John Macdonald
John Macdonald at his dentist office in Frontenac, Missouri.

U.S. Navy veteran John Macdonald’s work to improve the smiles of hundreds of veterans started four years ago, all because of his heart. No, not because of an overwhelming compassion or affection for veterans—although that is certainly part of it—but because of his actual heart.

Macdonald enlisted in the Navy in 1966, and later joined Underwater Demolition Team 11. He served multiple tours in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in 1970, going on to earn his doctorate in kinesiology and managing a Naval Research Office research dive study.

Between racing in triathlons, raising kids and managing his studies, Macdonald moved home to Missouri with his family in the 1990s and ultimately became a dentist. It was there that, after suffering a heart attack, he first came to DAV for information about Agent Orange exposure. Benefits advocate Thomas Becker in DAV’s office in St. Louis filed a successful claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs on Macdonald’s behalf in 2018 for coronary artery disease.

“I would have never been able to do it on my own,” Macdonald said of DAV’s assistance navigating the claims process.

He became a DAV life member and started attending meetings, where he got to know other veterans and listened to their concerns. One thing in particular struck him: frequent stories about his fellow veterans’ difficulties accessing dental care.

Although DAV supports the expansion of the VA dental care benefit under Resolution No. 018, only veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 100%, veterans with a service-connected dental condition, former prisoners of war and homeless veterans are currently eligible.

“I just thought it was something disabled veterans should have, and I thought, I can do it,” Macdonald said.

John Macdonald and Thomas Becker
Macdonald (left) and benefits advocate Thomas Becker at a meeting for DAV Chapter 1 in St. Louis in December.

He asked DAV Chapter 1 in St. Louis to help offset the costs of the dental work, and in turn, he donated his services, including full or partial dentures, routine teeth cleanings, crowns and dental bridges to veterans.

Macdonald has been running a free dental clinic for service-disabled veterans out of his office in Frontenac, Missouri, for three years. To date, he has provided more than $80,000 in free services to 150 veterans who wouldn’t have been able to get any dental care.

Macdonald said he remembers one veteran who was distraught, having lost all of his teeth before he came for free dentistry work. Having proper dental care can make a difference in someone’s life, he said.

“DAV believes that dental care is an important part of overall preventive health care, and we’ll continue to advocate for that benefit to be expanded,” said National Service Director Jim Marszalek. “But until such time as we’re successful in doing that, it’s amazing to see how our services have helped to inspire Mr. Macdonald to give back in such a meaningful way.”

The path to service is not always straightforward. In this case, it was Macdonald’s heart attack and DAV’s subsequent assistance that ignited a fire in him to want to give back, Becker said.

“He’s extremely dedicated to helping out people,” Becker said. “It’s humbling to see him doing something like this—it’s awesome.”