Colonel Edward M. McDonald was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Class 4-61, 22 September 1961. His first duty assignment after graduation was as Platoon Leader, A Company, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Battalion Advisor, 52nd Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, Republic of Vietnam; Instructor, Senior TAC Officer, Ranger Department, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Company Commander and S-3, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Tactics Instructor, United States Army Infantry School,  Fort Benning, Georgia; Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Assistant School Secretary and Instructor, United States Army Sergeant Major’s Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; Public Affairs Officer, United States Army Western Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Public Affairs Officer, Air Defense Artillery Center, Fort Bliss, Texas; and Deputy Director of Public Affairs, United States Army European Command, Stuttgart, West Germany; Commandant, Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. | Colonel McDonald is a graduate of the Airborne Course, Ranger Course, Defense Language Institute, Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Defense Information Course, and the Army Advanced Public Affairs Course. | His military awards include: Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star w/ V Device and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal w/ V Device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Gold Star, Vietnamese Honor Medal (1st Class), Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Wings, Ranger Tab, and Vietnamese Ranger Badge.