Colonel Thomas Nelson Bolton was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 13 August 1959. His first duty assignment was as Team Commander, 34th Administration Company, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Aide-de-Camp, 34th Command Headquarters, Divisional Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion 168th Infantry, Iowa ARNG, Atlantic, Iowa; Support Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 168th Infantry, Iowa ARNG, Atlantic, Iowa; Train, Advise, Counsel Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Senior Train, Advise Counsel Off, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Assistant G-3, Emergency Operations Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Liaison Officer, Chief of Staff Sec, Emergency Operations Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Company Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, Iowa Army National Guard, Atlantic, Iowa;  S-4, Headquarters 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, Iowa Army National Guard, Council Bluffs, Iowa; S-3, Headquarters 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, Iowa Army National Guard, Council Bluffs, Iowa; S-3, Headquarters 34th Brigade, 47th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard, Boone, Iowa; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, Iowa Army National Guard, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Logistics Officer, Camp Dodge Training Site, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa;  Battalion Commander, Command and Control Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa; Deputy Director Logistics Section, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa; Readiness/Organizational Effectiveness Staff Officer, Headquarters State Area Readiness Command, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa; Training Operations Officer, Headquarters State Area Readiness Command, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa; S-3, Headquarters 113th Support Group, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa; Readiness/Organizational Effectiveness Officer, Headquarters State Area Readiness Command, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa; Commandant, Iowa Military Academy, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa. | His military education and training includes: National Guard Officer Candidate Course, The Armor Officer Basic Course, The Cold Weather Operations Course, The Supply Staff Officer Course, The Chemical Biological Radiological Officer Course, The Air Mobility Training Course, The Ski Instructor Course, The Infantry Officer Advanced Course, The Command and General Staff Officer Course-Reserve Components, The Combat Operations Specialist Course, The Infantry Command and Staff Officer Course, The Reserve Components National Security Course, and The Mobilization Staff Training Program. | Colonel Bolton's awards and decorations include: The Legion of Merit, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, The Army Achievement Medal, The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, The National Defense Service Medal, The Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Hourglass Devices, The Army Service Ribbon, The Iowa National Guard Leadership Ribbon, and The Iowa National Guard State Service Ribbon w/ 6 Oak Leaf Clusters. | At the time of his induction, Colonel Bolton was serving as Historian, Headquarters State Area Command, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa.