Bernhard T. Mittemeyer: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
m punctuation
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Surgeon General of the US Army (1930–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2009}}
{{sources|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Bernhard T. Mittemeyer
| name = Bernhard T. Mittemeyer
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1930|10|30}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|10|30}}
| birth_place = [[Paramaribo]], [[Suriname]]
|death_date=
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|1|25|1930|10|30}}
|birth_place= [[Paramaribo]], [[Surinam]] (The Netherlands)
|death_place=
| death_place = [[Lubbock, Texas]], U.S.
|placeofburial=
| placeofburial =
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
|image=BTMittemeyer.jpg
| image = BTMittemeyer.jpg
|caption=
| caption =
|nickname=
| nickname =
|allegiance={{flag|United States of America}}
| allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}
|branch=[[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Army]]
| branch = [[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears=1957–1985
| serviceyears = 1957–1985
|rank=[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|35px]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
| rank = [[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|35px]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
|commands=[[Surgeon General of the United States Army]]
| commands = [[Surgeon General of the United States Army]]<br/>
[[326th Medical Battalion (United States)|326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile)]], [[101st Airborne Division]]
|unit=
| unit =
|battles=[[Cold War]]<br/>[[Vietnam War]]
| battles = [[Cold War]]<br/>[[Vietnam War]]
|awards=[[Legion of Merit]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<br/>[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]<br/>[[Air Medal]]<br/>[[Army Commendation Medal]]<br/>[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br/>[[Combat Medical Badge]]<br/>[[Senior Parachutist Badge]]<br/>[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with Three Campaign Stars<br/>Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (Vietnamese)<br/>Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>Medical Meritorious Award, First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>[[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>[[Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
| awards = [[Legion of Merit]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<br/>[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]<br/>[[Air Medal]]<br/>[[Army Commendation Medal]]<br/>[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br/>[[Combat Medical Badge]]<br/>[[Senior Parachutist Badge]]<br/>[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with Three Campaign Stars<br/>Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (Vietnamese)<br/>Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>Medical Meritorious Award, First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>[[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First Class (Vietnamese)<br/>[[Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|relations=
| relations =
|laterwork=Chief of urological surgery at [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]]
| laterwork = Chief of urological surgery at [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]]
}}
}}


'''Bernhard Theodore Mittemeyer''' (born October 30, 1930)<ref>Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. 1980–2011.</ref> is a retired [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]], who served as [[Surgeon General of the United States Army]] between 1981 and 1985.<ref name=Military>{{cite web|title=RESUME OF SERVICE CAREER of BERNHARD THEODORE MITTEMEYER |url=http://history.amedd.army.mil/tsgs/Mittemeyer.html |accessdate=March 12, 2009 |publisher=Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822092014/http://history.amedd.army.mil/tsgs/Mittemeyer.html |archivedate=August 22, 2006 }}</ref>
'''Bernhard Theodore Mittemeyer''' (October 30, 1930 – January 25, 2023) was a United States Army [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] who served as [[Surgeon General of the United States Army]] between 1981 and 1985.<ref name=Military>{{cite web|title=RESUME OF SERVICE CAREER of BERNHARD THEODORE MITTEMEYER |url=http://history.amedd.army.mil/tsgs/Mittemeyer.html |accessdate=March 12, 2009 |publisher=Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822092014/http://history.amedd.army.mil/tsgs/Mittemeyer.html |archivedate=August 22, 2006 }}</ref>


==Early life, education, and career==
==Early life, education, and career==
At age 14, Mittemeyer emigrated to the United States during [[World War II]].
Mittemeyer was born in [[Paramaribo]], [[Suriname]], on October 30, 1930.<ref>Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. 1980–2011.</ref> At the age of 14, Mittemeyer emigrated to the United States during [[World War II]].


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 Airborne Division (United States)|101st]] and [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd]] had liberated his home country of the Netherlands during the war. He was assigned to the 101st. After six months, he became the division surgeon for [[William Westmoreland|General Westmoreland]].
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 Airborne Division (United States)|101st]] and [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd]] had liberated his home country of the Netherlands during the war. He was assigned to the 101st. After six months, he became the division surgeon for [[William Westmoreland|General Westmoreland]].


Soon thereafter, however, Mittemeyer announced his resignation to Gen. Westmoreland. When Gen. Westmorland inquired 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. Mittemeyer then accepted an Army urological residency. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam.
Soon thereafter, however, Mittemeyer announced his resignation to Gen. Westmoreland. When Gen. Westmorland inquired 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. Mittemeyer then accepted an Army urological residency. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam, where he commanded the 326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile) from 28 July 1968 to 27 February 1969.<ref>Harry D. Johnson, "326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile) Army Medical Department Activities Report, 1969," (National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 90, Folder "USARV - 101st Airborne Division", 1970). Page 2.</ref>


During his tenure as Surgeon General of the Army and working in [[Military District of Washington]] (MDW), he instituted Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), later adopted by MDW-wide and now simply called Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a set of fitness tests including push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed two-mile run that now applies to all 85,000 military employees of MDW.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mary T. Sarnecky|title=A Contemporary History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMhA82JtgHUC&pg=PA278|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-16-086913-6|pages=278–}}</ref>
During his tenure as Surgeon General of the Army and working in [[Military District of Washington]] (MDW), he instituted Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), later adopted by MDW-wide and now simply called Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a set of fitness tests including push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed two-mile run that now applies to all 85,000 military employees of MDW.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mary T. Sarnecky|title=A Contemporary History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMhA82JtgHUC&pg=PA278|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-16-086913-6|pages=278–}}</ref>


After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985,<ref name=Military /> and is now the chief of urological surgery at [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]].
After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985.<ref name=Military /> He served as the chief of urological surgery at [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]], and retired on August 31, 2010.

