Army Dentistry History Resources
Publications
- A History of Dentistry in the U.S. Army to World War II by JM Hyson, JW Whitehorne, JT Greenwood. Borden Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. 2008.
- “Female Dentists in the U.S. Army: The Origins” by JM Hyson. Military Medicine. 1995 Feb:160(2):57-62.
- “African-American Dentists in the U.S. Army: The Origins” by JM Hyson. Military Medicine. 1996 July: 161(7):375-381
- “The United States Army Dental Corps: A Century of Commitment, Service, and Care.” The Army Medical Department Journal. January-March 2011 PB 8-11-1/2/3.
- “The Army Dental Service in Vietnam” by George F Mayer DDS. JADA. 1967 Sept: Vol 75(3): 585-588.
- 100 Years of U.S. Army Dentistry: 1911-2011. Special Edition by Faircount Media Group. Tampa, FL. www.faircount.com.
Online Resources
- Highlights in the History of U.S. Army Dentistry - 2012 Ed: by JE King, SA Passo, NA Watson
- AMEDD Center of History & Heritage - AMEDD Corps History - Dental Corps
- The CPT Ben Salomon Story: by WT Bowers
- African American Dental Surgeons and the U.S. Army Dental Corps: A Struggle for Acceptance, 1901-1919 by JM Hyson
- Dentistry During WWII – an Unappreciated History: by Sean Zimny
- U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence: Army Dentistry
- From World War I to Present Day: U.S. Military Dentistry
- U.S. Army Military History Institute Medical Historical Services Division – Military Dentistry - A Working Bibliography of MHI Sources
- National Museum of Dentistry - U.S. Military Exhibit: 2024
- Women's Army Corps Veteran Served with Dental Teams in Vietnam War by Jeremy P. Amick, News Tribune, July 27, 2020, Jefferson City, Mo.
Personal Histories
- Oral History Transcripts of Interviews with MG (Ret) Robert B. Shira, MG (Ret) Edwin H. Smith, Jr. , MG (Ret) S. N. Bhaskar, MG (Ret) George Kuttas, MG (Ret) Thomas Chandler, MG (Ret) Bill Lefler, MG Thomas R. Tempel, and BG (Ret) Robert Strader
- The CPT Ben Salomon Story by MG Patrick ‘Pat’ Sculley
- Prisoner of War Experiences of COL Roy Bodine, Jr., COL (Ret), U.S. Army Dental Corps as told by MG Patrick ‘Pat’ Sculley
- “MAJ Fernando E. Rodriguez, D.D.S., An Army Dentist and Pioneer in Dental Research” by Susan (Sue) Allen
- “The Story of Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo, U.S. Army and The Congressional Medal of Honor” by Ronald Lambert, COL (Ret)
- “Alexander P. Suer World War II US Army Dentist Coordinating V 2” by JE King COL (Ret)
Did You Know?
Paul Revere performed the first military forensic identification using dental records after the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1776. And a French Navy dentist regularly treated American soldiers fighting for our fledgling country during the Revolutionary War.
Until 1911, when Congress passed a law establishing the U.S. Army Dental Corps, the Army relied on civilian dentists to support the oral health care needs of its soldiers.
Today, more than 100 years later, Army Dentistry has a long and resolute tradition of serving soldiers wherever they may be. In garrison and in the field – Army Dentistry is there.
For more information, visit the AAD Army Dentistry Timeline.
Spotlight on Excellence
The International College of Dentists recognized general dentist COL (Ret) Robert Meyer and his wife Dr. Diane Meyer, a humanitarian dental volunteer, with its 2022 Distinguished Humanitarians Award. This award recognized their more than 30 years of dental service in underserved and developing countries. Bob, a West Point graduate, received his dental degree from Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Ore. After retiring from the Army and from private practice, Bob became a full-time dental volunteer. He is the current executive director for the Christian Dental Society. Diane has been a dental volunteer for more than 40 years. Her research dissertation for her Doctor of Education degree was on the holistic benefits and detractors of dental, short-term volunteerism. Her study formed the basis of the book Encouraging Missions: Transforming Lives, Especially Yours, which is one of four books about portable mission dentistry she and Bob have co-authored. Together, Bob and Diane have led 75 short-term, portable dental missions, and also help provide dentistry to less fortunate individuals through several Colorado organizations, including Kids in Need of Dentistry Clinic, the Mission Medical Clinic, a Remote Area Medical Clinic and the Colorado Mission of Mercy Clinics. Bob is a fellow in the International College of Dentists, and in 2023, the ICD made Diane an honorary fellow.
On this Day in the History of U.S. Army Dentistry
For more historical events, visit the Army Dentistry History Timeline.