Bernard T. Mittemeyer
Encyclopedia
Bernard Theodore Mittemeyer (born April 21, 1930) is a retired lieutenant general
, who served as Surgeon General of the United States Army between 1981 and 1985.
.
While attending college at Moravian College
and medical school at Temple University School of Medicine
, he was deferred from the draft. However, after graduation, he was drafted into the Army in 1957. Following initial accession training, he volunteered for the airborne forces
since the 101st
and 82nd had liberated his home country of Holland during the war. He was assigned to the 101st. After six months, he became the division surgeon for General Westmoreland
. Upon Westmorland inquiring why he was leaving, Mittemeyer pointed out that he was not in the regular army since he was not a citizen. Westmoreland arranged his citizenship so that he could become part of the regular army he accepted an army urological residency. In 1968 he deployed to Vietnam.
After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985, and is now the chief of urological surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
, who served as Surgeon General of the United States Army between 1981 and 1985.
Early life, education, and career
At age 14, Mittemeyer emigrated to the United States during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
While attending college at Moravian College
Moravian College
Moravian College a private liberal arts college, and the associated Moravian Theological Seminary are located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Lehigh Valley region.-History:...
and medical school at Temple University School of Medicine
Temple University School of Medicine
The Temple University School of Medicine , located on the Health Science Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, is one of 7 schools of medicine in Pennsylvania conferring the doctor of medicine degree. It also confers the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in biomedical sciences.The 2011 U.S...
, he was deferred from the draft. However, after graduation, he was drafted into the Army in 1957. Following initial accession training, he volunteered for the airborne forces
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
since the 101st
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
and 82nd had liberated his home country of Holland during the war. He was assigned to the 101st. After six months, he became the division surgeon for General Westmoreland
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
. Upon Westmorland inquiring why he was leaving, Mittemeyer pointed out that he was not in the regular army since he was not a citizen. Westmoreland arranged his citizenship so that he could become part of the regular army he accepted an army urological residency. In 1968 he deployed to Vietnam.
After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985, and is now the chief of urological surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers programs in Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. TTUHSC's main campus is in Lubbock, but campuses are also located in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso and the Permian Basin...
.