When talking about the greatest contributions made by dentists, one historical figure that must be mentioned is Ben Saloman. But not for the reasons that you might think. While his life as a dentist was important, it’s his other achievements that have memorialized him for generations to come.
Ben Saloman is one of the only military dentists to ever receive the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious decoration that can be given to an American soldier, for his heroic deeds during World War II. For most dentists, the greatest danger is accidently getting bitten during an examination, so it is difficult to fathom the challenges faced by a soldier in battle. Saloman’s story is proof that heroes can come from many places.
It is important to Dr. Jobst and the entire staff at Grand Lake Dental that we take the time to remember the heroes of the dental profession, especially one like Ben Saloman who gave so much to this country.
Who was Ben Saloman?
Saloman was born in 1914 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a Jewish family. As a child, he was too young to remember many of the hardships associated with World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918 and ’19, though he was a teenager during the onset of the Great Depression.
Despite these early obstacles, he graduated from Shorewood High School as well as earning honors as an Eagle Scout (one of only eleven to ever win the Medal of Honor). He went on to attend the local college, Marquette University.
How did Ben Saloman become a dentist?
Saloman did not finish his studies at Marquette. Instead, he moved all the way to the West Coast and enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he finished work on his undergraduate degree. Being of Jewish heritage, he faced many difficulties, including the fact that universities in the early 20th century limited the number of Jewish applicants they would accept.
Undeterred, Saloman fought for admission to the USC Dental School. He graduated with his dental degree in 1937, but with war brewing in Europe, he tried to enroll in both the American and Canadian armies, though he was rejected in each case. Instead, he returned to Los Angeles and opened a successful dental practice in Beverly Hills.
Why did Ben Saloman go off to war?
After failing to voluntarily enlist in 1937, Ben Saloman was drafted into the infantry in the fall of 1940. Although many people think the US did not become involved in the war until after Pearl Harbor in 1941, the US was concerned about mounting conflicts in Europe and reinitiated a peacetime draft, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register.
Saloman was selected and despite being a practicing dentist, he was entered into the US army infantry at the age of 26. He was proud to finally be serving, and he proved adept as a machine gunner during training. At the same time, he was giving informal dental check ups and cleanings to the other men in his battalion. Word got around, and he was commissioned into the dental corps in 1942.
By this point, Saloman wanted to continue serving as an infantryman and machine gunner, and he tried to turn down the commission. The army needed more dentists, however, and he was refused.
Why did Ben Saloman win the Medal Of Honor?
As an army dentist, Saloman was sent to the Pacific theater. While his unit was seeing action at Marianas Island, a battalion surgeon was wounded, and Saloman volunteered to take his place, meaning he’d be located at the front until a replacement could be sent for.
On July 7th, as the battalion advanced, they met fierce resistance from the Japanese, leading to many casualties. Salomon was in charge of an aid station that was located fifty yards back from the forward foxhole line. Japanese infantry overran the perimeter, and as soldiers were fleeing around him, Salomon picked up a weapon (which was forbidden to medical personnel) and began firing on the enemy as he allowed the wounded soldiers to be evacuated.
When the situation became particularly desperate, Saloman grabbed a Browning heavy machine gun and remained behind while the evacuation continued. Contact with Salomon was lost for the next fifteen hours. Following the withdrawal, the US army had to fight to regain the ceded territory, and by the time they returned to the medical station’s location, Saloman had been killed.
Upon returning, his fellow soldiers discovered Saloman’s body still slumped over the machine gun. He was surrounded by the bodies of 98 enemy fighters who’d been killed while Saloman protected the retreat. His own body was found to have 76 bullet wounds and dozens of bayonet wounds, many of which were likely incurred while he was still alive.
Saloman died saving an unknowable number of American lives. His commanding officer, after piecing together what had happened, recommended that Saloman receive the Medal of Honor. However, because he was designated as being medical personnel, he was prohibited from taking up arms. So the award request was denied.
It would be many decades before Saloman finally received the recognition he deserved. After a legal review, it was determined that Geneva Conventions allow medical personnel to bear arms in self-defense and in defense of patients. In 2002, President Bush officially presented the Medal of Honor to Ben Saloman, representing the U.S.C. School of Dentistry.
Your Grove, Oklahoma Dental Specialist
Dr. Jobst and the staff at Grand Lake Dental would like to take a moment to acknowledge the heroism of Ben Saloman and all of the veterans who have fought on behalf of our country. It’s humbling to think about the sacrifices that a fellow dentist was willing to make for the sake of his patients.
We know that there are a lot of military veterans who call Grove, Oklahoma their home, and rest assured that the entire team at Grand Lake Dental is honored to provide you with the best possible dental care, while celebrating you for your tremendous service to the United States of America.
If you or a family member is looking for the best dental facilities in the region, contact us today.