Colonel George E. Palmer was commissioned an Armor Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 21 December 1951, Class Number 6. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company C 136th Infantry Regiment, Camp Rucker, Alabama. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 370th Armor Infantry Battalion, Europe; Company Commander, 4th Armored division, Fort Hood Texas; Company Commander, 10th Battalion, 3d Brigade, Fort Ord, California; BG, S-3, 1st Battle Group, 31st Infantry, USARPAC, Korea; Commander, Det A, SF, 7th SFG, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Col SF Battalion, 10th SFG, Group Europe; Joint Staff (Army Plans), SOG Special Operations Group, Vietnam; U.S. Military Assistant Command, Province Senior Advisor, Vietnam; Deputy Director, Leadership Department, Fort Benning, Georgia, Detachment 1, USAIS, Infantry School; Chief UW Branch OJCS, USA Elm and Program and Requirements Branch, J-3, OJCS, Washington, D.C. | Colonel Palmer's awards and decorations include:  Gallantry Cross (with Silver Star), VCM (GO Device), Vietnam Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal (Vietnam), Master Parachute Badge APCM, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal, Legion of Merit.