Colonel William D. Ridgely was commissioned a Military Intelligence Officer upon graduation from Engineer Officer Candidate School Class 14-69, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 16 May 1969. His first duty assignment was as Company Training Officer, U.S. Army Training Center Infantry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Assistant Order of Battle Officer, 14th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Interrogation Officer, 635th Military Intelligence Company, American Division, Republic of Vietnam; Training Officer, 1st Battalion 274th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 84th Division (Training); Commander, Company C, 1st Battalion 274th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 84th Division; Operations Officer, Leadership Academy, 84th Division (Training); Chief, General Subject Committee, Training Command, 84th Division (Training); Intelligence & Operations Officer, Training Group, 84th Division (Training); Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 84th Regiment, 4th Brigade, 84th Division (Training); Commander, 1st Battalion, 84th Regiment, 4th Brigade, 84th Division (Training); Executive Officer, 4th Brigade, 84th Division (Training); Acting Executive Officer, 1st Brigade, 84th Division (Training); Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, 84th Division (Training); Chief, Opposing Forces Branch, 2nd Group, 1st Brigade (BCST), 85th Division (Exercise); Chief, Maneuver Branch, 1st Group, 1st Brigade (BCST), 85th Division (Exercise); Deputy Brigade Commander, 1st Brigade (BCST), 85th Division (Exercise), Fort Sheridan, Illinois. | Colonel Ridgely's awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Star Device, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Achievement Medal (with Twenty Year Device), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/ 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Service Ribbon, and Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars. | Colonel Ridgely was residing in DeForest, Wisconsin, at the time of his induction.