of Victory Family Church. "It just didn't seem real until it hit home."
Sparks said it didn't matter to the people of Perryton whether they had met Seth Huston once or a hundred times, he belonged to the people of the city now.
"I announced it in a church full of people Sunday, and everyone was crying tears," Sparks said. "I'd venture to say 90 percent of those people didn't really know him, but it didn't matter to them."
Flags across the county were flying at half staff Tuesday by order of Ochiltree County Judge Kenneth Donahue.
"I think everyone is feeling it," Donahue said of HUSTON's death. "Little communities like this are a lot like a family. You know everyone and their families and you watch their kids grow up."
The town will get a chance to say goodbye to its fallen hero this week.
The military will take up to two weeks to return Seth Huston's remains home, but his family has decided not to wait.
A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Full Gospel Community Worship Center.
"Judging by the amount of support we've received, I'll bet three-fourths of this town is going to turn out to say goodbye to Seth," Steven Huston said. "I think that says something about who he was."
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Wednesday, August 25, 2004.)~OBITUARY OF SETH RYAN HUSTON
PERRYTON -- Seth Ryan HUSTON, 19, died Saturday, August 21, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Leatherman Park with the Rev. Marlon Sparks and the Rev. Michael Waterbury officiating. Cremation will be by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.
Lance Cpl. HUSTON graduated from Perryton High School in 2003. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Renee HUSTON of Perryton; two brothers, Steven William HUSTON and Heath Marshall HUSTON, both of Perryton; and his grandparents, William and Lois HUSTON of Arkansas and Tom and Marie LEAVENS of Michigan.
The family suggests memorials be to Seth Huston Memorial Fund in care of First Bank Southwest, P.O. Box 929, Perryton, TX 79070.
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), Friday, August 27, 2004.)
~
Marines
2nd Battalion
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
Inscription
LCPL
US MARINE CORPS
IRAQ
BRONZE STAR
PURPLE HEART
KIA
AL ANBAR
PROVINCE
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