Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Talbot IV enlisted and entered the Army on 30 January 1955 and was later commissioned as an Infantry Officer from the Infantry Officer Candidate School on 18 September 1958, Class 4-58, Fort Benning, Georgia. He transferred his branch to Armor and underwent branch schooling at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, Company C, 8th Medium Tank Battalion, 24th Army, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Troop Commander, Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 12th Cavalry, 3rd Armor Division, Budingen, Germany: United States Army District Senior Advisor and Team Chief, Advisory Team 100, Can Gio, Vietnam: Brigade S-2 then S-3 Task Force “South”, Phan Thiet, Vietnam; Strategic Intelligence Staff Officer and Alert Team Chief, the Defense Intelligence Agency; National Military Intelligence and Alert Team Liaison Officer to the National Military Command Center, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.; the Defense Intelligence Liaison Officer to the Australian Joint Intelligence Organization, Canberra, Australia; Chief, Western Pacific Intelligence Branch, Defense Intelligence Agency, Arlington Hall, Virginia. His last active-duty assignment was serving as Branch Chief, Pistol Branch, United States Army Marksmanship Unit, Fort Benning, Georgia.

His military education and training consists of: Armor Basic and Advanced Courses, United States Army Special Warfare School, Military Assistance Unit Training Course, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

His highest military awards and decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal (w/OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/OLC), Air Medal (w/2 OLC), Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Staff Service Honor Medal First Class, Presidents 100 Tab and the United States Army Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, the RVN Gallantry Cross (w/ Palm), RVN Gallantry Cross (w/2 Silver Stars), and RVN Gallantry Cross (w/Bronze Star).

His post-retirement accomplishments include: United States Air Force Pistol Team Coach, Pistol Director and President, Texas State Rifle Association, National Rifle Association Volunteer Coordinator for their National Convention in San Antonio, Texas and the United States Olympic Committee Shooting Sports Coordinator for the city of San Antonio’s hosting of the United States Olympic Sports Festival for the 15 Olympic shooting events for pistol, rifle, and shotgun.