Lawrence E. Casper
Description
COL Lawrence E. Casper was commissioned Infantry upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 72-01, 21 January 1972 (transferred to aviation branch in 1983). His first duty assignment was Rifle Platoon Leader, 1st Bn, 35th Inf Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
His subsequent notable assignments included: Company XO, Infantry Company Commander in the 1-35th Inf Bn; Platoon Leader, B Co, 2nd Aviation Bn, 2nd Inf Div, Korea; Bde Aviation Section Leader, 2nd Inf Bde, Korea; Attack Helicopter Platoon Leader and Operations Officer, 155th Attack Helicopter Co, Fort Ord, California; Bn S-3, and Commander, D company Attack Helicopter (conducted operational testing of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter), 7th Aviation Bn, Fort Ord; Aide-de-Camp, to the Commanding General, 7th Inf Div (Light), Fort Ord, California; Company Commander, HQ Company, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington; Executive Officer, 268th Attack Helicopter Bn, 9th Inf Div (Motorized), Fort Lewis, Washington; Commander, 1-25th Aviation Battalion (Attack Helicopter), 25th Inf Div (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Director Training, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Commander, 10th Combat Aviation Bde, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York, where he commanded the UN Quick Reaction Force (QRF), and the six battalion, 3,600 soldier, TF Falcon in Somalia (Operation Continue Hope). Less than a year later, he led the division aviation forces from the Navy aircraft carrier Eisenhower into Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy); Strategic Studies Group, Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.; Commander, United States Military Observation Group, Washington, D.C. In total, Col Casper served in five infantry divisions (twice in 25th ID).
His military education and training included the Infantry Advanced Course, Army Aviation Flight School, Air Force Air Command and Staff College, National War College, University of Arizona (BS degree) and Troy State University (MS degree).
COL Casper's awards and decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (7th Award), Air Medal with Combat Distinguished Device “V,” Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Award (3rd Award), Army Meritorious Achievement Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award), Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award), United Nations Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Aviator Badge, Parachute Badge and Air Assault Badge.
