Colonel Cornelius J. Gearin Jr. was commissioned and Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 17 October 1952, class number 32 His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company M, 123d Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Military Intel Officer, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland; Platoon Leader, XO, and S-1, 3d Battalion, 51st Infantry (Mech), Butzbach, Germany; S-2, Headquarters, 4th Armor Group, Frankfurt, Germany; Company Commander and Training Committee Chief, Company A, 11th Battalion, 3d Training Regiment, USAIC, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Battalion Advisor/Senior Advisor, 7th Infantry Division, Long An, Vietnam; Instructor, Faculty, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Research Assistant, Office of the Sec of Defense, Washington, D.C.; XO, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Long An, Vietnam; Commander, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, Long An, Vietnam; Chief, MBFR Office, Office of the Deputy Chief for Military Operations, Washington, D.C.; Commander, 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. | Colonel Gearin's awards and decorations include: Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (Bronze Star and Gold Star), Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Medal (V Devices 1-23), Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star.