For Major General Dr. David Hamlar, service wasn’t a grand plan. Instead, it was a series of choices guided by legacy, circumstances and purpose. Dr. Hamlar, MD, DDS, is a craniofacial surgeon with University of Minnesota Physicians (M Physicians) and an Assistand Professor in the University of Minnesota Medical School's Department of Otolaryngology.
Although his father and other relatives had served, no one in his family spoke much about their military experiences. “That’s common for World War II vets,” he says. “At 18, I got my draft card and was one month away from being called when the draft ended in 1973.”
Hamlar’s path to the military began not on the battlefield, but in dental school. He received a National Health Corps Scholarship that covered his tuition and, in return, served in Appalachia, Ohio, for three years as a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service. After a short period in private practice dentistry, he returned to medical school and residency at Ohio State University, while also joining the Ohio National Guard to support his growing family.
That decision began a career spanning decades and merging two demanding callings: medicine and military service. His fellowship eventually brought him to Minnesota, where he joined the Air National Guard and became a key medical leader.
“When 9/11 happened, we were no longer a reserve component, but we became a deployable asset,” Hamlar recalls. Over the years, he deployed six times, including a three-month tour at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. military hospital outside the United States, located in Germany. “Because of my training, I was actually better equipped to care for battlefield injuries than many active-duty physicians.”
Hamlar’s careers in medicine and military service reinforced each other in powerful ways. His experience as a flight surgeon, where precision, preparation and teamwork are essential, shaped his approach to the operating room. “The military taught me how the most complex procedures can be handled with basic knowledge, instrumentation and ingenuity,” he says. “And above all, teamwork, on which the military is founded. We were working for something greater than ourselves.” Hamlar retired in June 2017.
Hamlar expresses that the price our military members pay is tremendous, and often under-recognized. “Though I have escaped somewhat unscathed, to this point at least, those experiences took a toll mentally on all of us. We all need support. I had the love and comfort of my family, and specifically my wife. When serving, the ‘family’ serves.”
Through it all, Hamlar credits his family, colleagues and community for supporting his career, which enabled him to be the best Airman he could be. Reflecting on his proudest accomplishment is simple: “being in a position to take care of the men and women I served with,” Hamlar says.