Colonel Joseph A. Villa was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 21 August 1956, Class Number 8-56. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company E, 506th A IGC, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Recon Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Service Company, 506th Airborne Infantry, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; OIC, Air Transportability School, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Airborne Brigade, 506th Infantry, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Recon Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry, USARAL; Executive Officer, Combat Support Company, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry, USARAL; Company Commander, Company B, 2d Battalion, 52d Infantry, 1st AD, Fort Hood, Texas; Assistant Division G3, Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Ranger Unit Advisor, 7th Infantry Division (CI), MAAG, Vietnam; Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Student Battalion, TSB, Fort Benning, GA; Battalion Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant G3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division, USARPAC, Vietnam; Chief, Service Division, ACofS, G4, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USACDEC, Fort Ord, CA; Secretary General Staff, USACDEC, Fort Ord, CA; Battalion Commander, USACDEC Support Battalion, Fort Ord, California; Det CO/Infantry School Advisor, Det VI, TARAG, Headquarters USMACT-JUSMAGT, USARPAC w/stn, Pranburi, Thailand; Training Staff Officer, Training Division, Headquarters, DA, ODCSPER; Training Staff Officer, Training Division, Headquarters, DA, DAPE; Secretary/Director of Support, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia. | Military schools attended include: AIOCC #2, Command and General Staff College, United States Army War College. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster and the Soldier's Medal.