Billy Huang was a student of Ms. Clarfield for 12 years from 1994 until 2005. Billy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2010 earning duel Bachelor of Science degrees in Information Technology and Management.  He prides himself in being the only former student of Mrs. Clarfield’s to have qualified on an M16 rifle, an M9 Pistol, and to have repelled out of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.  While at West Point, Billy continued to play music and participated in various extracurricular activities such as Strings, Glee Club, Chapel Choir, and intramural sports on top of multiple military requirements.

After graduation, Billy married his college sweetheart Krishel. He then went on to attend five months of training in his chosen military branch, Air Defense Artillery, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before joining Krishel in Fort Hood, Texas. While at Fort Hood, Billy led a platoon (approximately 40 Soldiers) of short-range air defenders using the Avenger weapon system that fired Stinger missiles. Billy deployed in November of 2011 to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait while leading a different platoon in a Patriot Missile Defense System Battery. Upon returning from deployment in November 2012, Billy was chosen to serve as Executive Officer of a Patriot Battery, second in command to the Battery Commander. Billy also served in other roles as an Assistant S3 Operations and Plans officer, and was later hand selected by the Battalion Commander to be his Battalion Adjutant. Billy also attended the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Billy and Krishel had little Charlie in April of 2014 at Fort Hood, Texas. He plans on playing piano better than his father and has already started dabbing the ivory keys a little. Perhaps he will follow his parent’s footsteps and also be a military officer!

--William B. Huang