Richard E. Eckert

Colonel Richard Earl Eckert was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class Number 272, 19 July 1943.  His first duty assignment was as Heavy Weapons Platoon Leader, Company M, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, Alexander, Louisiana. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Student and Physical Training Instructor, U.S. Army Parachute School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Platoon Leader, Company A, 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment, Southern Pines, North Carolina; Rifle Platoon Leader, Company G, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, Luzon, Okinawa, Japan, South Pacific; Company Commander, Hq Co, 3rd Bn, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Morioka, Japan; Officer Reserve Corps, Topeka, Kansas; Liaison Officer, Hq, 137th Infantry Regiment, Wichita, Kansas; Troop I&E, Assistant S-3, Hq, 137th Infantry Regiment, Wichita, Kansas; Operations and Training Officer, Assistant S-3, Hq, 137th Infantry Regiment, Wichita, Kansas; Brigade Assistant S-2, HHC, 35th Infantry Division (P), Kansas City, Missouri; Assistant G-2, HHC, 35th Infantry Division (P), Kansas City, Missouri; Assistant S3, Hq, 69th Infantry Brigade, Topeka, Kansas; Officer Candidate School Commandant, HHD, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kansas; Operations and Training Officer, HHD, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kansas; Executive Officer, HHD, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kansas; Chief of Staff, Hq, Kansas Army National Guard and Kansas State Area Command, Topeka, Kansas; and Representative, Kansas Legislature 60th Legislative District, Wetmore, Kansas. | His military schools attended include: U.S. Army Parachute School; Infantry Officer Refresher Course; Tactical Officer Course; Military Intelligence Refresher Course; Command and General Staff College, Division Refresher Course; Infantry Officer Career Course; Field Grade Officer Refresher Course; Command and General Staff College Course; U.S. Army Military Police School, Civil Disturbance Orientation Course. | His awards and decorations include: Kansas National Guard Service Medal (4th Award); Adjutant General Staff Identification Badge; Parachute Badge; Army of Occupation Medal; Army Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Armed Forces Commendation Medal;  Phillipine Liberation Ribbon; Overseas Service Bars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (3rd Award);  Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3rd Award); Legion of Merit.