Colonel Don McKnight was commissioned an Armor Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 1 September 1953, class number 20. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 30th Tank Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Company XO, Company H, 3d Battalion 6th Cavalry, Regensburg, Germany; Company Commander, Company G, 3d Battalion, 6th Cavalry, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Aide-de-Camp, Headquarters, USAARMC, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Company Commander, Company D, 1st Cavalry, Germany; Combat Command Assistant S-3, CCA, 3d Armd Division, Germany; Division Assistant G-3, 3d Armored Division, Germany; J-2, Intel Plans Officer, Headquarters USSTRICOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Battalion XO, 1/69th Armor Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam; Instructor, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth Kansas; Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Squadron Commander, 1st Sqdn, 11th Cavalry, Vietnam; Aide-de-Camp, Headquarters U.S. Army Europe; XO, USA Military Personnel Center, Washington, D.C.; Armor  Coordinator, USARR VIII, Denver, Colorado. | Colonel McKnight's awards and decorations include: Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Medal (13 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (V Device and 3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit.