Colonel Wilfred E. Irish, Jr. was commissioned from Infantry Officer Candidate School class number 403, 1 February 1945. Upon graduation he served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander in Company F, 345th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division in Germany. After 3 years as a student at Niagara Falls University, he became Operations Officer for the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea. From there he assumed the duties of Assistant Professor of Military Science and Training at Stetson University in Florida. Duirng the period 1956 to 1957, he was stationed in France with the Headquarters, Communications Zone. Then commanded 216 FA Bn in Germany. | For the next three years he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as Battery Commander and later Battalion S3 of the 83d Field Artillery Battalion. | Upon graduation from the Command and General Staff College he returned as an Instructor for three years. In 1965 he graduated from Armed Forces Staff College and was subsequently sent to Vietnam as an Advisor to the Vietnamese General Staff. In 1967 Colonel Irish graduated from the United States Army War College and was stationed in Germany as Commander of the Division Artillery with the 4th Armored Division and later the 1st Armored Division. In 1972 he was assigned as Chief of Drug and Discipline Division in Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. Upon his return to CONUS, Colonel Irish was assigned as Professor of Military Science at the University of Southern Mississippi. | His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart and Vietnamese Distinguished Service Medal.