== Death ==
Mittemeyer died in [[Lubbock, Texas]], on January 25, 2023, at the age of 92.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fox34.com/2023/01/28/friends-colleagues-remember-dr-bernhard-mittemeyer/ | title=Friends, colleagues remember Dr. Bernhard Mittemeyer }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/ltg-bernhard-t-mittemeyer-obituary?id=39394197 | title=LTG Bernhard T. Mittemeyer Obituary (1930 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers | website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref>


==Awards and decorations==
==Awards and decorations==
{|
* [[Legion of Merit]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
|[[File:Combat Medical Badge, 1st award.svg|85px]]
* [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|[[Combat Medical Badge]]
* [[Bronze Star Medal]] with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
* [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|[[File:USAFSeniorParatrooper.jpg|90px]]
* [[Air Medal]]
|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Senior Parachutist Badge]]
* [[Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
* [[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[File:Combat service identification badge of the 101st Airborne Division.png|75px]]
* [[Combat Medical Badge]]
|[[101st Airborne Division]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]
* [[Senior Parachutist Badge]]
|-
* [[Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|[[File:ViPaBa.jpg|80px]]
* [[Vietnam Service Medal]] with Three Campaign Stars
|Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
* [[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Cross of Gallantry]] with Bronze Star (Vietnamese)
|}
* [[Civil Actions Honor Medal]], First Class (Vietnamese)
{|
* [[Medical Meritorious Award]], First Class (Vietnamese)
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Legion of Merit]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Bronze Star]] with [["V" device]] and oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 1.png|11px]]</span>
|[[Air Medal]] with bronze [[award numeral]] 1
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Commendation Medal#Army|Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation|Army Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with three bronze [[service star]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 1.png|11px]]</span>
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] with award numeral 1
|-
|[[File:Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (South Vietnam).png|60px]]
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] with bronze star
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|60px]]
|Vietnam [[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First Class
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|60px]]
|Vietnam [[Civil Actions Medal]], First Class
|-
|[[File:Noribbon.svg|60px]]
|Vietnam Meritorious Medical Award, First Class
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|width=60}}
|[[Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Civil Action Unit Citation.png|width=60}}
|[[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal|Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}}
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 58: Line 116:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mittemeyer, Bernhard T.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mittemeyer, Bernhard T.}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Surgeons General of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Surgeons General of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center faculty]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center faculty]]
[[Category:United States Army Medical Corps officers]]
[[Category:United States Army Medical Corps officers]]
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:People from Paramaribo]]
[[Category:Surinamese emigrants to the United States]]

Latest revision as of 00:15, 10 February 2023

Bernhard T. Mittemeyer
Born(1930-10-30)October 30, 1930
Paramaribo, Suriname
DiedJanuary 25, 2023(2023-01-25) (aged 92)
Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1957–1985
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands heldSurgeon General of the United States Army
326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile), 101st Airborne Division
Battles/warsCold War
Vietnam War
AwardsLegion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Combat Medical Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
Vietnam Service Medal with Three Campaign Stars
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (Vietnamese)
Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese)
Medical Meritorious Award, First Class (Vietnamese)
Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Other workChief of urological surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Bernhard Theodore Mittemeyer (October 30, 1930 – January 25, 2023) was a United States Army lieutenant general who served as Surgeon General of the United States Army between 1981 and 1985.[1]

Early life, education, and career[edit]

Mittemeyer was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, on October 30, 1930.[2] At the age of 14, Mittemeyer emigrated to the United States during World War II.

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 the Netherlands during the war. He was assigned to the 101st. After six months, he became the division surgeon for General Westmoreland.

Soon thereafter, however, Mittemeyer announced his resignation to Gen. Westmoreland. When Gen. Westmorland inquired 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. Mittemeyer then accepted an Army urological residency. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam, where he commanded the 326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile) from 28 July 1968 to 27 February 1969.[3]

During his tenure as Surgeon General of the Army and working in Military District of Washington (MDW), he instituted Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), later adopted by MDW-wide and now simply called Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a set of fitness tests including push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed two-mile run that now applies to all 85,000 military employees of MDW.[4]

After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985.[1] He served as the chief of urological surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and retired on August 31, 2010.

Death[edit]

Mittemeyer died in Lubbock, Texas, on January 25, 2023, at the age of 92.[5][6]

Awards and decorations[edit]

Combat Medical Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Bronze Star with "V" device and oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with bronze award numeral 1
Army Commendation Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 1
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze star
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, First Class
Vietnam Meritorious Medical Award, First Class
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "RESUME OF SERVICE CAREER of BERNHARD THEODORE MITTEMEYER". Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General. Archived from the original on August 22, 2006. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  2. ^ Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. 1980–2011.
  3. ^ Harry D. Johnson, "326th Medical Battalion (Airmobile) Army Medical Department Activities Report, 1969," (National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 90, Folder "USARV - 101st Airborne Division", 1970). Page 2.
  4. ^ Mary T. Sarnecky. A Contemporary History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Government Printing Office. pp. 278–. ISBN 978-0-16-086913-6.
  5. ^ "Friends, colleagues remember Dr. Bernhard Mittemeyer".
  6. ^ "LTG Bernhard T. Mittemeyer Obituary (1930 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers". Legacy.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bernhard_T._Mittemeyer&oldid=1138493367"