Submitted picture Col. Donald Begezda, left, is proven in June 2005 as he’s about to return dwelling from his first tour of Iraq. On the correct is his substitute, Captain Justin Tobias.
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POLAND — “I do not know if there’s something heroic about being a dentist,” Dr. Donald Begezda stated not too long ago.
Nonetheless, a whole lot of sufferers on either side of the Atlantic might not agree.
Begezda grew up on Hazelwood Avenue on the west aspect of Youngstown, simply blocks from the Mahoning Avenue observe that changed Dr. James Davidson, her childhood dentist.
“Once I received out of the military, he advised me, ‘Go forward, I can use you,’” Begezda stated.
He joined the Military in 1979 after graduating from Ohio State College Faculty of Dentistry. He began out as a scientific dental officer at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, treating primarily entry-level trainees. He described this as an awesome studying expertise for a younger dentist. He got here from “everywhere in the United States…and a few from totally different components of the nation had by no means been to a dentist.”
In 1982, he needed to start out his personal observe, however was hesitant to go away the navy, so he joined the Military Reserve. He stated the month-to-month drills primarily concerned coaching dental assistants, in addition to studying the right way to function dental tools designed for the battlefield, which requires the power to rapidly set it up and break it down.
As well as, a two-week tour was held annually, normally on an energetic foundation.
“We confirmed up on the dental clinic and the commander was ready for us there. That they had a room for us, we might go to work there and do what they did in that individual dental clinic, simply see sufferers and do dentistry,” Begezda stated.
In 2004, he was deployed to Iraq, the place he was the dental officer in cost at Ahead Working Base Hazard in Tikrit. He downplayed the quantity of hazard he confronted, however stated that typically mortar assaults would get shut sufficient to shake the constructing.
In the future, he and a health care provider left the eating room sooner than standard to return to the clinic. As he brushed his enamel, he heard a number of loud knocks. The enemy hearth hit precisely the place that they had been strolling a couple of minutes earlier than. Though there have been no losses, a number of troopers suffered accidents.
In 2009, Begezda served his second tour in Iraq, this time as deputy commander of scientific providers at Joint Base Balad. She described this expertise as a bit calmer and stated it was a part of a extra established and complete medical facility.
Then, in 2013, Begezda served because the commander of the 912 Dental Firm Detachments in Afghanistan. He flew between hospitals at Bagram Air Drive Base and Kandahar to make sure dental clinics ran easily and successfully. He remembered trying down at a city remoted by mountains and questioning how they received meals and provides. He was additionally liable for triage in case there have been so many casualties that he needed to “collaborate and assist triage sufferers,” which fortunately did not occur whereas he was there.
Begezda described the character of his work overseas as caring for minor emergencies, resembling toothaches and free fillings, so troopers might return to energetic responsibility in a day or two.
“My mission was dentistry. The opposite folks have their mission and we now have to ensure that they will proceed. The primary motive the dentist is there may be to behave as the one who can preserve you from getting fired out of your job,” he stated.
In 2015, Begezda retired from the Reserves after a 36-year navy profession. Begezda described his time within the navy as a optimistic expertise that gave him early sensible coaching and allowed him to develop as knowledgeable. He appreciated assembly folks from everywhere in the nation and touring to locations like Panama, Honduras, Belgium, and Germany.
He stated he would advocate navy service to younger dentists as an effective way to start out a profession, as they will achieve information with out having to purchase tools and lease an workplace.
“There are a lot of sufferers who want lots of consideration. … I beloved each minute of it,” Begezda stated.
Dr Donald Begezda
AGE: 67
RESIDENCE: Poland
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Military and Military Reserves
MILITARY HONORS: Legion of Advantage, Meritorious Service Medal, Military Commendation Medals, Military Achievement Medal, Knowledgeable Discipline Medic Badge
OCCUPATION: Dentist
FAMILY: None
