- - - Dan joined the U.S. Army at the age of seventeen. After only three months in the service, he got spinal meningitis and was hospitalized for another three months. That made him more determined to regain his previous physical condition. Dan turned down a medical discharge, returned to Ft. Monmouth, went on to Ft. Dix for infantry training, and then went on to jump school at Ft. Benning.
- - - Dan was told by his peers that he was too small for Special Forces, which made him all the more determined to earn his jump wings and Green Beret. Dan graduated from Special Forces training group in September of 1964, and was appointed to A342 as a demo specialist.
His team was first assigned to Bu Gia Mop in South Vietmam at the Cambodian border. Dan had a great love for the Montagnards, as they did for him.
- - - In May of 1965, the team was sent to the camp at Dong Xoai. On June 10th, the camp was overrun by a force of Viet Cong, at an estimate of 3500. Three Special Forces were killed, along with two Navy Seabee's. All of the other team members were wounded. Dan was offered the opportunity to return to the States, which he refused, and was assigned to another team at Trang Sop.
- - - He was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge for his action at Dong Xoai. Before leaving Viet Nam, he received another Purple Heart for wounds received while on patrol at Trang Sop.