HINDSIGHT: Journal of Optometry History P-ISSN 2374 3271 E-ISSN 2374-328X January, 2021 Volume 52, Number 1 Editor: David A. Goss, OD, PhD School of Optometry Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405 dgoss@indiana.edu Contributing Editors: John Amos, OD, MS, DOS School of Optometry University of Alabama Birmingham, AL 35233 eyedoc@uab.edu Chair Lilien Vogl, OD drvogl@cox.net Board Liaison James Deom, OD, MPH dr.deom@gmail.com Editor David A. Goss, OD, PhD dgoss@indiana.edu Linda Casser, OD lcasser@salus.edu Viktoria Davis, OD viktoria@davismn.net W. Howard McAlister, OD, MPH mcal@umsl.edu Raymond I. Myers, OD rimyersod@gmail.com Jim Sandefur, OD exec@optla.org Optometry Cares® - The AOA Foundation James Deom, OD, MPH Board of Directors dr.deom@gmail.com Hindsight: Journal of Optometry History publishes material on the history of optometry and related topics. As the official publication of the Optometric Historical Society (OHS), a program of Optometry Cares®-The AOA Foundation, Hindsight supports the mission and purpose of the OHS. ON THE COVER The official publication of the OHS, published quarterly since its beginning, was previously titled Newsletter of the Optometric Historical Society, 1970- 1991 (volumes 1-22), and Hindsight: Newsletter of the Optometric Historical Society, 1992-2006 (volumes 22-37). Use of the current title, Hindsight: Journal of Optometry History, began in 2007 with volume 38, number 1. The electronic edition and digital copies of all back issues, indexes, and additional information about the journal are available at: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/hindsight/issue/archive. Manuscripts can be submitted for publication at the journal website (https:// scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/hindsight). Alternatively, a Microsoft Word document can be submitted by email to the editor: dgoss@indiana.edu. OHS Committee 2021 Meeting for orientation and training ca.1980 at the Northport NY VA Medical Center of the initial influx of new VA optometrists hired as a result of Public Law 94-581, which was passed by Congress in 1976. That law removed optometrists from civil service pay grades (Title 5) and placed them in more competitive pay grades (Title 38) along with VA physicians, dentists, nurses and pharmacists. The first Director of the VA Optometry Service, Dr. Ken Myers, is standing in the front row, far left. Standing next to him in the front row is Dr. Robert Newcomb. HINDSIGHT: Journal of Optometry History 1 HINDSIGHT Journal of Optometry History Publication of the Optometric Historical Society Volume 52  Number 1  January 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 9 4 3 12 News 2 Editorials From the Editor: Theme Issue on Optometry 3 in the U.S. Military and Department of Veterans Affairs David A. Goss, OD, PhD Articles Military Optometry from World War I to 4 the Present: An Overview W. Howard McAlister, OD, MA, MPH; Jeffrey L. Weaver, OD, MBA, MS; Jerry D. Davis, OD, MS; and Jeffrey A. Newsom, OD Optometry and the Department of Veterans 9 Affairs: A Synergistic Relationship Robert D. Newcomb, OD, MPH, FAAO Observations on Optometry in the Veteran’s 12 Administration from an Optometric Educator’s Perspective John F. Amos, OD, MS, DOS SPECIAL ISSUE: FOCUS ON MILITARY OPTOMETRY AFOS members touring USS Bremerton submarine David A. Goss, O.D., Ph.D. John F. Amos, OD, MS, DOS Veterans tribute park in South Carolina