Lt Col Earle L Denton USA (Ret) served for 25+ years.  He was a USAF NCO at the School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Field, TX 1948-51.  He was in combat as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Commander in Korea in 1953 and was an Infantry Battalion Commander in Vietnam in1966-67.  His Decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart (Pork Chop Hill 1953), Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Good Conduct Medal.  He has the Combat Infantry Badge with a star.

Lieutenant Colonel Earle Denton entered the Service from Everton MO. on May 17, 1948 as a Private and retired as a Regular Army Lt. Colonel, of Armor and Cavalry, in Orlando, on August 31, 1973.

Col Denton’s 25+ years of service includes a variety of Command and Staff assignments ranging from a Platoon to the Pentagon in the Far East, Europe, Southeastern Asia, and USA:

In 1953 he served in the Korean War as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander of a Rifle Company in the 31st INF, 7th Div.  He fought in the Pork Chop Hill Battle in the Winter-Spring 1953.  This entire battle was faithfully recorded in the Book “Pork Chop Hill” written by Brig Gen SLA Marshall in 1956. 

1966 – 1967 LtCol Denton served in Vietnam as the USARV Command Officers assignment Officer, the Commander of the 1st Bn 18 INF, 1ST INF Div. which operated extensively in War Zone “C” in Central Vietnam.

His awards and decorations received include the Silver Star, 2 Legions of Merit, Purple Heart, Air Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and two awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  He was invited back to Korea to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Armistice in Korea.  The Korean Chief of Staff presented him with the Korean Ambassador of Peace and Appreciation Medallions for helping keep South Korea free.  Since his retirement from the Army he has been a member of the Modeling, Simulation, and Training Industry in Central Florida.  He is employed by SAIC and is a VP and Account Manager for PEOSTRI.  Earle is an active member in the Central Florida Veterans Community and is a volunteer in the Orlando/Orange County Service Community.  He serves on the Veterans Advisory Council for the Central Florida Senators, Congressmen, and both the Orange County and Orlando Mayors.  He also serves on the Boards of TUSAOCSAA, AUSA, and NDIA.

He holds a BS and MBA from the University of Alabama.  Graduate International Security Seminar, Army War College 2006, Graduate Command & General Staff College 1963-4, Armor Officers Advance Course 1958-9, and the Infantry Officers Candidate School May 1952 Class 52-12..

 He is married to Carol F. Forsberg, two daughters, Susan Harris, BS from FSU & Kathleen Pierson, and two grandchildren Michele & Michael Pierson.  Kathleen is a 1987 Graduate of UCF.  7/3/08

COMMUNITY SERVICE

He is a Community Service Volunteer for Orange County, Florida, as the District III Commissioner for Planning and Zoning Commission (98-04), a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee for Metroplan Orlando (’99-03), Chairman of the Orange County Mission and Membership Review Committee (1996-98).  Served as a member of the Tower Ordinance Development Commission which developed the standards for the erecting cell towers, and assisted in classification of all Orange County property into Land Use Classifications.  He is a Board member of the Orange County Citizens Corps.
He was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, in 1982, for his efforts in providing covered bleachers for the USN Recruit Command Parade Ground. 
He has received numerous awards and recognition for his leadership and service to Orange County while serving on various Task Forces and Planning Committees. 
He was elected the 1997 President of the Orange County Homeowners Association (OCHA).  During his Presidency OCHA membership increase by more than 15% and the OCHA’s creditability with Orange County Infrastructure increased considerably. 

On August 17, 2002 he was selected by the Orange County Chairman, Mr. Richard Crotty and Ms. Mary Johnson, District III Commissioner, to be the Distinguished Citizen of the Year for Orange County District III. 

He is active in the Central Florida Veterans Associations, Life Member Society of the Blue Badge Assn (a Combat Infantry Badge holder’s society) and the Association of the US Army, Life Member Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Korean War Veterans Assn, a member of the Veterans Advisory Council for Florida Senator Mel Martinez, Congressmen, Feeney, Keller and Mica, the Chairman of the Orange County Mayor’s Advisory Committee, and a member of the Orlando Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Committee. 

Earle is the past Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Sunshine Chapter of the Assn of the US Army (AUSA) and is a member of the BOD for the Central Florida Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Assn (NDIA).  He is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Central Florida Veteran’s Memorial Park Foundation (CFVMP) and Chairman of the CFVMP Planning and Operations Committee, which is planned and developed the Central Florida Veteran’s Memorial Park near the VA Clinic on Lake Baldwin in Orlando, Florida. 

PERSONAL DATA

Retired from the US Army 31 August 1973.  Served in a variety of war and peace command assignments in Rifle and Tank Companies, Cavalry Troops to include command of an Infantry Battalion in Vietnam.  Served on staffs ranging from Battalion to the Pentagon.  Postings include CONUS, Korea, Europe, and Vietnam.