Lieutenant Colonel Paul L. Peterson was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, 21 April 1943, class number 222. His first duty assignment was as Tng Officer, Camp Roberts, California. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Rifle Platoon Leader, Rifle Company Commander, Company E, 180th Infantry, 45th Division; Battalion Exec, Regiment S3, 43d Infantry, Philippine Island; Battalion Exec, Regiment S1, 39th Infantry, 9th Division, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Student, Infantry Advance Course, The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; S3, 1st Infantry Battalion, Fort Gulick, Canal Zone; S3, 33d Infantry, Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone; CO Spec Troops, Headquarters USARCARIB, Fort Amador, Canal Zone; Student, Command General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Adv Tactics Instructor, The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; First ROK Army, SGS & G1 Advisor, Korea; Chief, Trp Tng Br, G3 Section, Headquarters 5USA, Chicago, Illinois. | His awards and decorations include:  Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Cluster, American Defense, American Theater, European Theater of Operations Ribbon w/4 Clusters, Victory, Occupation and National Defense.