Highest Honor Bestowed By The Chief Of Infantry

Retired Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Mellinger, Bell Helicopter’s aircraft design liaison, has received the Army's 2015 Doughboy Award.

The annual Doughboy Award recognizes Infantrymen for their outstanding contributions to the United States Army Infantry and is highest honor bestowed by the Chief of Infantry. The award is a symbolic chrome replica of the helmet worn by American Expeditionary Soldiers during World War I and the early days of World War II. The term “doughboy” originated in Texas where soldiers trained along the Rio Grande in preparation for WWI and would become covered in dusty, white adobe soil and were called “adobes,” which eventually evolved to doughboys.
 
“I am truly honored to receive this prestigious award,” said CSM Mellinger (pictured). “I’ve been presented with many opportunities throughout my life to witness inspiring men and women committed to serving this country, and I am humbled to be able to continue serving by helping provide today’s war fighters with the tools necessary to succeed.”
 
Mellinger was drafted on April 18, 1972, at Eugene, Oregon. Following basic and advanced training at Fort Ord, California, he completed airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was in the Federal Republic of Germany as a unit clerk. Upon his return from Germany, he was assigned to the 2d Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, Fort Lewis, Washington. For the following five years, he served as unit clerk, battalion personnel staff NCO, machinegun squad leader, rifle squad leader, rifle platoon sergeant and weapons platoon leader. He then performed drill sergeant duty at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and returned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, serving again as a platoon sergeant. He assumed the duties as the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s Command Sergeant Major on Nov. 2, 2007, and retired on December 31, 2011 with nearly 40 years of continuous active duty. Previously he was assigned to the U.S. Army Alaska where he spent several months speaking to units and groups on his experiences in Iraq.
 
Among his awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Army Good Conduct Medal.
 
Previous Doughboy Award winners include Bob Hope, H. Ross Perot, Bob Dole, Colin Powell and Daniel Inouye.  This year’s recipients in addition to CSM Mellinger are General Barry McCaffrey and actor Gary Sinise.
 
CSM Mellinger was presented the award last week at the 2015 Doughboy Dinner and Award Presentation at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia.

(Image provided with Bell Helicopter news release)

FMI: www.army.mil, www.bellhelicopter.com