By Capt. Anthony L. Bucci
Task Force 134 Public Affairs Office
CAMP CROPPER, Iraq – Character is defined as the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another.
"My dad always spoke about how the Army builds character," said Spc. Marcus F. Hou. "He served in the Taiwanese army, so when I sat at the dinner table and told him I wanted to join the U.S. Army he just looked at me with a sense of pride," His father accepted his decision to join the armed services, and the younger Hou joined the Army looking to build some of that character that his father spoke of with such approval.
After the events of Sept. 11 Marcus found himself trying to help a city and a country recovering from the terrorist attacks. "In the days after 9/11 I went to the Javits Center -- Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan-- to help in any way I could. I helped distribute food, water, blankets, etc. I was on my own personal journey to find that 'character' that my father spoke of," said Hou.
Marcus enlisted in the U. S. Army continuing his search for "that character." He left for basic training in October 2002 and was assigned to Camp Humphries, an aviation unit in South Korea, as a petroleum fuel specialist.
Master Sgt. Carl Palmore was his platoon sergeant and a very influential mentor to Hou. "My platoon sergeant is what a platoon sergeant should be. He took care of his Soldiers!" said Hou. In fact, it was at his platoon sergeant's urging that he took the New York City Police Exam.
Hou passed the entrance exam for the NYPD and reported to the New York Police Academy in January 2006. He graduated in July of that same year. His first assignment was in his home borough of Queens, where he has lived in the 115th Precinct, Jackson Heights, since he left Taiwan at the age of two.
"I think the Army helped me a lot in that it gave me the discipline to know what to do and what not to do. The Army had helped build that 'character' I had been searching for since I was a kid," said Hou.
"When I was a kid I would think to myself, 'wouldn't it be cool to be in the military and also be a police officer' Hou said. "That way I could not only help people in my neighborhood, but also around the world."
Hou got his wish. In spring 2007, he was recalled to active duty, reporting for training October 28. When his colleagues at the police department learned he had been recalled to active duty, they were all shocked, but very supportive of his service to his country.
Hou was assigned to the 1120th Ordnance Company, Oklahoma Army National Guard. They were subsequently deployed to Iraq to conduct detainee operations, a high profile and important counter-insurgency operation. Hou has spent this deployment operating various programs and services for the detainees.
"When I talk to these detainees, I treat them with dignity and respect." Hou said. "I always imagine that my mother and father are behind me watching, and this helps me to do the right thing."
Hou has been instrumental in working with Iraqi juvenile detainees, a small population of about 500 individuals between the ages of 13 and 17, who have been determined to be security threats. His experience with the New York Police Department has directly contributed to his success.
While patrolling his area of responsibility in Queens he has built a rapport with the people in the neighborhoods, he has adeptly applied this technique to his daily interaction with the detainees.
"As a police officer I can investigate a problem and try to fix it. Although I do not have the same latitude here [Detainee Operations]. It is still very important to me, because of my wanting to achieve that 'character' my father spoke of, to fix whatever problems I can to the best of my abilities," said Hou
Maj. Brad Carter, Hou's commander, describes him as one of the best Soldiers he has ever served with. "He came to us a stranger and will leave us as part of our family. I know that I will never forget him," Carter said.
"The New York Police Department has a special officer in their midst," said Carter." The New York Police Department and the U. S. Army truly have a man of 'character'!
| Date Taken: | 07.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2008 10:27 |
| Story ID: | 21606 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 522 |
| Downloads: | 432 |
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