Dave served in the Navy from July 1958 to July 1962 and was aboard the Southerland Jan. 1960 to Feb. 1961 as an FTA3.

Other duty stations: Boot Camp, San Diego NTC., Shore Duty, Long Beach NS, Class A & Class C FT School, San Diego, CA, Pre-Commissioning Detail, USS Towers DDG9, USS Towers June 1961 to Feb. 1962 as an FT2, USS Taussig DD 746 Feb 1962, LSM 469 Transfer Team Feb 1962 to July 1962.