Walter A. Cottrell

Colonel Walter A. Cottrell was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 14 August 1954. His first duty assignment was as Infantry Platoon Leader, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Munich, Germany. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Provost Marshal, Headquarters, 11th Airborne Division, Munich, Germany; Executive Officer, 11th Military Police Detachment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Student, MP Officer Career Course, Headquarters, U.S. Army Military Police School, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Student, Spanish Language Course, U.S. Army Language School, Monterrey, California; Instructor of Military Police Subjects, Chairman, Airborne Instruction Committee, Assistant Director of Instruction, Deputy Director, Internal Security Department, U.S. Army School of the Americas, Fort Gulick, Canal Zone; Deputy Provost Marshal, S-3, 503d Military Police Battalion, Deputy Provost Marshal U.S. Forces Dominican Republic, Headquarters, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Chief, Plans, Programs and Analysis Division, Office of the Provost Marshal, USARV, Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam; Deputy Provost Marshal, U.S. Army School of the Americas, Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, Chairman, Military Police Instruction Committee, Director, Department of the Support Operations, Director of Instruction, Headquarters, U.S. Army Southern Command, Fort Clayton, Canal Zone; Director of Operations, Office of the Provost Marshal USARV and, Headquarters 18th Military Police Brigade; Commander 716th Military Police Battalion; Provost Marshal, Saigon, Vietnam; Deputy Provost Marshal and later Chief, Provost Marshal/Law Enforcement Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters, Fort McPherson, GA; Provost Marshal, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Office Chief, Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office, Defense Construction Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio. | His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; American Expeditionary Forces Medal; Occupation Medal (Germany); Vietnamese Campaign Medal with one Silver Star; Vietnamese Service Medal with ’60 Device; Vietnamese Air Force Honor Medal; Vietnamese Gallantry Medal; Vietnamese Unit Cross of Gallantry Award with Palm Leaf Device; Expert Infantry Badge; Master Parachutist Badge.