Oscar P . Snyder Oscar Peter Snyder ( January 6 , 1895 – February 21 , 1983 ) was a United States Army Major General who served in the Army Medical Department as a Chief of the U . S . Army Dental Corps from 1954 to 1956 . Biography . World War I . Oscar Peter Snyder was born to Emil and Anna ( ńee Marchand ) Snyder on 6 January 1895 near Millersburg , Holmes County , Ohio . He attended the Orrsville public schools graduating in 1912 . He entered The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in June 1916 . He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Regular Army on 24 October 1916 . He first served at Columbus Barracks , Ohio until 18 December 1916 when he was transferred to Fort McIntosh , Laredo , Texas as Camp Hospital Dental Surgeon . In June 1917 Snyder was transferred to Fort McPherson , Georgia and then to Camp Hancock , Georgia as the 28th Infantry Division Dental Surgeon . The 28th Division was sent to France in May 1918 with the American Expeditionary Forces ( AEF ) where Snyder participated in the Marne Defensive , the Marne Offensive , Oise - Aisne Offensive and the Meuse - Argonne Offensive . He returned to the United States on 20 July 1919 . 1920s and 1930s . He was assigned to Camp Dodge , Iowa with temporary duty in Illinois , Wisconsin and Michigan . In September 1922 he was transferred to Fort Sheridan , Illinois where he met and married Louise McDonald in May 1923 . In August 1924 he was sent to Camp Stotsenberg in the Philippines then to Sternberg General Hospital in Manila . His first child , Jane Louise Snyder , was born on 6 January 1927 and the family returned to the United States in April . Oscar P . ' Peter ' Snyder Jr was born on 23 February 1930 while Snyder was assigned to Walter Reed General Hospital . In June 1931 he was transferred to Fort Thomas , Kentucky as Post Dental Surgeon . In August 1935 he enrolled in the Army Dental School and graduated from the Postgraduate Course in February 1936 and in August was transferred to the United State Military Academy , West Point , New York . World War II . In April 1941 he reported to Lawson General Hospital , Atlanta , Georgia , and was sent to Melbourne , Australia on 12 April 1942 as Chief Dental Surgeon , Southwest Pacific Theater , Office of the Surgeon General . Snyder returned from the Pacific Theater in December 1944 and served at England General Hospital , Atlantic City , New Jersey until June 1945 . Beginning in July 1945 he was Chief of the Dental Service at Fitzsimons General Hospital , Denver , Colorado . Post - World War II . On 27 April 1948 he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center as Director of Dental Activities . In April 1953 he was transferred to Headquarters , Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston , Texas , as Director of Dental Activities . In April 1954 he was confirmed as Chief of the Army Dental Corps and Assistant to the Surgeon General , assuming command on 1 May 1954 . This assignment ended upon his retirement from the U . S . Army on 30 November 1956 . Retirement . After retiring from the military Snyder taught at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry from January 1957 to June 1965 . He died on 22 February 1983 in Columbus , Ohio . Promotions . Commissioned a first lieutenant on 24 Oct 1916 , to major on 6 October 1917 * * , to lieutenant colonel 27 October 1936 , to colonel - temporary 26 June 1941 , permanent - 27 October 1942 , brigadier general - permanent 27 April 1948 , major general - temporary and permanent on 12 April 1954 .