Every now and then, George Lundstrom would see an article about men who rejoined the military after having been retired.

“A lot of them were Vietnam veterans who volunteered to go to Iraq because they didn’t want to see the current soldiers treated the way they were when they returned from duty,” Lundstrom said.

The Albert Lea dentist said he always thought that if he didn’t have responsibilities, he would volunteer to go. After all, he flew planes for the Navy during the Vietnam War.

The idea was never far out of his mind. When Lundstrom, who graduated from dental school in 1976, went to dental conventions, he always stopped at the military recruitment tables. But when the topic of his age would come up, the recruiters would always tell him he was too old.

This past March, when he was at a dental meeting in Arizona, he stopped at the National Guard recruitment table.

“It was the usual questions and answers, but this time, they told me I could get an age waiver,” the 64-year-old Lundstrom said, adding the Guard was in need of dentists.

He left his e-mail with the recruiter, and a few weeks later, he was contacted by Capt. Ann Chilson, a medical officer recruiter.

He filled out a large stack of paperwork, was interviewed, and finally accepted.

On Monday, Lundstrom was commissioned as a captain in the Minnesota National Guard. His wife, Madeleine, his dental staff, neighbors, friends and other acquaintances were on hand for the swearing-in ceremony at the Albert Lea National Guard Armory.

Chilson, who administered the oath to Lundstrom, said he’s always been a mainstay and of great service to the National Guard already, providing dental care to many Guard members and their families, often free of charge during deployment.

“That’s the kind of community leader we love to have,” said Chilson.

She also recognized his wife and dental staff for their part in the process.

“We don’t do this by ourselves,” she said.

Chilson presented Lundstrom with his National Guard patch and captain’s bars.

Lundstrom thanked all those who attended. “This is a proud moment in my life,” he said.

“I think this is something that will always be in my heart. I’m glad I can help out in some way.”

Lundstrom said he will be providing dental care to National Guard members one weekend a month at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, evaluating soldiers to be deployed and correcting any dental problems.

“The goal is to minimize any problems overseas,” Lundstrom said.

He stressed that he is not retiring from his regular dental practice and will only have to be gone one additional week in the winter and one additional week in the summer.

He is the eighth Dental Corps officer, Chilson said, adding there are also six dental students from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry who are active in the Dental Corps.

“That’s a new initiative that’s doing very well,” Chilson said of the partnership with the dental school.

Lundstrom’s first weekend of duty is Aug. 7-9.