After more than thirty years of practice, I feel it's time to leave a profession that has provided so much for me and my family over the years. It seems only yesterday I was a recently commissioned wide-eyed second lieutenant about to embark on an endeavor that would present remarkable challenges and change the direction of my life forever. I reflect on how many times God has blessed me over the years, including being a part of an incredible class of dental students. As UT's dental school had lost full accreditation from the American Dental Association due to poor leadership and funding by the state government for decades, my class was the first to reap the benefits of Governor Winfield Dunn's efforts to restore full accreditation. The first Republican governor in fifty years, Winfield Dunn provided the leadership required to accomplish this monumental task. As a matter of history, UT's dental school was the only one in the nation that was still on the three year program. During WWII, most dental schools went to the abbreviated program in order to help the war effort. After the war, all but UT returned to the four year program. Further, the school lacked modern equipment and the curriculum was in need of an upgrade. Governor Dunn, a dentist himself, provided millions of dollars in order to gain full accreditation from the ADA. Further, comprehensive changes to the core structure of dental education included improvements to the doctor/patient/staff functions. This paradigm shift in dental education in Tennessee required years to implement. The nationwide notice given to these changes attracted the attention of undergraduate advisors who started suggesting dental school candidates look at UT for their doctoral aspirations. These advisors recognized that the important prerequisites for admission, e.g., DAT scores, GPA, even the university from where they were graduating, assumed even greater importance. In fact, Dr. Jolly, who had recruited me at UTC, advised me that only 1 in 32 applicants were accepted. Again, as a young second lieutenant who was trained to be an infantry officer, I was hoping I had made the right choice to become a dental officer. The very first day, as part of a student body of over 160 dental students beginning this adventure, I knew I had made the right decision. That class was replete with some truly remarkable individuals. I learned many things from my peers; I will always be thankful for that experience. As the years passed and we went our separate ways, I still reflect on the joys and blessings shared by them, with marriage, children and burgeoning families. I am saddened when I think of some who are no longer with us. As Division Dental Surgeon for the Second Infantry Division on the DMZ in Korea, I will never forget the phone call I received from my wife regarding a tragedy involving one of the nicest guys I have ever known, Dr. Alan Crisman. Even today, I shudder when I recall the news of the tragic death of Alan's remarkable wife, Bard. As she was a talented artist, I can still visualize the beautiful artwork adorning their apartment in Memphis. Alan was suddenly the sole parent of two young children. His efforts have made Bard proud, I am sure. At any rate, the trials and tribulations of my family of patients are important, as are the joyous events in their lives. The China virus has claimed a number of these patients and friends. My family of patients are just that - family. I had originally planned to sell my practice and transition my patients to someone I knew would serve them well. For a number of reasons, I have decided now is the time to depart. So, I contacted another incredible friend, Dr. Denny Standifer for advice. We attended UTC and dental school together; he declined a professional major league baseball career (he was a stud pitcher at UTC) in order to become a dentist. His father was a Certified Dental Technician and an absolute legend in Chattanooga; he provided me with many removable prothetics a number of years ago. Denny was known in dental school as the guy with the Midas touch; his experience working in his father's lab as a ten year old paid off, as he not only had a successful general practice, but also became a highly regarded orthodontist. I approached Denny to get some advice on a few doctors this side of the river that my patients might seek out. He has seen all the work of local dentists and recognizes those practitioners who excel. I firmly believe that any UT trained practitioner is capable of providing excellent care. I recall my commander at the Army's Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, AL, Colonel Belman Maddox indicating his respect for UT dental officers he had encountered over the years. Again, there are excellent practitioners in Chattanooga that reflect those high UT standards. Dr. Standifer did indicate several practitioners whose work he admired. Here are three of them: Dr. William Hensley 423-875-0240 Dr. Elysia Belva 423-803-4470 Dr. Elizabeth Bassett 423-842-1402. Dr. Bassett is about to be blessed with her second son and will be away from the office for July. Congratulations! Again, our community is fortunate to have talented clinicians, not only general practitioners, but specialists, also. As an example, Dr. Brian Schenck, like his father, is an outstanding oral surgeon, with a remarkable staff. The blessings and joy I have received from our family of patients are innumerable; I will always be thankful for their love and