Col. Arthur Wittich, D.O.’71

Col. Arthur Wittich, D.O.’71, the oldest soldier in the military district of Washington, on Sept. 25 retired after 44 years of service to his country. His military career began in 1956, when he enlisted in the Navy and served six years as a hospital corpsman before attending college and DMU. His father, a Navy veteran, then helped commission him into the Army. In the years since, he served in posts including South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Hawaii; completed medical mission trips in Africa, Latin America, Nigeria and Niger; and delivered an estimated 10,000 babies. His retirement ceremony was hosted by Surgeon General of the Army Lieutenant Gen. Patricia Horoho. Wittich doesn’t plan to take of his white coat, however; he hopes to donate his time to international medical projects to help populations in need and train foreign practitioners. He and his wife, Lucy, have been married nearly 60 years.