Colonel Robert L. Burdick was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 23 March 1954. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Medical Company, 74th Regimental Combat Team, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, 3rd Field Hospital, Fitzsimmons, Denver, Colorado; Medical Supply Student, Logistics Division, Fitzsimmons, Denver, Colorado; Administrative Assistant, 10th General Dispensary, Poiters, France; Assistant Chief, Storage Division, 70th Medical Depot, LaRochelle, France; Chief, Field Hospital, Reconstitution Program, 70th Medical Depot, LaRochelle, France; Medical Field Service School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Chief, Supply and Service Division, U.S. Army Hospital, USAH, Fort Irwin, California; Medical Supply Advisor to Thai Armed Forces, MACTHAI Advisory Element, Bangkok, Thailand; Building Project Officer, R&D, Fort Detrick, Maryland; Chief, Supply and Service Division, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; Chief, Logistics Division, TAMC, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; Chief, Logistics Division, Eighth Army Surgeons Staff, Seoul, Korea; Chief, Supply and Service Division, 97th General Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany; Chief, Log Division, Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, California. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Ribbon w/ Cluster, Korean Service Medal w/ 4 Battle Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and United Nations Service and Sigmon Rhee Unit Citation.