Colonel Francis R. Purcell was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 16 August 1943, class number 285. His first duty assignment was as Infantry Platoon Leader, 35th Infantry Division, Fort Rucker, Alabama. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Commanding Officer, Office of Strategic Services, Mission to France; Executive Officer, Provisional Infantry Regiment, New York City; Battalion Commander, 9th Inf Div, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea; Recruiting Main Station Commander, Headquarters, First U.S. Army, New York; Deputy Military Personnel Procurement Officer, Headquarters, First U.S. Army, New York; Chief, Training Branch, Headquarters, XV U.S. Army Corps, Presidio of San Francisco; Inspector General, Headquarters, U. S. Army, Europe; Asst Dep Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, Chicago, Illinois. | Colonel Purcell's awards and decorations include: Soldier’s Medal for Heroism, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit w/ Oak Leaf Cluster.