On Veterans Day, we salute those women and men who have served or are serving in the U.S. military. We interviewed Creighton dentist Will Miles Clark, who served in the Pacific during World War II, when he returned to the dental school in 2011 to celebrate his 107th birthday. He was believed to be the University’s oldest living alumnus at the time, and Creighton honored him with a “special legacy award.” Clark died in 2013.
Will Miles Clark, DDS’29, was 24 when he graduated from the Creighton School of Dentistry, 52 when he started playing golf and 105 when he learned to use a computer. He was in his late 30s when he served in the Pacific during World War II as a member of the United States Army Dental Corps, eventually spending months on Iwo Jima and receiving numerous military medals and awards.
Born on Aug. 17, 1904, Clark graduated from the dental school in June 1929.
Clark held various jobs all through his years at Creighton, which often required him to work well into the night. “I remember being called into the dean’s office once for falling asleep in class. I’m so thankful he didn’t kick me out of school.”
According to his obituary, a Creighton dental professor stepped up to support Clark and co-signed a loan so he could stay in school.
“Creighton gave me the life I could never have had,” Clark said. “I am forever grateful.”
After graduating, Clark began his dental practice in Des Moines, Iowa, months before the Great Depression. “In the Depression years, everyone was poor. I didn’t make any real money, but at least I could eat.”
Clark met his wife Lois in 1931 when she was a dental hygienist, and they were married in 1933. They remained so for more than 76 years until her death in April 2010.
A member of the U.S. Army Dental Corps Reserves, Clark served with a cavalry unit that included a future U.S. president, Ronald Reagan.
In 1942, Clark was called back into the Dental Corps and served almost three years in the Pacific Theater. He was most proud of the Combat Medical Badge (equivalent to the Combat Infantryman’s Badge) he received for his service on Iwo Jima.
After returning home from the war, Clark continued his military service, retiring at the age of 60 with the rank of colonel. He received the Legion of Merit for exemplary service in establishing Preventive Dental Programs for the Army at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
