Patient Experience: MSgt. Frederick Montney III

“I can’t encourage Veterans enough to have them come to this medical center for their mental health, physical health, and dental care needs,” said Montney.

Montney has been coming to Wilmington since 1996 shortly after he separated from the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Montney served from 1974 to 1996 in the U.S. Marine Corps in communications, cryptology, and intelligence.

He began receiving dental care at Wilmington 15 years ago and began his dental care under Prosthodontist Dr. Marina Sauco in 2020. Since then, he has seen a vast improvement in his dental care.

“All too many times we only hear about the bad or negative things,” said Montney. “I’m sending praise and appreciations to the entire group under the outstanding leadership and direction of Dr. Sauco.”

With the help of her team, she was able to rebuild his bottom teeth and fix his top denture.

“He had very demanding dental needs that fell within my specialty’s scope of practice,” said Sauco. “I believe we both share an honesty and directness that has made my interactions with him rewarding.”

Dr. Sauco has been with the VA a total of 15 years. As a former military leader, Montney compares Dr. Sauco’s leadership style to his own when he was a master sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“She always strives to do her best and expects the same from her personnel. I have seen under her leadership how things have gotten so much better with the morale and attitude in the Dental Clinic.”

In previous years Mr. Montney has been a volunteer at the Wilmington VAMC and has donated his time in our Community Living Center as a blackjack dealer and assisted in restoring a baby grand piano 2019 that was previously housed in our lobby area.

“This is my VA Hospital,” said Montney. “When I believe in something, it is 100 percent, that’s why I come here.”

Learn how you can send in your Veteran Experience contact pao.wilmington@va.gov