USACE TAA engineer awarded de Fleury Medal

By Mike A. Glasch, USACENovember 6, 2015

Boeman1
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Boeman 2
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Boeman 3
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Boeman4
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Norman Boeman (center), chief, construction division, USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) poses with Col. Paul owen (left), commander, USACE-TAA and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Lococo, USACE-TAA, Tuesday at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Boeman 5
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN -- A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) employee has been awarded one of the highest honors bestowed within the Corps of Engineers. Norman Boeman, chief of engineering, was presented with the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal Tuesday.

"I was surprised to find out that I was nominated for the award because I had actually been feeling like I've been treading water since I got here in December 2013," Boeman said. "We've had such a large program to complete and turn over that my usual personal emphasis on continuous improvement seemed an unnecessary burden. To have been nominated at this time was a very humbling experience."

The medal is named for a French engineer Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury who volunteered to serve with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

At the Battle of Stony Point, New York, in 1779, De Fleury was in command of a battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Corps of Light Infantry. He led an American charge up a rocky slope to retake the outpost on the point. The first over the wall, de Fleury rushed to flag pole, cutting the British colors from their staff, turning the tide of the battle.

For his actions, the Continental Congress awarded a medal struck in de Fleury's honor. It is believed that the de Fleury Medal was the first Congressional Medal produced.

"Norm is the most recent member of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who are carrying on the proud tradition of spirited service set by de Fleury," said Col. Paul Owen, USACE-TAA commander, who presented Boeman the award.

"Having been presented the award has made me feel accepted as valued member of the Engineer Regiment," said Boeman.

Boeman hails from the Los Angeles District where he serves as the deputy chief of the construction division. He joined TAA in December 2013. This is his third tour in Afghanistan, having served as an area engineer in Kandahar from December 2007 to December 2008, and as the chief of the contract administration branch, engineering and construction division, also in Kandahar, from February 2009 to November 2009.

A 24-year veteran of USACE, Boeman considers himself fortunate to have a career that has afforded him the opportunity to be a part of something that impacts the lives of so many people now and into the future.

"I've tried to make my service to the Corps and the country a worthwhile contribution to the betterment of the quality of life for all Americans and their allies," he said. "I've had a lot of good mentors, guys who really inspired me. One of my best mentors and good friends Sam Adkins taught me that you can do a lot of good working for the Corps not only professionally, but also in helping out the community."

Boeman has taken that example and applied it to his own style of mentoring; something that did not go unnoticed by one of his previous supervisors.

"Norm truly cares about the Regiment - the projects and processes, yes; but more importantly he cares about the people and making them the best in support of all we do for the American Soldier," said Gordon Simons, former chief of engineering and construction, TAA.

"His rich history in working for the Regiment has made him an impeccable mentor for junior and seasoned individuals alike," he added. "I frequently found myself not making a move until I've had a chance to discuss things with Norm to receive his thoughtful and common sense approach to every situation."

During his multiple tours in Afghanistan, Boeman has had a hand in numerous projects across the country to help build-up the facilities for the Afghan National Defense Forces. He considers the building of the Police District 1 headquarters in Kabul one of his crowning achievements.

"This was at a time when we had no official engineering branch, the program management team was downsizing and Col. (Pete) Helmlinger (former TAA commander) was very concerned about showing how responsive TAA could be to get the project designed, awarded and constructed," he recalled. "It was a great team effort that I was glad to be pulling with to get from concept to award, in less than six weeks and then built and turned over in less than six months."

It is efforts like that that inspired Owen to say how proud he was to be able to recognize Boeman for his achievements.

"His leadership and expertise in executing complex construction projects has significantly contributed to the rapid increase in Afghan National Security Defense Forces capabilities over the past two years," Owen said.

There are four levels of the de Fleury Medal: steel, bronze, silver and gold. Only one gold medal is awarded each year by the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers.