TULSA, Okla. -- The commander of the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized a program manager for significant contributions to Army engineering recently.
Tulsa District Commander, Col. Richard A. Pratt, recently presented a Bronze de Fleury Medal to Louis E. Vogele, Civil Works Program Manager, Programs Project Management Division, for his highly effective budget execution, combining project management skills with technical expertise and applying leadership practices to Civil Works programs.
“Mr. Vogele’s true value has been doing the routine, routinely well, and being proactive for addressing potential issues before they develop,” Pratt said. “He has consistently demonstrated a compelling vision for the Civil Works program that has resulted in solid budget development, defense and execution through leading others to common goals.”
Vogele effectively budgeted for supplemental funding to address catastrophic damages to Tulsa District flood control structures, navigation projects and recreation facilities. He spearheaded an effort that secured $140 million in vital maintenance funding projects for the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package.
Vogele has a history of high-performance in the Tulsa District. In 2008, he was the Tulsa District employee of the year, and he received the Lt. Col. Mark Fritz Award in 2012. He said he has attempted to emulate other de Fleury recipients.
“I was honored and surprised to be considered and selected for the de Fleury,” Vogele said. “I’ve always admired the other recipients I've known and worked with during my career, and I always hoped to do the type of work that is worthy of being considered for the de Fleury Medal.”
The de Fleury Medal is presented to individuals who render significant service or support to an element of the Engineer Regiment and is named for Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury, of St. Hippolyte, France.
Trained as an engineer in the French Army, and a veteran of the Corsican Campaign, in 1777 de Fleury volunteered to serve with the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The Continental Congress appointed de Fleury a captain of engineers, and at the battles of Fort Mifflin and Brandywine, he distinguished himself, quickly earning promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In 1779 the British conquered two small forts on each bank of the Hudson River and began building a defensive fortification at a peninsula named Stony Point. Stony Point stretched a half-mile into the Hudson River and gave the British control of a strategic position on the waterway. British occupation of the peninsula forced the Continental Army to reroute its communication and supply lines and provided a base of operations from which the British could launch an attack on West Point, less than 15 miles upriver.
On July 15, 1779, the Continental Army attempted a surprise attack on a British Defensive positions at Stony Point, New York. The mission was launched under cover of darkness and soldiers turned in their ammunition to minimize noise that might alert the British to the surprise attack. De Fleury led a bayonet charge up a steep slope to the enemy’s defensive position, jumped the wall and ran to the flag pole where he quickly cut down the Union Jack, wresting control of the vital strategic position from the Royal Army.
For his actions, the Continental Congress praised his valor and ordered a medal be struck in his honor. The de Fleury Medal was the first Congressional Medal struck.
The Engineer Regiment presents four levels of de Fleury Medals. The highest level, gold de Fleury Medal, is presented to an individual whose contributions to the Army Engineer Regiment exemplify boldness, courage and commitment to a strong national defense.
The silver de Fleury Medal is presented to an individual who has rendered outstanding and significant support or service to the Engineer Regiment.
The bronze de Fleury Medal is presented to an individual who has rendered significant service or support to an element of the Engineer Regiment.
The steel de Fleury is presented to an individual whose selfless service assures mobility, enhances protection, enables expeditionary logistics, and builds capacity to support the success of missions and operations in an era of persistent conflict.