Biography

Lieutenant Colonel William Thomas Bayha was commissioned as an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School class 4-59 at Fort Benning, Georgia, 7 October 1959. His first duty assignment was as a Platoon Leader, Company C, 1st Battle Group, 35th Infantry, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

His subsequent duty assignments were: Executive Officer, Team A, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa and Laos; Team B Intelligence Officer, 1st Special Forces Group, Vietnam; Commanding Officer, Team A, 1st Special Forces Group, Vietnam; Company Commander, 3rd Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Battalion Executive Officer, 3rd Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Commanding Officer, Team B, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Japan; Operations Officer, Operation 35, Studies and Observations Group, Vietnam; Operations Officer, Headquarters, United States Army Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan; and Advisor to the Philippine Army, Manila, Philippines. His last duty assignment was served as a Military Attaché, United States Embassy, Tokyo, Japan.

His military education includes: Armor Career Course; Command and General Staff College; Defense Language Institute, Chinese and Japanese; and Defense Intelligence School.

His highest military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3rd Award), Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award), and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Key Assignment

Military Attache, United States Embassy, Tokyo

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