The De Fleury Medal, an award of the US Army Engineer Association, was named in honor of François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, a French Engineer in the Continental Army.
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In the late 1980s, as the Corps of Engineers implemented the U.S. Army Regimental System, the senior Engineer leadership sought a method for the Corps to honor those individuals who have provided significant contributions to Army Engineering.
The Army Regimental System was developed to emphasize the history, customs, and traditions of the Corps; so MG Daniel R. Schroeder, then Commanding General of Fort Leonard Wood and US Army Engineer School Commandant, wanted an award that would tie in with the beginnings of the nation and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Engineer Regiment adopted the de Fleury Medal as an award because of the values demonstrated by the man for whom it was struck – values of special meaning to Engineer Soldiers. When the first de Fleury medal was awarded in 1989, it became the first Congressional medal struck, though not the first Congressional medal authorized.
Medal description
On the obverse of the medal is a Latin inscription meaning: "A MEMORIAL AND REWARD FOR COURAGE AND BOLDNESS". In the center appears the image of a helmeted soldier standing amidst the ruins of a fort, holding in his right hand an unsheathed sword, and in his left the staff of the enemy's flag, which he tramples underfoot.
On the reverse, again in Latin: "FORTIFICATIONS, MARSHES, ENEMIES OVERCOME". In the center the fortress at Stony Point is depicted with both turrets and a flag flying. At the base of the hill are two shore batteries, one of which is firing at one of six vessels on the Hudson River. Beneath the fort is the legend: "STONY POINT CARRIED BY STORM, JULY 15, 1779".
Levels of de Fleury Medals
The Engineer Regiment makes four award levels of the de Fleury Medal.
Presentation of the de Fleury Medal, to those individuals meeting established criteria, was started by the Engineer Regiment as the move of the Engineer School from Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri was completed in 1989. The gold medal presentation is the highlight of the annual Engineer Regimental Dinner held at Fort Leonard Wood each spring.
Gold Medal recipients
1989 – John O. Marsh, Jr. Secretary of the Army
1990 – Robert W. Page Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
1991 – GEN Maxwell R. Thurman, USA Retired
1992 – GEN Andrew J. Goodpaster, USA Retired
1993 – LTG Emerson C. Itschner, USA Retired
1994 – Mr. John B. Mahaffey Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army
1995 – LTG Frederick J. Clarke, USA Retired
1996 – SMA Leon L. Van Autreve, USA Retired
1997 – LTG John W. Morris, USA Retired
1998 – Mr. Allen M. Carton
1999 – Ike Skelton Congressman, State of Missouri
2000 – LTG Julius W. Becton, Jr., USA Retired and CSM Robert W. Elkey, (Posthumous)
2001 – LTG Max W. Noah, USA Retired and COL Claude L. Roberts, Jr., (Posthumous)
2002 – MG Richard S. Kem, USA Retired
2003 – Daniel K. Inouye Senator, State of Hawaii
2004 – COL Edward C. Gibson, USA Retired
2005 – LTG Daniel R. Schroeder, USA Retired
2006– MG John G. Waggener, USA Retired and SFC Paul Ray Smith (Posthumous)
2007– LTG Elvin R. “Vald” Heiberg III, USA Retired
2008 – LTG Robert B. Flowers, USA Retired
2009 - LTG Henry J. Hatch and Kisuk (Charlie) Cheung (Posthumous)
2016 - Hon. Robert K. Dawson