Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Plourde was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, 2 December 2 1942. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company H, 331 Infantry, Camp Ahergury, Indiana. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader and Company XO, Company D, 100 Infantry Bn, Italy; Company CO and S-2, Company D and Headquarters, 100 Inf Bn, France and Italy; Company Co, Company C, 7th Inf, Fort Devens, Massachusetts and Fort Drum, New York; GLO, Headquarters 8th Army, Joc 8th Army, Korea; AFF Liaison Officer, QMF and CI, Chicago, Illinois; BN Xo, 2nd Bn, 102 Inf, Germany;  G-3 Tng, Headquarters 5 Div, Germany; CO, 2nd Bn 2nd Inf, Germany; CO, 3rd Bn 10th Inf Germany and California; Chairman Logistic Committee, United States Army Infantry School.