Sunday, October 30, 2005
The Youth of America
Student's deployment brings home Iraq war to Bowdoin College campus
news@TimesRecord.Com
10/25/2005
By Priya Sridhar, Times Record Contributor
BRUNSWICK — On Dec. 1, Alex Cornell du Houx, a 21-year-old Bowdoin College senior from Solon will head to Iraq for approximately 10 months as part of the Alpha 1st Company Battalion of the Marines.
Instead of staying up late to finish off college papers and cram for finals, Cornell du Houx will use his training and experience as a 0351 Assault Man to shoot rockets, deal with demolitions and work the Javelin Missile System.
"I am not nervous whatsoever. We are well trained and we're ready to go," Cornell du Houx said about the news of his unit's impending deployment to Iraq.
His mother and family are supportive of his plans as well.
"I feel for every mom who has a son or daughter who has been deployed, for the innocent Iraqi families that have lost their loved ones, and for the families of 1,966 soldiers who never came home," said Ramona du Houx, Alex's mother. "But the overwhelming reality of how unjust this war is only truly hits home when it is your son or daughter who is going into harm's way."
The senior is most well known on the Bowdoin College campus in his role as development director for the College Democrats of America and as co-president of the Maine College Democrats. Under his leadership, the organization in Maine has grown from two chapters to 23.
While Cornell du Houx has actively rallied against many of President Bush's policies, he feels that his involvement in the Marines is not a conflict of interest.
"Regardless of my opinions regarding the war in Iraq, it is my duty as a U.S. Marine to serve and I am ready and willing to do my job to its fullest extent," he said.
Others on campus, particularly his political opponents in the Bowdoin College Republicans, feel differently about his service. Daniel Schuberth, a leader of the Bowdoin College Republicans and College Republican national secretary, said, "I applaud Mr. Houx for his service, just as I applaud any other soldier who is brave enough to take up arms in defense of his country. I find it troubling, however, that one of the most vocal opponents of our president, our country and our mission in Iraq has chosen to fight for a cause he claims is wrong. Mr. Houx's rhetoric against the war on terror places him in agreement with the most radical fringes of the Democratic Party, and I am left to question his logic and motivation."
Duty, honor, country
Paul Franco, one of Cornell du Houx's government and legal studies professors, disagrees.
"He exemplifies democratic citizenship at its best," Franco said of Cornell du Houx. "Though he opposes Bush's war policies, he still feels obligated to fulfill his duty. ... This is the exact opposite of what is done by those supporters of the war who would never dream of fighting in it themselves or sending their own children to fight in it."
The relationships and friendships Cornell du Houx has forged as a result of his participation in the Marines have affected his politics, as well.
"I have always felt comfortable expressing my political beliefs. In the Marines, we debate politics all the time in a lively manner. It's very interesting and eye-opening to be able to see both perspectives — where you are in the majority politically at Bowdoin College and in the minority politically in the Marines."
Cornell du Houx joined the Marines Reserves while in high school.
"The places you go, the people you meet, and the perspective you learn is something you don't experience anywhere else," he said.
Ever since he was young, Cornell du Houx was fascinated with service and athletics. These two interests drew him to investigate enlisting in either the Army, Navy or Marines. The Marines, he felt, was the most intense and challenging branch and the base in Topsham was a convenient commute from Brunswick.
Weekend drills
Every month, Cornell du Houx trains with the Marines for a weekend, drilling and practicing on the rifle ranges. In addition, every year he participates in a two-week retreat that explores more skill-related war tactics, including scuba diving
After his freshman year at Bowdoin College, he was called to active duty by the Marines and flew to South Carolina to participate in 13 weeks of recruit training and boot camp. He then attended the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C., during what was supposed to be his sophomore fall semester.
At Camp Lejeune, he learned everything from platoon formations to patrol techniques. He also received eight weeks of intensive training on his specialization of rocket launchers and assault.
His participation in the Marines has inevitably affected his college life. Because of his training at Camp Lejeune and now another interrupted college semester, Cornell du Houx is a year to a year and a half behind his original entering class at Bowdoin.
"Although, the Marines have extended my Bowdoin education for a couple more years, at the same time I'm learning a lot in the Marines that I couldn't learn in the classroom," he said.
A government and legal studies major, Cornell du Houx is also involved in a variety of activities at Bowdoin. Aside from his work with the Democrats, he is the co-president of Community Service Council, an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Young Alumni Leadership Program, and a tutor at local schools in the America Counts Tutor Program. He also works at the youth think tank — Youth Empowerment Program.
As a freshman, Cornell du Houx was not particularly active in politics. He was more involved in his community service organizations.
"After coming back from my Marines training sophomore year, I began to see more of a connection between community service and political service. ... I realized that one must become politically involved to create long-term tangible results that make a real difference in people's lives," he said.
Politics put on 'hold'
Until he received word that his unit will be deployed to Iraq, Cornell du Houx planned to run for the District 7 seat on the Brunswick Town Council.
"As a native of Maine, a Marine, president of the Maine College Democrats and founder of the Bowdoin Community Service Council, I've learned that the most important issues are local, which is why I also decided to run for town council," he explained.
Last week, Cornell du Houx withdrew from the race because of the deployment.
Cornell du Houx is still not certain as to what he wants to do when he graduates from Bowdoin College. He is required to spend two years on call for the Marines after his six years in the reserves.
But first, Iraq awaits him, a fact that has friends on campus wishing him luck and hoping for his safe return.
