Harold Houser
Encyclopedia
Harold Alexander Houser was a United States Navy
Rear admiral
, and the 35th Governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945 to April 22, 1947. Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia
, and graduated from the Marion Military Institute
before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
. During his naval career, he served in numerous posts, including commanding the Naval Air Station Key West
and serving as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Omaha (CL-4)
. While governor, he represented the United States
at a meeting of the major powers in the Pacific. He became a Rear admiral after leaving the governorship, and served as Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison at the Office of Legislative Affairs
.
to Emmett and Mary Mathews Houser. Houser attended the Marion Military Institute
, graduating in 1916. He was married to Vera Allen Houser. He died of natural causes on September 3, 1981 at the National Naval Medical Center
. He is interred at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery
, along with his wife.
, France
, and Key West
throughout his career. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
on May 26, 1917 from Georgia
, and graduated in 1921. While a Commander, Houser served as the gunnery officer of the USS Omaha (CL-4)
. As a Captain, Houser commanded the Naval Air Station Key West
.
After becoming a Rear admiral
, Houser served on the staff of the United States Secretary of Defense
. Houser served numerous posts in the Office of Legislative Affairs
, including becoming the legislative liaison for the Retired Officers Association. He became the Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison in 1949.
at a meeting of the major Pacific powers, including Australia
and New Zealand
. He ceded the office to Vernon Huber
on April 22, 1947.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, and the 35th Governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945 to April 22, 1947. Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
, and graduated from the Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. During his naval career, he served in numerous posts, including commanding the Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States....
and serving as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Omaha (CL-4)
USS Omaha (CL-4)
USS Omaha was the lead ship of Omaha class of light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the second US Navy ship named for the city of Omaha, Nebraska....
. While governor, he represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at a meeting of the major powers in the Pacific. He became a Rear admiral after leaving the governorship, and served as Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison at the Office of Legislative Affairs
Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)
The Office of Legislative Affairs is a United States Navy function which coordinates activities between the Department of the Navy and the United States Congress.The office reports to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations...
.
Life
Houser was born on March 31, 1897 in Fort Valley, GeorgiaFort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
to Emmett and Mary Mathews Houser. Houser attended the Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
, graduating in 1916. He was married to Vera Allen Houser. He died of natural causes on September 3, 1981 at the National Naval Medical Center
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
. He is interred at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery
United States Naval Academy Cemetery
The United States Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium is a cemetery at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.-History:In 1868 the Naval Academy purchased a sixty-seven acre piece of land called Strawberry Hill as part of their efforts to expand after the American Civil War....
, along with his wife.
Naval career
Houser held posts in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
throughout his career. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on May 26, 1917 from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and graduated in 1921. While a Commander, Houser served as the gunnery officer of the USS Omaha (CL-4)
USS Omaha (CL-4)
USS Omaha was the lead ship of Omaha class of light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the second US Navy ship named for the city of Omaha, Nebraska....
. As a Captain, Houser commanded the Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States....
.
After becoming a Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, Houser served on the staff of the United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
. Houser served numerous posts in the Office of Legislative Affairs
Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)
The Office of Legislative Affairs is a United States Navy function which coordinates activities between the Department of the Navy and the United States Congress.The office reports to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations...
, including becoming the legislative liaison for the Retired Officers Association. He became the Director of the Office of Legislative Liaison in 1949.
Governorship
Houser became Governor of American Samoa on September 10, 1945. While governor, he served as a representative of the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at a meeting of the major Pacific powers, including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He ceded the office to Vernon Huber
Vernon Huber
Vernon Huber was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 36th Governor of American Samoa from April 22, 1947 to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the USS...
on April 22, 1947.