Colonel Melvin Garten was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 6 June 1943, class number 248. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 511th Parachute Inf Rgt, 11th Abn Div, USA. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, 511th Parachute Inf Rgt, 11th Abn Div, Pacific Theater of Operations; XO, Co Cmdr, 511th Parachute Inf Rgt, 11th Abn Div, Pacific Theater of Operations; XO, Co Cmdr, 505th Pcht Inf Rgt, 82d Abn Div, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; USAREUR Headquarters, Instructor, Army Infantry School; CO, 16th Inf Rgt, 1st Inf Div, USAREUR: Student, Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Fort Benning, Georgia; CO, Co K, XO, 31st Inf Rgt, 7th Inf Div, Korea; G-3 Training Officer, Headquarters, XVIII Abn Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Student, Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; XO, G-3, Headquarters, 101st Abn Div, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; British Army, CO Troops, 16th Indep Pcht Bde, Aldershot, England; Plans & Opns Officer, G-3, Central Army Group, USAREUR; Plans & Opns Officer, G-3, CONARC, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Plans & Opns Officer, G-3, JTF-4, Norfolk, Virginia, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Student, Navy War College, Newport, Rhode Island; CO, Bn, Dpty Cmdr, Bde, 101st Abn Div, Vietnam; Chief of Staff, 12th Support Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | Colonel Garten's awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, LM; Bs w/3 Clusters & V; AM w/Cluster; JSCM w/Cluster; ACM w/Cluster; Purple Heart w/4 Clusters; CIB  w/2 stars; Master Parachutist Badge w/2 stars for combat jump.