Colonel William S. Pye was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 16 March 1943, class number 173. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 100th Infantry Battalion, Company B, Italy. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Company Commander, 6816 Staging Area, France; Battalion S-3, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, Camp Carson, Colorado; Company Commander and Regional Post Engineer, Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, Sasebo, Japan; Regimental Advisor, Infantry Advisor, Bismarck, North Dakota, National Guard; Assistant G-3, Headquarters Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Battalion Officer, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Korea; Assistant G-3, OTSU, Headquarters, Southwest Command, Japan; Instructor Platoon Tactics and Executive Officer, Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia;  Staff Officer, Operations Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, Department of the Army; Executive Officer G-3 Section, Headquarters I Corps, Korea; Deputy G-3 and Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief, Joint Plans and Policy Division, Military Advisory Group, Joint Staff, Iran; Brigade Advisor, Louisiana National Guard, New Orleans; Commanding Officer, Headquarters I Corps, Special Troops, Korea; Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Forces, Headquarters, 5th U.S. Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. | His awards and decorations include: Presidential Unit Citation with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and Numerous Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.