John E. Bircher III

Colonel John E. Bircher III was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer upon graduation from the Officer Candidate School, 28 March 1963. His first duty assignment was as a Company Executive Officer, United States Army Security Agency TNG School, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. |His subsequent duty assignments include: Accountable Officer, Ankara, Turkey; Commander, USARU 20, Tehran, Iran; S-2, 5th Special Forces Group, Bien Hoa, Vietnam; Executive Officer, Herzogenaurach, Germany; United States Army Security Agency LNO, Headquarters U.S. Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany; S-3, 502nd United States Army Security Agency Group, Augsburg, Germany; Staff Officer, MAAG-TAFT, Tehran, Iran; Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Beirut, Lebanon; Director of Middle East and Africa, DIA Attaché, Washington D.C.; Army Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Rabat, Morocco; Political/Military Advisor, Middle East Bureau, Department of State, Washington, D.C. Colonel Bircher's military education and training includes: Officer Candidate School, Military Intelligence Officer Advance Course, Foreign Service Institute, Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College. | His military awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with one oak leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf Cluster, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (8), Air Force Distinguished Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge. Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge and Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge.