Colonel William S. Hathaway was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School on 1 August 194, class number 540. His first duty assignment was as Intelligence & Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division, Italy. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Mortar Plt Ldr, Battalion S-2, 16th Inf, Regiment, 1st Div, Austria; Intelligence & Reconnaissance Plt Ldr, Rifle Plt Ldr, Rifle CO, EX Off, 18th Inf, Regiment, 1st Div, Germany; Rifle CO, Executive Off, 30th Inf, Regiment, 3rd Div, Fort Benning, Georgia; Rifle Plt Ldr, Heavy Weapons CO, Commander, Battalion S-3, 17th Inf Regiment, 7th Div, Korea; Faculty, Staff Department, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia; Assistant Division G-3, Aide-de-Camp to The Commanding General, 3rd Inf Div, Fort Benning, Georgia; Infantry & Airborne Advisor, Joint U.S. Mil ADV Grp, Greece; Battle Grp S-1, 1st ABN, Battle Grp, 37 Inf, 101st Abn Div, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant Division G-1, 101st ABN Div, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assignment Officer, Infantry Branch, OPO, Washington, D.C.; Battalion Commander, 2nd Bn, 16th Inf, 1st Inf Div, Vietnam; Faculty Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. | His awards and decorations include: Master Parachute Wings; CIB 2nd Award; Vietnamese Honor Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star with V; Flying Cross.