support over the years. The incredible individuals I encountered and had the privilege of serving with in the Army, including Colonel Belman Maddox, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Blainey, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Concetta Hassan (see movie "A Time To Triumph") and General William Livesay, CINC of Eighth Army and US Forces, Korea, will always be remembered as reflecting those traits and character that my father, CSM (ret) Ted Daw, instilled in me as a young man. Hopefully, my father is proud to know his values and love of country guided me in every aspect of my military career. Speaking of my father, his advice over the years has not only proven to be thoughtful, but also prescient. I have previously alluded to his advice to request the Aviation Center as my initial assignment after dental school and the benefits reaped from that. His knowledge of the military was and is limitless; his assignment to Columbia Military Academy and the consequential ability to gauge the various ROTC programs nationally guided my selection of UTC for my military training. UTC had a good academic reputation, but I was proud to know, per Dr. Jolly, that the only two universities ranked higher by the admission boards of UT's medical and dental schools were Austin Peay and Vandy. Again, is my father a prescient? I have had the privilege of knowing a number of my father's military colleagues. My father, quite the reticent warrior, never really expounded on his incredible feats as a jungle operations combat soldier. (I discovered his Silver Star, the nation's third highest award, by happenstance, putting socks in his drawer.) His fellow warriors, however, let me know what an exceptional infantryman he was during his military career, including two combat tours. How blessed have I been? It was the fact my father was a Drill Instructor and MOS 11 Bravo that gave me the edge in my competition for an Army four year ROTC scholarship. How fortunate I have been as his advice and guidance have improved my life and the ability to be an effective soldier. I could not have asked for better parents as my mother kept everything in order while my father was serving our country in, seemingly, incessant deployments for so many years. May God bless my patients and their families and the United States of America. As Ronald Reagan, my CINC, pointed out, our freedom and democracy is but one generation removed from disappearing. I am concerned we are on the precipice at this point in time. Our children must be taught what made this country great, not which pronoun to use so as not offend someone. Further, the destruction of our military, dividing otherwise cohesive fighting units by skin color, gender and other parameters will prove to be very costly when China decides they can go head to head with the United States military. The Second Infantry Division is ready. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lhTE5bsoeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9z3b7vkOpc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9_PSFzi_ZU&t=28s LTC Matthew Lohmeier is a stunning example of the consequences of any dissent to this destruction of our military. As a commander, his admonition of policies that destroy troop cohesiveness was rewarded by being discharged from the Space Force. One must wonder why LTC Lohmeier was relieved of his command. Was it his rightful commitment to his mission or something much larger? The obvious influence China has on our defensive posture is painfully evident. The Chinese military is developing highly sophisticated ASAT weapons and the newest branch of our military, the Space Force, would hinder its stated goal of space dominance and laying claim to the moon. We let spy balloons with incredible recon capabilities to leisurely float over our nuclear silos. What could possibly go wrong? I was proud that my firstborn, Kris, presented me with LTC Lohmeier's book, Irresistible Revolution. I am even prouder Kris is the man he is, a patriot who never apologizes for loving his country. Born at the Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, and surrounded by patriots there and both sides of the family, he had no choice. God bless his mother who provided a safe and wholesome environment for his growth as a young man. My deployments in Europe and the Republic of Korea presented challenges to this remarkable lady; she never complained. Again, I highly recommend LTC Lohmeier's perspective on this clear and present danger. Putin, undeterred by our profound lack of strength and commitment to security, has deployed tactical nuclear weapons on the Belarus border, conflating U.S. antiarmor Sabot rounds containing depleted uranium on the battlefield with a violation of such weapons ban (President George H. W. Bush) . As NATO has diminished since my CINC, President Ronald Reagan, who oversaw a substantial defense rebuilding after the Iranian debacle as well as a concomitant strengthening of NATO and AFE, left office. Worshiping at the altar of climate change (I remember when it was global cooling that was the imminent danger...), Europe has more fear of farmers in the Netherlands using fertilizer rather than China, granted Most Favored Nation status by the WTO decades ago, about to establish a global hegemony. The 90 % of the country who doesn't know or care about the Monroe Doctrine will, I am afraid, soon come to understand why it was enacted. Again, may God bless our troops.