Colonel Melvin E. 'Buzz' Kriesel (Retired)
Colonel Melvin (Buzz) E.
Kriesel retired as a full Colonel and his last command was with the 4th Psychological
Group (an Army Special Operations unit based at Ft. Bragg), training Special Forces
officers and military intelligence officers in the art of Psychological warfare (PSYOPS).
He completed Infantry Officer's Basic Course, Airborne, and Ranger Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. From 1963 to 1966, he was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 508th Airborne Infantry, Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone, where he served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, B Company Executive Officer, and Assistant S-3 (Air).
Kriesel transferred to Military Intelligence in 1966. Upon completion of Aerial Reconnaissance training, he was assigned to the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (ARS) in the Republic of Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he served as Senior Air Reconnaissance Officer and later commanded Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (ARS), where he was responsible for in-country targeting and surveillance of enemy main force units.
After returning from Vietnam, he began training to become a Foreign Area Officer (FAO). He spent one year traveling and studying in South Asia and another two years attaining language fluency in Hindi and Urdu. In 1971, he was awarded a Master's Degree in Asian Area Studies from the University of Minnesota.
Kriesel returned to the United States in 1973 to attend Army Attaché training with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was then assigned as an Army Attaché to the United States Embassy, New Delhi, India, from 1973-1976. He acted as military advisor to Ambassador Daniel P. Moynihan and Ambassador William B. Saxbe. He also performed a liaison mission with the Indian Ministry of Defense for a number of classified programs.
In October 1976, Kriesel was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he commanded the 705th Military Intelligence Company form 1976-1978 and was Executive Officer, 7th Special Forces Group, from 1978-1979. He directed numerous Special Forces deployments and intelligence support missions throughout Asia.
In 1979, he completed Area Officer training with the Central Intelligence Agency and was assigned as an Army Attaché, U.S. Embassy, London, England, from 1979-1981. He represented the US Army for classified operational programs shared with United Kingdom Land Forces and the British Ministry of Defense.
In November 1981, Colonel Kriesel returned to the U.S. to assume command of the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was responsible for operations in support of US Central Command psychological operations missions throughout the Middle East and Africa.
At the end of his battalion command tour, Colonel Kriesel was selected to attend the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the War College in 1984, and returned to Fort Bragg, N.C. to assume command of the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne).
He commanded the 4th PSYOP Group from July 1984 to December 1986. He was responsible for over 5000 psychological operations personnel worldwide. He provided PSYOP support and directed classified programs for all Unified Commands. After completion of command, he served as Chief of Staff for Intelligence, 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne).
Colonel Kriesel was born in Somerset, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy. He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, Military Intelligence Officers Advance Course, Aerial Surveillance Officers Course, Special Forces Officers Course, Defense Language Institute Armed Forces Staff College, Defense Intelligence Attaché Course, Central Intelligence Agency Area Officers Course, and the Army War College. He received his Master of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota.
Kriesel has been awrded and decorated with the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Minnesota Meritorious Service Medal, and the Master Parachutist Badge.
Over recent years Kriesel has traveled extensively in South Asia and published a number research papers and essays related to Special Operations and Psychological Warfare. He received the Stillwell Award in 1998 for his significant contributions to the field of Psychological Operations.