TULSA - Col. Richard A. Pratt, commander, Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, recognized Lori A. Hunninghake for her contributions to improve transparency of the Tulsa District, and unprecedented success and continued improvement of customer relationships, by presenting her with a de Fleury Medal, one of the highest Corps of Engineers honors, during a ceremony held here, recently. “
By flawlessly directing the operating budget, personnel actions, training and administrative functions, Ms. Hunninghake has been a force multiplier,” said Pratt. “Her vast knowledge, coupled with her talents in teamwork, analysis visionary thinking, writing and hard work have made her an invaluable member of the Engineer Regiment.”
Hunninghake’s award-winning career with the Corps of Engineers began in 1986. She was named the Tulsa Area Federal Executive Association Federal Employee of the year in 1997, and the Tulsa District Employee of the year in 2000. In 2010, she received an Achievement Medal for Civilian Service and a Superior Civilian Service Award. She received an additional Superior Civilian Service Award in 2012.
According to John Roberts, deputy district engineer for project management, at the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers, Hunninghake’s work with stakeholders contributed significantly to the District’s ranking as first in the Nation in civil works and military customer surveys in 2012.
“There is no job description that fully captures Ms. Hunninghake's duties or her value to the Tulsa District and the public that we serve,” said Roberts. “She is largely responsible for the outstanding partnership of the District with a multitude of federal, state, tribal and local governments and other entities."
“I am honored to have received such a distinguished award,” said Hunninghake. “I am thankful to be employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where I have the opportunity to support service members at our military installations and all of our Civil Works customers.”
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.