Colonel Arno L. Ponder, Jr. was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in April of 1953, class number 50. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 503 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Education Director, Headquarters, 3d Inf Div, Korea; Platoon Commander, Co C, 1st Bn, 35th Inf, 25th Inf Div, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Aide-de-Camp, Headquarters, Hawaii Army Base Commander, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Executive Officer, Mortar Battery, 2d Battle Gp, 14th Inf, Fort Benning, Georgia; Asst Professor of Military Science, ROTC Instructor Det, Kansas State College; Pittsburg, KA; Brigade J-4, Headquarters, 3d Brigade, 25th Inf Div, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Battalion S-3, 1st Bn, 27th Inf, 25th Inf Div, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Battalion Executive officer, 1st Bn, 27th Inf, 25th Inf Div, CuChi, Republic of Vietnam; Chief Opns Officer, Army Opns Ctr, Headquarters, DA-ODCSOPS, Washington, D.C.; Battalion Commander, Headquarters, DA-ODCSOPS, Washington, D.C.; Asst Chief of Staff G-4, Headquarters, 2d Inf Div, Camp Casey, ROK; Staff Officer, J-4, Organization of the Joint Chief of Staff, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Plans and Operations Div, Headquarters, DA-ODCSLOG, Washington, D.C. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star w/V (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)