My Grandfather Was A Polar Bear: A North Dakota Dentist In World War I

After learning that my grandfather, Dr. Nines Simmons, fought in World War, I became very interested in learning more. I found original documents and pictures that were packed away after my mom died. Then I found his diary. I also found letters that were written back and forth between him and my grandmother. I was hooked.

Karen Nix

Dr. Nines Simmons

He was raised on a farm near Kindred, ND. Nines was the ninth child born into the family. He worked on the farm, attended school in a one room schoolhouse, taught school to the younger children, played basketball, and attended the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a dental degree. He set up his practice in Harvey, North Dakota where he was involved in many community projects.

When the call to duty came to help out in World War I, Nines attended classes and passed the requirements and volunteered to be sent overseas. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant and placed on the team of the first dentists who had ever served in war.

He was sent to France first, and then Woodrow Wilson decided to send 5000 troops to Russia. Nines was one of the 5000 sent there. I started sharing this information to others and no one knew about this expedition. So, I decided to do research.

I joined a Facebook group for others who had loved ones sent to Russia. I learned so much and I decided I needed to honor these brave men.

World War I was the first war that enlisted Dentists. A lot of people then didn’t take good care of their teeth. They were either missing teeth or their teeth were decayed. They actually needed some teeth in this war because the diet was hardtack which was a hard biscuit, bread or cracker compressed into a very hard chunk and they needed teeth so they could hold onto their gas masks with them. The dentists were sometimes able to make false teeth to meet the requirements for enlistment.

The dentists also went to the Battle lines, administered first aid and carried the wounded by sleighs to the hospital where they were treated for their wounds, often by Dentists. They fought in 60 degrees below zero. The medical team was the final lifeline for the injured soldiers during the battles.

These soldiers were held in Russia long after the armistice because the rivers were frozen and the ships couldn’t get through to the ports. So, the War in Russia kept going on and morale among the soldiers was low. When they finally returned home, they called themselves the Polar Bears.

The soldiers in Russia were appreciated by the people who lived there. Some of them remember the Americans and were very helpful finding the graves of the men who were buried there when the group of Americans went to retrieve the bodies after the War. However, relations with Russia are still tense.

How Did the War Change the outlook on Dentists

The men in World War I fought in trenches. Their heads were exposed to gunfire which left their heads and faces exposed to injury. Dentists were the ones who could do the needed surgeries to fix their face.

After World War I, Dentists were a part of the medical troops. People paid more attention to the condition of their teeth.

After WWI, Dentists were a part of the medical troops in the wars following WWI.

People paid more attention to the condition of their teeth.

A lot was learned about surgeries and other medical procedures.

The Polar Bear Memorial was Established.

Kleenex was invented.

Toothpaste was invented.

The Thomas splint was invented for broken legs.

The wounds of WWI were not anything like they had to deal with before. The Medical professionals learned many lessons about administering medical care and aid during warfare.

The first blood bank was set up in 1917 using sodium citrate to keep the blood from clotting so it could be used and stockpiled as needed. The Hello Girls improved communication on the Western Front. Women who knew French and English served as switchboard operators.

Every year on Memorial Day there is a ceremony in Michigan that honors the service of the Polar Bears. It was dedicated on May, 1930. It’s called the While Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Michigan. The program honors the soldiers from Michigan who helped invade in Russia.

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