Colonel Paul Roy Atherton was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, 1 August 1943. His first duty assignment was as the Assistant S2 for Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Assistant Battalion S-2, Second Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Company, 76d Infantry Division, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; Platoon Leader Company B, First Battalion Anzio, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Mediterranean Theater Of Operations, Italy; Platoon Leader Company A, First Battalion 71st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Mediterranean Theater Of Operations, France and Germany; Supply Officer Headquarters Company, Fort Devans, Massachusetts; 1225 Army Service Unit Branch, United States Disciplinary Barracks, Green Haven (Maximum Security); New Jersey; Company Executive Officer, Company A, 796th Military Police Service Battalion, Vienna, Austria; Commissary Sales Officer, Detached Services, 7691 Headquarters Service Company, Vienna, Austria; Assistant S-3, Headquarters Company, 796th Military Police Service Battalion, Vienna, Austria; Company Commander Company C, 796th Military Policy Service Battalion, Vienna, Austria; Company Commander, Company C, 504th Military, Police Battalion, Camp Gordon, Georgia; Battalion S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th Military Police, Battalion, Camp Gordon, Georgia; Assistant Provost, Headquarters, U.S. Army General, Marshall Depot, U.S. Army Pacific; Provost Marshal, Headquarters, U.S. Army General, Depot, U.S. Army Pacific, Japan; Unit Adviser, Michigan Sector VI, U.S. Army Corps (Note: General Officer, Detroit, Michigan; Command – 300th Military Police Prisoner of War Command); Action Officer, Corrections Division Office of Washington D.C.; Confinement Branch the Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army; Chief Clemency Branch, Corrections Division Office of the Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army, Washington D.C; Commanding Officer, 175th Military Police Detachment, U.S. Army Pacific, Vietnam; Provost Marshal, Headquarters Support Activity (Note: Navy Command), Vietnam; Commanding Officer, Headquarters, 796th Police Battalion, Vietnam; Provost Marshal, Headquarters Support Activity, Vietnam; Commanding Officer, 502nd Military Police Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado; Provost Marshal *Member\Chairman Armed Forces control Board, Provost Marshal, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colorado; Chief Plans and Operations Branch, Provost Marshal Office, Headquarters, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Provost Marshal (Chairman Armed Forces Control Board), Corps and Fort Hood, Texas; Director Non-Resident Instruction, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Military Police School, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Provost Marshal, 140th Military Police Company, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Provost Marshal, Headquarters XXIV Corps, U.S. Army Pacific, Vietnam; Provost Marshal, Headquarters Command, United States Army Aviation Center and Fort Rucker, Alabama. | Colonel Atherton is a graduate of The Infantry School, Officer Candidate Course, The Adjutant Generals School, Correctional Personnel Course, Military Police School, Officer Refresher Course, European Command, The Provost Marshal General Advanced Course, The Infantry School, Basic Airborne and Jump Master Course, The American University School of Government and Public Administration, Correctional Administration Course, The Judge Advocate Generals School, International Law Course, The United States Army Defense School, Modern Warfare Orientation Course United States Army Special Warfare School, Military Assistance Training Advisor Course, United States Army Installation Management Course, Award of Constructive Credit in Lieu of Attendance at the Command and General Staff College, Letter Department of the Army, Office of Personnel Operations Washington D.C. 20315 dated 4 May 1970. | His military awards and decorations include: Presidential Unit Citation, French Fourregere, Combat Infantryman Badge, Legion of Merit w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Parachute Badge, Asia - Pacific Campaign Medal, American Defense Ribbon, European Theater Of Operations Ribbon (4 Campaigns), National Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (4 Campaigns), Vietnam Staff Service Medal 15t Class, 8 Overseas Bars, Promotion by Outstanding Performance in Actual Combat (1st Lieutenant) Headquarters Seventh Army APO 758, U.S. Army Special Order Number 91, 01 April 1945.