Colonel David J. White was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 17 December 1957, Class Number 6. His first duty assignment was as Rifle and Mortar Platoon Leader, Company A, 1st Arm Rifle Battalion, 51st Infantry, Fort Hood, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Rifle Company Executive Officer, Company A, 1st ARB, 51st Infantry, Fort Hood, Texas; 4.2 Inch Mortar Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ARB, 46th Infantry, Munich, Germany; Company Executive Officer, Company D, 1st ARB, 46th Infantry, Munich, Germany; Rifle Company Commander, Company C, 3rd ARB, 46th Infantry, Munich, Germany; Operations Officer Mortar Committee, Company I USAIS; Senior Advisor Military Academy, MACV, Republic of Vietnam; Operations Officer OD.C.SI, 3rd Army; S3, 3rd Bde, 1st Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Executive Officer 3rd Bde, 1st Infantry Division, Vietnam; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division,  Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Executive Officer, CINorth Carolina USARPAC, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Chief PA Section Infantry Branch, Washington, D.C.; Action Officer, Recruitment and Reenlistment Division, ODCSPER, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Operations Branch, Recruitment and Reenlistment Division, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Recruitment and Retention Division ODCSPER,  Washington, D.C. | Colonel White was the Honor and Distinguished Graduate of his Officer Candidate Class. He also attended the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. | His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal w/ 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.