Europe Rudder Study Abroad – Summer 2009
Howdy! I am Robert Moxley currently a Senior (Junior in the Corps of Cadets) History major from Atlanta, Georgia with a cumulative GPR of 3.216. This summer I hope to participate in the faculty-led Europe Rudder Study Abroad program taught by A&M professor Dr. James Bradford, as well as, a guest professor from West Point. The focus of the program, as the name implies, is on former A&M President and U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder and his 2nd Ranger Battalion’s combat action during the Second World War. As a history major, the courses being taught will apply directly to the completion of my degree fulfilling both 300 (HIST 336: Europe Since 1932) and 400 (HIST 489 Special Topics in Word War II) level coursework for a total of six credit hours.
Earning the coveted Rudder’s Rangers “Black Shirt”
The Europe Rudder Program holds a special meaning to me, aside from a great opportunity to travel and study in Europe. For two years now I have been an active member in the Rudder’s Rangers Company in the Corps of Cadets. Named after Lt. Col. Rudder, the Company is a special unit designed to train cadets for Ranger School.
Most important to me, is that during the trip we will be touring Pointe du Hoc where Lt. Col. Rudder led his 2nd Battalion of Rangers up sheer cliffs to take a German artillery position on D-Day. The event has become legend and epitomizes the solid leadership characteristics of Lt. Col. Rudder and is a model for every A&M cadet that passes through the Corp’s arches.
Hotel in Rouen, France
In addition to touring some of the most historic battle sites and cemeteries associated with the fighting in Northern France during World War II, the program makes an effort to visit a few of the rare architectural achievements that can only be found in Europe. This is especially interesting to me since I am minoring in Global Architecture, Design, and Construction and have had the opportunity to study several of the sites we are scheduled to visit namely; Mont St. Michel, The Cathedral at Caen, The Hotel de Ville in Rouen, and The Château de Caen.
Cost Estimates (Estimations de Coûts)
Airfare – $1302.00
1. ATL -NYC – NYC -ATL = $304.00
2. NYC -Dublin = $307.00
3. Dublin-London = $49.00
4. London-Paris = $93.00
5. Paris-NYC = $549.00
Faculty-Led Europe Rudder Program – $5500.00
Hostels / Hotel – $381.68 Hotel in Rouen, France
3 Nights Dublin International YHA = $66.00
4 Nights London Central YHA = $127.68
2 Nights Kyriad Rouen Centre = $138.00
1 Night Premiere Classe Honfleur = $50.00
Train Fares – $150.00
Round Trip Fare: Caen to Rouen = $70.00
Food, Books, & Misc. – $1000.00
Rough Cost = $8333.68
Personal Funds Saved for Trip ! $1200.00*
Funds from Scholarships thus Received = $600.00**
Loans = $1500.00
Funds from Parents = $3000.00
Funds Still Needed = $2033.68
*Should increase over the summer since I will be working before I leave.
**Scholarship award notifications have not yet been issued
Timetable (Calendrier)
Week 1
Start Personal Travel
Depart New York City and arrive in Dublin
Spend 3 nights in Dublin – Merrion Square
Spend 4 nights in London – Churchill Museum
Week 2
Arrive in Paris and transport to Caen
Start Europe Rudder Program
Field Trip: Abbaye aux Dames, Memorial
Museum
Week 3
Continue Classes in Caen
Field Trip: Pegasus Bridge, Merville Battery,
Omaha Beach, U.S. Cemetary,
Pointe du Hoc
Week 4
Midterm Exam
Field Trip: Grand Camp Maisy, St. Mere Eglise,
Normandy Campaign Museum, British
Cemetery
Personal Travel to Honfleur
Week 5
Tour: German Cemetery, Mont St. Michel, St.
Malo
Field Trip: War Tunnels Museum, Chartres
Cathedral, Ft. Duoumont
Personal Travel to Rouen: Tour Hotel de Ville
Week 6
Field Trip: Bastogne, Diekirk Museum,
Luxembourg City, Camp Hinzert, Ft.
Hackenburg
Week 7
Final Exam
Rhine River Cruise
Depart France
Note: This is not a complete list only a snapshot of my planned personal travel and the Europe Rudder Program.
Departure and Return (Départ et de Retour)
As the trip stands now, I will be leaving Atlanta on June 29 for New York City then flying out the next day for Dublin. I chose to fly out of New York because I have family in the area and the cost is significantly lower than if I were to fly out of Atlanta directly. I will be returning to New York City on August 11 and back to Atlanta on the 12th. In total, I will be gone just over six weeks and will have visited six countries (Ireland, England, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium). While I realize this is an ambitious and expensive trip the opportunity to travel and study in Europe is truly once in a lifetime.
Thank you for considering me for the Globetrotter Grant. I truly appreciate the opportunities that you make possible through your endowments. I hope that after reading my application you find my prospective trip as exciting and worthwhile as I do. Thanks/Merci and Gig’em!
Rangers Lead the Way!
“In memory of James Earl Rudder, 1910-1970, Class of 1932, Heroic Soldier. Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas…Sixteenth President of Texas A&M University…Third President of the Texas A&M University System.
Earl Rudder was architect of the dream that produced this center. In this, as in all he did, he demonstrated uncommon ability to inspire men and lead them to exceptional achievement.”
– Inscription on Rudder Tower
See Robert’s Trip Report