Colonel Claiborne W. Cowgill was commissioned and Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School on 6 February 1958. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company M, 3d Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, Company C, 1st Battle Group, 87th Infantry; Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 38th Infantry; Assistant Adjutant, Headquarters, 1st Battle Group, 38th Infantry; Platoon Leader, Company A, 1st Battle Group, 38th Infantry; Liaison Officer, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry; S-2, headquarters, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry; S-3 Air, Headquarters 1st Battalion 38th Infantry; Commander, Company A, 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry, Vietnam; Intelligence Advisor, Advisor Team 52, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam;  Intelligence Staff Officer, Technical Intelligence Detachment, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion with Station Advisory Team 52, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Student Officer, Associate Infantry Officer Career Course, The Infantry School; Chief, Support Division, Foreign Technical Intelligence Officer, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Operations Officer, Headquarters Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Regional Force/Popular Force Advisor, Advisory Team 72 (Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support), U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Unit Advisor, U.S. Army Reserve Advisory Group, Arizona with station Phoenix, AZ; Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2125th USAR Battle Group (Reinforcement Training Unit); Personnel Officer/Operations-Training Officer, 6251st U.S. Army Hospital; S-2/3, Headquarters, 275th Supply and Service Battalion; S-4, Headquarters, 275th Supply and Service Battalion; Executive Officer, 275th Supply and Service Battalion; Training Officer, Headquarters, 97th U.S. Army Reserve Command; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, 97th U.S. Army Reserve Command. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/7 Bronze Service Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/2 10 Year Devices, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Bronze Star, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm (Unit Citation Badge), Aircraft Crewman Badge. | Military schools attended include: Associate Infantry Officer Career Course; Army Medical Department Career Course; Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course; Command and General Staff College; Defense Strategy Course; Senior Officer Tactical Intelligence Orientation Course; Army Installation Management Course; Electronic Warfare Staff Officer Course; Signal Officer Advanced Course. | Colonel Cowgill attended Columbia College, Columbia, MO (B.A. in Individual Studies/Business Administration); Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI (M.A. in Management/Personnel Management). | At the time of his induction, he was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Resource Management, 97th U.S. Army Reserve Command.