Lake Ozark, Missouri - The Missouri Army National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade recently honored Lt. Col. Edward P. Gargas with the U. S. Army Engineer Association's Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal at its 36th annual engineer ball.  

The bronze medal goes to an individual who has rendered significant service or contributions to an element of the engineer regiment.

The esteemed engineer award was signed by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, chief of engineers.  Gargas, whose family resides in Dexter, was recognized by the Army Engineer Association, on behalf of the engineer regiment, for inspirational leadership to the United States Army Corps of Engineers.  

The citation further read, Gargas has distinguished himself throughout many years of dedicated service to the United States Army Engineer Regiment by his demonstrated ability in nearly every fashion possible along leadership lines. Gargas has served in many of the United States Army Engineer Regiments' venues; combat effects through division operations.  His service also includes platoon leader, company commander, battalion S3, division engineer, brigade S3, and battalion commander.  His selfless service has set the standard for officers to emulate.  The Soldiers of the engineer units that he has impacted will remember his work and leadership.

The engineer regiment adopted the de Fleury Medal which is named after French engineer Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury, who volunteered to serve with the American Army in its fight for independence from Britain.  He won the accolades of Congress for courage under fire during the battle at Stony Point, New York in 1779 and a medal was struck in honor.

There are four levels of the de Fleury: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Steel.

The Engineer Regiment adopted the de Fleury Medal as an award because of the values demonstrated by the man for whom it was struck - values of special meaning to Engineer Soldiers.

Brig. Gen. Randy Alewel, the former brigade commander and current joint force land component commander presented the Bronze de Fleury Medal to Gargas on behalf of the Engineer Regiment. While the ball's host, Col. William Blaylock, 35th Engineer Brigade commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Stuenkel stood alongside Alewel during the presentation.

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