William D. Proctor

Colonel William D. Proctor graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning 30 November 1943 in Class Number 307. His first assignment after graduation was as an Instructor and Heavy Weapons Platoon Leader, Camp Blanding, Florida. In 1944, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was transferred to 363rd Infantry Regiment, 91st Division in Italy, where he served as a Mortar Platoon Leader and later a company commander. | His subsequent duty assignments include: 1946, student at the Liaison Pilot School, Sheppard Army Air Force Base, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; 1947, Division Aviation Officer, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Japan; 1949, Liason Pilot and Aviation Officer, The Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia; 1950, promoted to Captain and attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1952; helicopter pilot, Koje Do Island, Korea, and Aviation Officer and Twin Engine Aviator at Headquarters, Ryukyu Command, Okinawa. | After his return to the United States in 1956, he was assigned as Assistant and later Chief of Plans, Operations and Training-Aviation Section, Fort McPherson, Georgia, and he was promoted to Major. In 1960, he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. After graduation, he was transferred to Headquarters, 1st Battle Group, 8th Cavalry Division, Korea, and served as S-2 Officer. In 1962 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. | Returning to CONUS in 1963, he served as S-3 of the United States Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama. During the following two years he was Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, 31st Infantry, and Deputy Chief of Staff at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In 1966, he was transferred to the Pentagon, and served as Chief of Doctrine Branch. A year later he was promoted to Colonel. In 1968, he was transferred to Fort McPherson and served as Chief, Aviation Division. His most recent assignments were in the Republic of Vietnam, where in 1969 and 1970 he served as Commanding Officer, 165th Aviation Group and Deputy Commanding Officer for Administration, 1st Aviation Brigade. He returned from Vietnam in October 1970 and attended classes at Georgia State University to complete a Masters Degree in Business Administration. | Colonel Proctor’s awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with V Device and the Air Medal.