"Alex is a great guy with a big heart. He is a committed community member, Marine and American," said Bree Dallinga, co-president of the Maine College Democrats.
http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/B4F8E5AB7DF904FA052570A50056F681?Opendocument
news@TimesRecord.Com
10/25/2005
By Priya Sridhar, Times Record Contributor
BRUNSWICK — On Dec. 1, Alex Cornell du Houx, a 21-year-old Bowdoin College senior from Solon will head to Iraq for approximately 10 months as part of the Alpha 1st Company Battalion of the Marines.
Instead of staying up late to finish off college papers and cram for finals, Cornell du Houx will use his training and experience as a 0351 Assault Man to shoot rockets, deal with demolitions and work the Javelin Missile System.
"I am not nervous whatsoever. We are well trained and we're ready to go," Cornell du Houx said about the news of his unit's impending deployment to Iraq.
His mother and family are supportive of his plans as well.
"I feel for every mom who has a son or daughter who has been deployed, for the innocent Iraqi families that have lost their loved ones, and for the families of 1,966 soldiers who never came home," said Ramona du Houx, Alex's mother. "But the overwhelming reality of how unjust this war is only truly hits home when it is your son or daughter who is going into harm's way."
The senior is most well known on the Bowdoin College campus in his role as development director for the College Democrats of America and as co-president of the Maine College Democrats. Under his leadership, the organization in Maine has grown from two chapters to 23.
While Cornell du Houx has actively rallied against many of President Bush's policies, he feels that his involvement in the Marines is not a conflict of interest.
"Regardless of my opinions regarding the war in Iraq, it is my duty as a U.S. Marine to serve and I am ready and willing to do my job to its fullest extent," he said.
Others on campus, particularly his political opponents in the Bowdoin College Republicans, feel differently about his service. Daniel Schuberth, a leader of the Bowdoin College Republicans and College Republican national secretary, said, "I applaud Mr. Houx for his service, just as I applaud any other soldier who is brave enough to take up arms in defense of his country. I find it troubling, however, that one of the most vocal opponents of our president, our country and our mission in Iraq has chosen to fight for a cause he claims is wrong. Mr. Houx's rhetoric against the war on terror places him in agreement with the most radical fringes of the Democratic Party, and I am left to question his logic and motivation."
Duty, honor, country
Paul Franco, one of Cornell du Houx's government and legal studies professors, disagrees.
"He exemplifies democratic citizenship at its best," Franco said of Cornell du Houx. "Though he opposes Bush's war policies, he still feels obligated to fulfill his duty. ... This is the exact opposite of what is done by those supporters of the war who would never dream of fighting in it themselves or sending their own children to fight in it."
The relationships and friendships Cornell du Houx has forged as a result of his participation in the Marines have affected his politics, as well.
"I have always felt comfortable expressing my political beliefs. In the Marines, we debate politics all the time in a lively manner. It's very interesting and eye-opening to be able to see both perspectives — where you are in the majority politically at Bowdoin College and in the minority politically in the Marines."
Cornell du Houx joined the Marines Reserves while in high school.
"The places you go, the people you meet, and the perspective you learn is something you don't experience anywhere else," he said.
Ever since he was young, Cornell du Houx was fascinated with service and athletics. These two interests drew him to investigate enlisting in either the Army, Navy or Marines. The Marines, he felt, was the most intense and challenging branch and the base in Topsham was a convenient commute from Brunswick.
Weekend drills
Every month, Cornell du Houx trains with the Marines for a weekend, drilling and practicing on the rifle ranges. In addition, every year he participates in a two-week retreat that explores more skill-related war tactics, including scuba diving
After his freshman year at Bowdoin College, he was called to active duty by the Marines and flew to South Carolina to participate in 13 weeks of recruit training and boot camp. He then attended the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C., during what was supposed to be his sophomore fall semester.
At Camp Lejeune, he learned everything from platoon formations to patrol techniques. He also received eight weeks of intensive training on his specialization of rocket launchers and assault.
His participation in the Marines has inevitably affected his college life. Because of his training at Camp Lejeune and now another interrupted college semester, Cornell du Houx is a year to a year and a half behind his original entering class at Bowdoin.
"Although, the Marines have extended my Bowdoin education for a couple more years, at the same time I'm learning a lot in the Marines that I couldn't learn in the classroom," he said.
A government and legal studies major, Cornell du Houx is also involved in a variety of activities at Bowdoin. Aside from his work with the Democrats, he is the co-president of Community Service Council, an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Young Alumni Leadership Program, and a tutor at local schools in the America Counts Tutor Program. He also works at the youth think tank — Youth Empowerment Program.
As a freshman, Cornell du Houx was not particularly active in politics. He was more involved in his community service organizations.
"After coming back from my Marines training sophomore year, I began to see more of a connection between community service and political service. ... I realized that one must become politically involved to create long-term tangible results that make a real difference in people's lives," he said.
Politics put on 'hold'
Until he received word that his unit will be deployed to Iraq, Cornell du Houx planned to run for the District 7 seat on the Brunswick Town Council.
"As a native of Maine, a Marine, president of the Maine College Democrats and founder of the Bowdoin Community Service Council, I've learned that the most important issues are local, which is why I also decided to run for town council," he explained.
Last week, Cornell du Houx withdrew from the race because of the deployment.
Cornell du Houx is still not certain as to what he wants to do when he graduates from Bowdoin College. He is required to spend two years on call for the Marines after his six years in the reserves.
But first, Iraq awaits him, a fact that has friends on campus wishing him luck and hoping for his safe return.
"Alex is a great guy with a big heart. He is a committed community member, Marine and American," said Bree Dallinga, co-president of the Maine College Democrats.
http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/B4F8E5AB7DF904FA052570A50056F681?Opendocument
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