Bernhard T. Mittemeyer

Bernard T. Mittemeyer
Born	(1930-04-21) April 21, 1930 Paramaribo Surinam (The Netherlands)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1957 - 1985
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	Surgeon General of the United States Army
Battles/wars	Cold War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster) Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Army Commendation Medal National Defense Ribbon Combat Medical Badge Senior Parachutist Badge Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Three Campaign Stars Vietnam Service Medal Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Vietnamese) Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese) Medical Meritorious Award, First Class (Vietnamese)
Other work	Chief of urological surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

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.

Early life, education, and career

At age 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 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.

Awards and decorations

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Bronze Star Medal with V Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Medal
• Army Commendation Medal
• National Defense Ribbon
• Combat Medical Badge
• Senior Parachutist Badge
• Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Three Campaign Stars
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Vietnamese)
• Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class (Vietnamese)
• Medical Meritorious Award, First Class (Vietnamese)