Colonel
Edward Gluck

Edward Gluck, born March 8, 1897, in New York City, enlisted in the Coast Artillery in 1918 and served at Fort Hamilton, New York. He then served as a clerk at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, until discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1919. Gluck then pursued a career in law, earning a degree in jurisprudence from Columbia University in 1921. He practiced in New York, specializing in commercial and appellate law. He also joined the reserves and was commissioned as an Ordnance second lieutenant in 1927, serving five tours of duty for Ordnance schooling at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by 1939.

In 1940, Gluck was called to active duty. He was a student, then instructor, at the Army Industrial College until 1942. From 1942 to 1945, he served as the Chief of the Legal Branch of the New York Ordnance District, which during his assignment let more than 20,000 contracts with a value of $1.3 billion. Gluck continued to serve in the New York Ordnance District until 1950 in several positions, including District Chief.

In 1950, Gluck was assigned to the Ordnance Section of the Japan Logistical Command, which supported the US forces fighting in Korea. He implemented PROJECT 170, automating the theater stock control system. He also converted all Ordnance procurement in Japan from yen to dollars. Finally, he revised and updated the Ordnance Supply Catalogue Reference Data volumes to allow easier identification of items in the supply system. Gluck returned to the United States in 1953 to work in the Comptroller's Office at APG, overseeing the development of the 1954 budget of $50 million. He also served as special assistant to the APG Chief of Staff, conducting logistics, engineering, and financial management studies that improved APG's efficiency while reducing costs.

Gluck's release from active duty, at the rank of colonel, in 1955 by no means ended his service to the Army and the Ordnance Corps. He continued on as a Department of the Army civilian attorney at APG, then as Chief of the Ordnance Stock Management Division in Japan from 1956 to 1959, and next as Chief of the Procurement Law Division, Headquarters, US Army Communications Zone Europe, Orleans, France, from 1959 to 1967. Continuing to use his unparalleled expertise in contract law, Gluck next served as Chief, Procurement Law Division, Headquarters US Theater Army Support Command Europe in Worms, Germany, and finally as Senior Attorney, Contract Law Division, US Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany. This versatile, dedicated Soldier and lawyer served until his death in 1985, being at the time the oldest full-time Department of Defense employee at age 88. Colonel Gluck is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.