Leslie D. Thatcher

Colonel Leslie D. Thatcher was commissioned an Artillery Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 4-66 on 18 March 1966. His first duty assignment was as Forward Observer, Battery B, 3d Battalion, 82d Artillery, Fort Devens, Massachusetts and Tay Ninh, Vietnam. | His subsequent duty assignments include Operations Officer, First United States Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Company Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 313th Battalion, Nha Trang, Vietnam; Company Commander, 374th RR Company, RR Battalion, An Khe, Vietnam; Chief of G-2, Air, Operation and Security, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division; Assistant Inspector General, Pacific Liaison Office, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Air and Surface Operations Officer and Pacific Command Readiness Officer, Headquarters, Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii; Commander, Special Operations Detachment, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Commander, Combat Intelligence Company, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, 1st United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Director, J2, Special Operations Command Atlantic, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Battalion Commander, 201st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and Post Commander, AF South, Naples, Italy. | Colonel Thatcher is a graduate of the Airborne Course, Fixed Wing Flight School, Airborne Radio Direction Finding Course, United States Air Force Jungle Survival School, Military Intelligence Officer Advance Course, Command and General Staff College, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Army War College, and NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. | His military awards and decorations include: Bronze Star w/ V device w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/ 6 campaigns, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Presidential Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm, Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Air Assault Badge and Canadian Jump Wings.