Missouri Guardsman killed, two injured in car accident

Pfc. Jordan House

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One Soldier with Battery D, 1-129th Field Artillery in Independence died and two other Soldiers from the unit were injured when their personal vehicle was in an accident on southbound I-435and northeast 108th Street just before 1 p.m. on Monday, July 25.

Passenger Pfc. Jordan House, of Independence, died in the accident. The Citizen-Soldiers had been released that day from State Emergency Duty service and were traveling from the Maryville armory to the Independence armory.

"The Missouri National Guard Family is keeping the House Family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. "We are keeping close ties with all affected Families and hoping for a full recovery of our injured Citizen-Soldiers."

In May 2010, House became a Citizen-Soldier and served as a cannon crewmember on the M777A2 155 mm lightweight howitzers. Though his service with the National Guard was brief, House earned the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Missouri Basic Training Service Ribbon and the Missouri State Emergency Duty Ribbon.

House had been on state emergency duty with the flood fight since June 26 in northwest Missouri on the quick reaction force. He served on several sandbagging missions including the effort to protect the water treatment facility in Forest City on June 27 and spent three days in Carroll County shoring up a levee with sandbags.

"He helped save a lot of land and the livelihood of others that first day in Carroll County," said Lt. Joshua Kolden, House's platoon leader. "He was a young, hardworking kid that worked hard to get the job done. He just kept volunteering to stay on and work."

His last mission included providing security at checkpoints in Holt County for the flood mission.

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