Colonel Eugene D. Hawkins was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 22 September 1955, class number 6. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Executive Officer, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Assistant Brigade S-3 and Company Commander, 3d Training Brigade, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Battalion Executive Officer, 173d Airborne Brigade, Vietnam; Chief, Training Committee, Airborne Dept. U.S. Army Infantry School (USAIS), Fort Benning, Georgia; Senior Advisor, 4th Ranger, Group, Vietnam; Chief, G-3, Research and Analysis Branch, MACV, DRAC Vietnam; Ground Liaison Officer, 36 TAC Fortr. Wg, Bitburg, Germany; Director, Strategic Ground Armed Forces Staff College, Force Studies, Norfolk, Virginia; Commander, Camp Frank D., Ranger Dept., USAIS, Dahlonega, Georgia; Director, Airborne Dept, USAIS; Mountain Ranger Committee. | His awards and decorations include: Vietnamese Service, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Palm and Silver Star), Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class), Presidential Unit Citation, Armed Forces Reserve Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal (5 Awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal.