Brigadier General Douglas A. Riach was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 111, 26 November 1942. His first duty assignment was with 417th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division, Fort Meade, MD. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, Company A, 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division during the Normandy, France, Campaign; Wounded in Normandy France and upon return to duty from hospital status assigned to the 118th Infantry where he served throughout the Ardennes and Rhineland Campaigns as Executive Officer to the European Theater of Operation (ETO) GFRC Combat School Battalion retraining rated enlisted members from all Army branches to Infantry combat MOS and reassignment to line outfits as replacements. Returned to the US from the ETO in February 1946 and upon separation from the Active Component  joined the Organized Reserve Corps (ORC). Served in the ORC and the USAR in numerous posiions to include G3 assignments in the 83d Infantry Division, the 91st Infantry Division, 15th Corps, and HQ, Sixth U.S. Army with final assignment at HQ Sixth U.S. Army as Commander, Sixth U.S. Army Mobilibization Des Group (the Reserve Staff to Sixth U.S. Army) and as Assistant Chief of Staff, HQ, Sixth U.S. Army (Mob Des). Retired from Federal Service on 26 November 1979 in the grade of Colonel. In 1980, joined the California Army National Guard (CANG) as Commander, 2d Infantry Brigade, CA State Military Reserve where he served until retirement from CANG State service in 1987 and promotion to Brigadier General in the CA State Militia.