Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Kiel Skager | Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, was...... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, was awarded the U.S. Army Engineer Association's "Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal" at the Guard's Raymond J. Bohn Armory Dec. 5, 2014. This prestigious engineer award was in recognition for Sprynczynatyk's exceptionally meritorious service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Army National Guard spanning more than three decades.
Sprynczynatyk was at the armory briefing about 200 Guard Soldiers on the first stop of his annual holiday command visits and was unaware of the award until Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, deputy adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, stepped forward and began reading a brief history of the de Fleury medal. Dohrmann then followed up with a brief narrative of Sprynczynatyk's achievements that earned him the medal. Sprynczynatyk was surprised as family members entered the area carrying the medal and a large wooden frame that contained the award citation.
Sprynczynatyk's spouse, Connie Sprynczynatyk, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, placed the "The Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal" around his neck as the award citation was read aloud.
After the presentation, a letter from North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple was read offering his and the North Dakota first lady's congratulations. An excerpt from the letter read, "As a citizen-Soldier and skilled state engineer, you have represented the best in public service. Please know that your dedicated service and leadership have enhanced the lives of citizens throughout North Dakota."
Sprynczynatyk thanked the North Dakota National Guard family and his mentors and said, "It is truly an honor to serve as the adjutant general and to be able to represent all of the great Soldiers and Airmen of the North Dakota National Guard when working with government officials and other agencies."
He also saluted the efforts of National Guard and the North Dakota Department of Emergency employees for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the nation and the citizens of North Dakota.
Among Sprynczynatyk's achievements that earned him the award was his efforts in leading the North Dakota National Guard and Department of Emergency Services during the state's major flood events of 2009 and 2011, in which the Guard spent 98 and 142 days on flood duty, respectively. A traditional Guardsman, Sprynczynatyk is a registered professional engineer in North Dakota and has served in a number of key engineer positions during his civilian career prior to assuming the full-time duties as the adjutant general in 2006. The civilian engineer positions included tours as North Dakota state engineer, North Dakota State Water Commission, 1989-2001; and director, North Dakota Department of Transportation, 2001-2006. During his tenure in these two agencies, he successfully coordinated and worked many projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers particularly in water-resourced endeavors.
The de Fleury medal traces its origins to the American Revolutionary War and was named after French engineer Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury. In 1779, de Fleury, who had volunteered to serve in the American Army, demonstrated extraordinary heroism at the Battle of Stony Point, a major defeat for the British Army and a turning point in the war. According to the U.S. Army Engineer Association, the Second Continental Congress awarded de Fleury a medal "struck in his honor" for his "intrepid behavior."
The U.S. Army Engineer Association has four award levels of the de Fleury Medal: Gold, silver, bronze and steel. The silver medal may only be awarded to an individual who has rendered outstanding and significant support or service to the Engineer Regiment. The only other North Dakota Army Guard Engineer that has earned the "Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal" is retired Brig. Gen. Harvey M. Haakenson in 2000.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2014 21:23 |
| Story ID: | 149587 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 274 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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