Colonel Donald H. Lanier was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 22 May 1945, class number 449. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 9th Infantry division, Fort Dix, New Jersey. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Battalion Adjutant and Aide-de-Camp, 9th Infantry division, Fort Dix, New Jersey; company Commander, Company L, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division; Battalion S-3, 2d Battalion, 23rd Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Korea; Instructor, Far East Intelligence School; Intelligence Staff Officer, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence Department of Army Pentagon; J-2, Joint Staff, Office of Joint chiefs of Staff Pentagon; Assistant G-2, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, Korea; Intelligence Staff Officer, Headquarters 8th Army UN Command, Korea; Assistant G-3 and Assistant to Chief of Staff, Headquarters 2d Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia; Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion, 38th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia; Chief, Instructional Program Branch, Office of Director of Instruction, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia; Assistant Secretary for the Staff, Headquarters Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy (NATO); Maneuver and Exercise Planner, Chief Training and Readiness Branch, Operations Division, Headquarters Allied Forced, Southern Europe; Senior Advisor Republic of VietnamAF Infantry School, Advisory Team 76, Training Directorate, Headquarters MACV. | Colonel Lanier's awards and decorations include: French Croix De Guerre with Bronze Star, Army commendation Medal, Bronze Star. Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit.