Colonel William Ray Wilson was commissioned an Armor Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School on 30 March 1962. His first duty assignment was as Assistant Squadron Motor Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colorado. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, B Troop, 4 Sqdn, 12th Cav, Fort Carson, Colorado; Executive Officer, B Trp, 4 Sqdn, 12th Cav, Fort Carson, Colorado; Sqdn Motor Officer, 2nd Sqnd, 17th Cav, 101st Abn Div, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Commander, A Trp, 2nd Sqdn, 17th Cav, 101st Abn Div, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Vietnam; Asst Bde S-3, 1st Bde, 101st Abn Div, Vietnam; Instructor, ATK Com, Bde & Bn Operations Dept, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia; Aide-de-Camp, III Corps & Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas; S-3, 1st Sqdn, 4th Cav, 1st Inf Div, Vietnam; Opns Adv, Chung Thien Province, IV Corps, Vietnam; Staff Officer, ODCSOPS, DA, Pentagon; Commander, 3rd Sqdn, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Amberg, Germany; Executive Officer, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Nuremberg, Germany; Chief, Advance Tactics Div, USAARMS, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Director, Command and Staff Department, USAARMS, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Commander, Readiness Group Los Angeles, Sixth U.S. Army, Los Alamitos, California; Deputy Commander for Training, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Commander, 177th Armored Brigade, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. | Military schools attended include: Airborne School, Armor Officer Orientation Course, Infantry Officer Career Course, Instructor Training Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, United States Army War College. | Military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star Medal w/ V and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Medal w/ V and 14 Numerals; Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal (Army); National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 campaign stars; North Carolina O Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Cross of gallantry w/ Silver and Bronze Stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Parachutist and Senior Parachutist Badges; DA General Staff Identification Badge; Presidential Unit Citation (1st Bde, 101st Abn Div); Valorous Unit Citation (1st Bde, 101st Abn Div); Meritorious Unit Citation (1st Bde, 101st Abn Div).