FESTUS, Mo. (Army News Service, June 4, 2010) - Two small-town community parks projects helped propel the Missouri National Guard's Festus-based 220th Engineer Company to four national engineering awards which included the prestigious 2009 Itschner Award from the Army Engineer Association.
The Itschner Award is given annually to an engineer company in each of the Army components selected as most outstanding for its contributions and achievements to the Army Corps of Engineers, the Army and the local community. Named in honor of Lt. Gen. Emerson C. Itschner, the 39th chief of the Army Corps of Engineers, the award has been presented annually since 1960.
The 220th Engineers also won three other individual awards, including one for outstanding platoon leader, contributions to military troop construction and for overall honorable attributes.
"It was absolutely a great year," said Capt. Timothy Biedenstein, the 220th Engineer company commander. "It shows we were able to do great things when we were given the opportunity."
The projects that stood out were two parks-related projects that the 220th did during last year's annual training in Barnhart and Jackson, Mo. The 220th Engineers earthwork, largely soil excavation and grading in nature, paved the way in Barnhart for four tennis courts, a soccer field and a softball diamond on 15 acres near Freer Elementary School.
In Jackson, the company did similar work at Brookside Park that will make way for a future sports complex on four acres there.
"Those were our big production numbers in 2009," Biedenstein said. "We were able to move a lot of materials. We moved 100,000 cubic yards of material - dirt, rock, gravel. We put a good face on the National Guard, going out and working in communities. We were very visible. The 220th really stepped up to the plate."
Individually, three other members of the 220th Engineers received awards:
Aca,!Ac 1st Lt. Jason Davis received the 2009 Outstanding Platoon Leader in the National Guard category.
Aca,!Ac Sgt. 1st Class John Roberts was presented with the Sturgis Medal, which is presented for outstanding contributions to military troop construction.
Aca,!Ac Spc. Ethan Coulson was presented with the Van Autreve Award, named in honor of former Sergeant Major of the Army Leon Van Autreve. Each year, the award is presented to Soldiers who display exceptional attributes in physical fitness, marksmanship, and educational growth as well as in morale and welfare activities.
Biedenstein added that he was especially proud of these three Soldiers.
"Sgt. Roberts was the NCOIC at the Jackson site project and for two or three drill periods he acted as first sergeant while the first sergeant wasn't available," Biedenstein said. "Lt. Davis was the officer in charge at the Barnhart project. They were two of the major players on the ground. Spc. Coulson is just an all-around go-getter."
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