Posted on August 31, 2022
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division Command Sgt. Maj. Chad Blansett was awarded the Silver De Fleury Medal at Division Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on Aug. 22nd, 2022. The medal was presented by outgoing division commander Brig. Gen. Jason Kelly who stated, “The Silver De Fleury is a really big deal. There are lots of things he has done in his career that we don’t talk about here. This is a guy who has put his chute on and landed on the X many times in several different places. With this award we are recognizing CSM Blansett for his service to the regiment. If there is someone more worthy, then I don’t know where he or she resides.”
Blansett recently marked 30 years of service to our country as an enlisted Army Soldier. He has served on three peacekeeping and six combat tours including Operation Restore Democracy, Haiti (1994); Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo (1999, 2001); Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003, 2005 and 2007); Operation Enduring Freedom (2006, 2010) and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (2016-2017). He was selected as the 4th Command Sergeant Major of the South Atlantic Division in March of 2020.
Blansett’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC); Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC); Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC); Combat Action Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Senior Parachutist Badge; Basic Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; Sapper Tab; Drivers Badge (3 clasps); Presidential Unit Citation; Valorous Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Superior Unit Award; Japanese Parachutist Badge and the Bronze De Fleury Award.
Upon receiving the award Blansett addressed his South Atlantic Division teammates, “I’m not a remarks kind of guy but there are Command Sergeant Majors in our regiment that are afraid to come to USACE and do the things you all have to do, and I’ll tell you I consider it an honor and a privilege and truly, as an engineer Soldier consider this to be the capstone of my Army career. It means a lot to be here and to be involved and see what you do on a day-to-day basis for the betterment of our country and our allies. There’s no better place to be than here with you all and my battle buddy Brig. Gen. Kelly. God bless you all and thank you.”
