Colonel Wilmer M. Beam was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 24 November 1944, class number 364. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Infantry Replacement Training Center, Fort Hood, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, Rifle Company, 411th Inf Regiment, 103 Inf Div, France, Germany, Italy; Opns Off, Bremen Signal Depot, Bremen, Germany; Asst Chief, Storage Div, Lexington Signal Depot, Avon, Kentucky; S-4, 7774 Signal Battalion, Heidelberg, Germany; S-4, 4th Signal Group, Heidelberg, Germany; S-3, 17th Signal Operations Battalion, Karlsruhe, Germany; C.O., 261st Signal Construction Company, Fort Bliss, Texas; Chief, Packaging Branch, Signal Corps Supply Agency, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Executive Officer, Signal Section, U.S. Army Element, MAAG, Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam; Staff Officer, Combat Developments, Headquarters, DA, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Washington, D.C.; Asst J-4, London, England; United Staff, Commander-In-Chief, North East Atlantic & Mediterranean; C.O., 102d Signal Battalion, Mannheim, Germany; Secretary-General Staff, U.S. Army Strategic, Communications Command Europe, Schwetzingen, Germany; Evaluations Officer, Headquarters, DA, Office of  Inspector General, Washington, D.C.; C.O. 4th Signal Group, Munich, Germany; Advisor to Republic of VietnamAF J6, US Military Assistance Command-Vietneam; Saigon, Vietnam; Deputy Project Manager, U.S. Army Communications Systems Agency, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. | Colonel Beam's awards and decorations include: Vietnamese Distinguished Service Order, Purple Heart w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Meal w/V, Legion of Merit w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star.