Michael Mittelmann

Michael Mittelmann was born in October 1932. In 1953, he graduated from a pre-medical course of study at New York University.  Mittelmann was then accepted by Chicago University’s School of Medicine, from where he graduated in 1957. At the time of his interview, he was a retired United States army colonel. Mittelmann served in the army on active duty from 1957 to 1967, and then again from 1983 to 1995, in both active and reserve components in the United States Army Medical Corps as an orthopedic surgeon. He was Chief of Orthopedic Surgery in the 8^th Field Hospital in the Vietnam War. During the war, Mittelmann not only served in the 8th Field Hospital, but also in the 340th General Hospital, 819th Station Hospital, 173rd Medical Group, 804th Medical Brigade and at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio.

Before enlisting in the Army, Mittelmann was an intern in a hospital in New York. Intern work kept him very busy. When he met the resident physicians, he learned that many were in the army reserve. They told him to check out the general hospital reserve unit in Manhattan; and, after visiting, Mittelmann decided to join the unit. His inspiration to join the military was based on his admiration of an uncle who had served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII as a flight engineer in both North Africa and the South Pacific. Mittelmann was able to get time off from the hospital to join the unit for meetings and other related events.

While working many hours as an intern at minimal pay and with limited benefits, Mittelmann married and became a father. He had little time for himself, his wife, and his child; they struggled while living in Manhattan.

Mittelmann applied for a residency in the army instead of a civilian residency. After many interviews, he was approved for the orthopedic program at Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Soon after arriving there, Mittelmann was promoted to captain and received housing and a living wage. While in Texas, he had to attend summer training camp sessions at Camp Bullis, in Bexar County northwest of San Antonio, where he learned basic soldier skills.

It was hard on Mittelmann to move around, but he adjusted well to his surroundings. He largely socialized with his group of doctors instead of mingling with his neighbors. While spending most of his time in hospitals, Mittelmann was often only vaguely aware of news outside of the hospital, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was more worried about issues inside the hospital; his day-to-day job was making orthopedic rounds.

The military service required Mittelmann and his family to move around a lot; and, during this time his wife had their second son. Things were harder with two children, yet nothing they could not handle. He was assigned to Houston, Texas for three years, and then was assigned to the Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as an orthopedic surgeon. Mittelmann had a four-year commitment to the military following his residency training program, which he fulfilled. He found his time in Texas interesting due to his involvement with World War II and Korea War veterans, on Veterans Administration work at his active-duty post.

Mittelmann spent time in the amputee clinic, dealing with many older veterans with injuries from World War II that had resulted in amputated limbs. He saw some veterans coming in with antique prosthetics, like hooks for hands, since the prosthetics technology was not at all like it is today. When given a choice in which conflict casualties to treat, Mittelmann chose the expanding war in Vietnam, because he was able to help civilians as well as soldiers. He made trips to Vietnam with a translator to treat civilians with leprosy. Mittelmann felt comfortable going there because, although not fluent, he had some French language skill; Vietnam was a former French colony.

In 1965, Mittelmann was assigned to the 8^th Field Hospital in Vietnam.  It was a well-equipped facility which was vacant most of the time, until the spring of 1965, when American forces became engaged in serious combat, and more than 400 casualties suddenly filled up the beds. The vast majority of these patients were US Marines, and men of the Army’s 5^th Special Forces Group. He managed his time well, running a tight schedule making rounds.

Mittelmann’s biggest and longest surgery was treating a victim of a propeller accident, that took many hours in the operating room with other doctors. Another major accident involved a plane crashing on a main street of Nha Trang. Both pilots parachuted out and landed in the South China Sea with minor injuries. The street was blocked off because rescue crews had to wait until demolition crews removed undetonated bombs off the plane.

During Mittelmann’s time in Vietnam, he found the people and community fascinating, and wanted to learn more about them and their culture. He learned some Vietnamese words, and walked around the town asking if people needed any help. Mittelmann spoke with Vietnamese children and showed them pictures of his own children. He believed that he was fortunate to be able to talk with the community. While walking in the town, Mittelmann acquired many souvenirs that he took home with him to remember his time there. 

While working in the hospital for a year, Mittelmann witnessed improvements such as more patients being transported by helicopter. When he had first arrived in Vietnam, the 8^th Field Hospital was one of the few hospitals available; but, by the end of his deployment, there were many more. Mittelmann remembered that it was extremely hard to kept things clean in the field. He had good supplies, and worked fast to get the injured to the hospital.

Mittelmann’s wife lived in France during his time in Vietnam, because she had family there. Their children were enrolled in schools in France. They were initially bilingual, yet later forgot most of the language they had learned. After Mittelmann finished his tour in Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as a general surgeon. He did four months service as an obstetrician there. When his tour of duty at Fort Bragg ended, Mittelmann was able to leave a day earlier, because he provided care to a patient on emergency transport on a plane.

Mittelmann’s last active-duty station was at the US Army Hospital at West Point. His wife wanted him to leave the service, and he applied for a discharge but was delayed because of the Vietnam war. Mittelmann was frozen in the system for months until they finally let him go.

After leaving the military life behind, Mittelmann moved his family to West Hartford, Connecticut as a civilian. In 1983, he reenlisted in the reserves, was assigned to West Point, and promoted to major. Reassigned to a hospital in New Haven, Mittelmann worked in administrative work in hospital management. In 1995, he retired from military service as a colonel, and received a well-deserved pension and benefits from Tricare for life.

Once retired, Mittelmann took classes at Harvard Business School, using some money from the GI Bill on required textbooks. He joined the Reserve Officer Association Veteran’s Group and the American Legion. Mittelmann was honored as the Connecticut Department Surgeon. He became a member of a group that helps veterans who have not received the benefits they are owed, and that helps them to get back on their feet. Mittelmann was glad he had the opportunity to help others, and said he would encourage others to join the military in order to give back to their nation and community.

Among Dr. Mittelmann’s service awards are the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 1960, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Additional Resource:

• Interview with Michael Mittelmann, 7 May 2001, Michael Mittelmann Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University