Colonel Darrell J. Birch was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 72-42 on 18 September 1942.  His first duty assignment was as Rifle Platoon Leader, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Platoon Leader/S2, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; Executive Officer, North Ireland and France; Company Commander, Camp Roberts, California; Rifle Company Commander, Camp Cooke, California; Rifle Company Commander, Camp Younghans, Japan; Battalion S3, Korea; Replacement Battalion Company Commander, Camp Drake, Japan; Unit Advisor, 362nd Infantry, Presidio of San Francisco, California; S3, United States Military District, Europe, Heidelberg, Germany; Battalion Commander, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Regimental Executive Officer, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; S3/Commander Field Advisory Team, Armish Military Assistance Advisory Group, Iran; Comptroller, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Brigade Commander, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. | Colonel Birch is a graduate of the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course. | His military awards and decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Heart w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal w/ three Oak Leaf Clusters.