The commander of the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized the most senior water management official in the district for significant contributions to Army engineering in a recent ceremony.
During the event, Tulsa District Commander, Col. Richard A. Pratt, presented the de Fleury Medal to Gregory D. Estep, chief of Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch.
“I feel it is a great honor to be counted among the distinguished current and former recipients of the De Fleury Metal,” said Estep. “Credit for receiving this honor goes to the dedicated employees of the Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch who perform their duties in an exceptional manner supporting me and the Corps in accomplishing our mission.”
Estep began his career with the Corps of Engineers as a hydraulic engineer at the Fort Worth District in 1981. He moved to the Tulsa District in 1991 and worked, where he later worked as a water manager in the Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch. He was promoted to his current position in 2009.
As the chief of the Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch, Estep oversees many initiatives, including the national Corps Water Management System modernization efforts and the development of operational programs and database interfaces. Estep has also championed significant flood forecasting initiatives within CWMS.
“Mr. Estep is an exceptionaly professional engineer and a leader,” said Pratt. “He has distinguished himself by outstanding service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for more than 33 years.”
The de Fleury Medal is presented to soldiers and civilians who render significant service or support to an element of the Engineer Regiment. The award 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.