Colonel Robert Edward Mathias was commissioned a Medical Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 14 April 1952, class number 11. His first duty assignment was as Operations Officer, 34th and 80th Hospital Trains, Hoechst, West Germany. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Commander, 80th Hospital Train, Orleans, France; S-3, 34th General Hospital, LaChapelle St. Mesmin, France; PlatoonLeader/XO/Commander, 562d Medical Company, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Plans and Operations Officer, Us Army Medical Training Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Medical Training Advisor, Military Assistance Advisory group, Vietnam; Plans and Operations Branch Chief, U.S. Army Medical Training Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Assistant Chief, Plans branch, Office of the Surgeon, West Germany; Chief, Force Structure Section, Assistant Chief, Plans Branch, Office of the Surgeon, West Germany; Chief, Force Structure Section/Chief, Medical Unit, Office of the Surgeon General, DA,  Washington, D.C.; Commander, 2d Medical Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; Deputy Installation Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland; Commander, 55th Medical Group and 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Chief, Concepts and Doctrine Division, U.S. Army Academy of Health Science, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. | His awards and decorations include: Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster).