Colonel Billy E. Rutherford was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 19 June 1952, Class number 15. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignment include: Company commander, 17th Infantry Regiment, Korea; Company XO, 187th ARCT, Japan; Aviator, USA Armor Board, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Company Commander, Davison Army Air Field, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Operations Officer, Second Armored Cavalry, Germany; Aviation Staff Officer, Headquarters, Seventh Army, Germany; S-3 and XO, 18th Infantry, Fort Riley, Kansas and Vietnam; Plans Officer, Headquarters, USARV, Vietnam, Chief, Aviation Overseas Requirements, DA Washington, D.C.; Commander/Chief, 307th Aviation Battalion, Vietnam/Officer Replacement; Staff Officer, Infantry Branch, DA, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Director and Director, Leadership Department, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia; Director, Directorate of Educational Technology, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His awards and decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge (2d Award), Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal (7 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster).