COLONEL
DEFENSE SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL
Colonel (Retired) Ira Merrill Click was born May 25, 1938 in Monette, Arkansas. COL Click graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in 1961. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and served in the Chemical Corps. While on active duty, COL Click served in a number of positions and posts. He served as Executive Officer, Headquarters Company, US Army Biological Laboratories, Ft Detrick, MD and during his Combat Arms detail with the Infantry as Infantry Platoon Leader and S-4 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division in Korea. He also served as Chemical Advisor in the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam. From 1976-80 COL Click held several positions in the Pentagon including, Executive Officer, Combat Support Systems Directorate and Assistant to the Director Army Staff. From 1980-82 he was the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Exchange Officer to the British Army. From 1982-87 he was Chief of the Chemical Warfare Branch and Chief Maritime/United Nations Negotiation Division in the Organization of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to his retirement in 1991, COL Click was Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Commandant of the Installation Support Activity and Assistant Chief of Staff at the US Army Materiel Command in Alexandria, Virginia. He retired after 30 years of Active Duty Service.
Colonel Click earned a Master of Arts Degree from Central Michigan University. He also attended Army War College as well as Command and General Staff College.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit(2 OLC), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendations Medal, Army Commendation Metal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korea Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon. He is also the recipient of two Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, a Vietnamese Honor Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal (four campaigns). He also was awarded the Army General Staff Identification Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Click is married to the former Harriet Ann Fisher and they reside in Frederick, Maryland. He has three children, Abbe (Mrs. John Harman), Ira, Jr. and Gina, and four grandchildren, Shannon Harman, Garrett Harman, Austin Click and Daniel Click.
