Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Sherba | U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Neil E. Nelson, chief of Combined Joint Logistics –...... read more read more
KABUL, Afghanistan – A surprise award ceremony was held June 15 at Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul to recognize and honor U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Neil E. Nelson, chief of Combined Joint Logistics – RS HQ, for his more than 31 years of outstanding contribution to the joint engineering community. For such, Nelson was awarded the prestigious U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.
The de Fleury Medal was established on October 1, 1779, by the Continental Congress in honor of François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, a French Engineer in the Continental Army. The award honored de Fleury’s bravery and heroism most notably during the Battle of Stony Point that took place on July 16, 1779, during the American Revolutionary War.
It was at Stony Point, a small American Fort that had fallen into the hands of the British, in which de Fleury is remembered best. First over the wall, de Fleury led a wave of American bayonets into the fort, and rushed to the fort’s flagpole cutting down the British colors from their staff.
Many historians have noted that the defeat of the British at Stony Point and the recapturing of the fort was a pivotal moment in the American Revolutionary War, in that it not only lifted the morale and determination of the Americans but it showed the British that the colonies had an able fighting force.
“I am still in shock; this is quite an honor for me to receive such a prestigious medal. I have watched the U.S. Army over the years honor their distinguished and great leaders. I never thought of myself that way, I always think of others,” said Nelson following the ceremony.
I was very surprised and humbled that I was honored with the de Fleury Medal, I do appreciate it.”
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commander of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, who presented Nelson with the de Fleury Medal during the ceremony, spoke about the uniqueness of U.S. Army Engineer Soldiers rallying together to ensure Nelson was recognized with the de Fleury Medal.
“All service members when they are in a deployed environment are going to be taken care of by their superiors. Their leaders are going to figure out if it was a good tour and then the service members are going to stand out here[award area] and they’re going to get an end of tour award and a NATO Medal, that is a part of being a good leader - taking care of the people that work for you. But when your subordinates are the ones who generate the award for you; that’s so much more inspiring, because now it’s an unsolicited award, it came from the bottom up. That’s what’s really neat about what these Soldiers did for the general.”
Semonite continued, “They [the Soldiers] came up with this concept; they are the ones that pushed the award all the way through. That’s due to the great pride they have in not only what the general has done here with his contributions but more so how he takes care of his people.”
In his office, after the ceremony, Nelson reflected on his more than 31-year-career.
“I would tell you a lot of people have taught me this trade, and mostly it has been my enlisted brethren. They have not just taught me, but they were patient with me and guided me and gave me those lessons that allowed me to be who I am today. I owe it all to them [enlisted brethren],” said Nelson.
Following the ceremony Semonite too reflected, on the de Fleury Medal, his colleague, and leadership.
“The de Fleury Medal is really an award for outstanding service, not just as an engineer, but as a leader. To be able to go above and beyond and be one of those leaders that continue to make all of us proud,” said Semonite.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2015 13:23 |
| Story ID: | 166811 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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