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.
Early life, education, and career Mittemeyer was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, on October 30, 1930.Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. 1980–2011. 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.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.
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.
After serving as Surgeon General of the Army, he retired on February 28, 1985. 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.
Awards and decorations Combat Medical BadgeSenior Parachutist Badge101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification BadgeVietnam Master Parachutist Badge Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying CrossBronze Star with "V" device and oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service MedalAir Medal with bronze award numeral 1Army Commendation MedalArmy Meritorious Unit CommendationNational Defense Service MedalVietnam Service Medal with three bronze service starsArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 1Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze starVietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, First ClassVietnam Civil Actions Medal, First ClassVietnam Meritorious Medical Award, First ClassRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit CitationVietnam Campaign Medal
References