Colonel Charles Leonard Cosand, Jr. was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class Number 9-64, 27 October 1964. His first duty assignment was Rifle Platoon Leader, Company A, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas and Republic of Vietnam. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Commander, 92d Company, 9th Student Battalion (OC), Fort Benning, Georgia; Operations Officer, 9th Student Battalion (OC), Fort Benning, Georgia; Commander, Company D, 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, Vietnam; Assistant Operations Officer, Task Force South, Republic of Vietnam; Aide-de-Camp, Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Subcommittee Chief, Benning Ranger Committee, Fort Benning, Georgia; Tactics Instructor, Airborne/Airmobility Department, Fort Benning, Georgia; Deputy ACofS, G2, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Polk, Louisiana; Executive Officer, 3d Battalion, 10th Infantry, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Inspector General, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Polk, Louisiana; Staff Leader, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Inspector General, Headquarters U.S. Army, Berlin, Germany; Commander, U.S. Military Community Activity, Wiesbaden, Germany; Senior Army Advisor, Indiana Army National Guard, Indianapolis, Indiana. | Colonel Cerone is a graduate of the Airborne Course, Army Flight School, and the Armed Forces Staff College. | His military awards and decorations include: Silver Star, Bronze Star w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal w/ V Device and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnamese Cross of gallantry w/ Silver Star, Combat Infantrymans’ Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge.