COL Darryle L. Kouns

Colonel (Ret) Darryle “Sam” Kouns, 86, of Savannah, GA, formerly of Ashland, KY passed away at the VA Hospital in Charleston, SC on March 3, 2023. He was born on September 11, 1936 in Ashland, KY to the late Paul and Anne Moore Kouns. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Donald Ford Kouns.
He attended Georgia Tech where he lettered in basketball and baseball and excelled on the basketball court, leading the Ramblin' Wrecks to winning seasons for many years. Upon graduation from West Point in 1960 he went on to earn his Airborne Wings and Ranger Tab, and reported in as 2nd Lieutenant to the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion in the 101st Airborne Division deploying to Korea followed by Vietnam where he moved up to Battalion Operations Officer. He earned two Bronze Star medals in Vietnam and then returned to West Point for three years to be an instructor in the Engineering Department. As an additional duty, he was an assistant coach of the Army basketball team under Bobby Knight.
Sam served with distinction as an Engineer Officer throughout his 28 years of active duty with increasing responsibility. He returned to Vietnam as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army on the Cambodian border; three years in the Pentagon; Battalion Commander of the 16th Engineer Battalion in Germany, followed by Secretary of the General Staff of US Army Europe; and the Army War College in 1981. He became the G-1 of XVIII Airborne Corps in 1982 where he served four years, to include going to Granada. His final assignment was as the Army Engineer at their headquarters in Presidio, San Francisco. Sam retired in 1989 and was immediately recruited by the Environmental Chemical Corporation to lead their contract involving preparation of the Presidio for closure as a military base, leading to a position on their Board of Directors. During this time he met Linda his wife to be and began traveling to the east coast to play In golf outings with his classmates from West Point. Soon after his final retirement he moved to Vero Beach where he was very involved in Class of 1960 Golf Group’s golf outings. Even after retirement he joined the Veterans Council in Indian River County where he rose to the Presidency of this Chapter and served in this capacity for three years. He was a true leader of men, a kind and loyal friend and led by example.
He is survived by his wife Linda Kilander Kouns of Savannah, GA and a daughter Leslie Anne Kouns Vancouver, British, Columbia.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel and will be officiated by Chaplain Jimm Smedley. Visitaiton will be at the funeral home from 12:00 Noon until service time at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow in Ashland Cemetery with Military rites by Kenova American Legion Post #93.
Online condolences may be made to www.steenfuneralhome.com


“Sam Kouns was the best of the best of the USMA Class of 1960. He was a patriot who never stopped serving our country. He was a friend, who never stopped looking for ways to enrich the lives of others….and he had the sweetest jump shot you will ever see on any basketball court.”

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