Dave was born in 1948. He enlisted in the Navy, part of their 120-day delay program, in his senior year of high school. He spent basic training at the San Diego Naval Station in 1967 for 3 months, and then he went to Norton AFB in San Bernardino, California.

His next assignment was in Vietnam at Camp Tien Sha, Da Nang. From October 1967-May 1969 he was aboard the USS Sanctury as a chef/cook. The ship provided responsive hospital ship service to the Marine force in waters adjacent to Vietnam. During a 2-year period, over 35,000 military personnel were treated and over 60% were able to return to active duty. He finished his Navy career at the US Naval Station in Bermuda.

After active duty he went to the culinary institute in New Haven, Connecticut for 1 year, and then to chef school at the National Academy of Science in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. From 1973-1975 he went to the hotel & restaurant administration at the University of New Haven, and then back to Colorado as a chef until 1978. Dave then sold insurance for 30 years, worked as a limo driver for 3 years, and finally as a supervisor for a security company, retiring in 2014. He is now President of the Vietnam Veterans of America.