Veteran Spotlight: Navy Lt. Dan White

FALMOUTH, Mass. — Dan White served his country in the Navy for seven years in the 1980s, attaining the rank of lieutenant. 

 

He grew up in Falmouth and graduated from Falmouth High School and the U.S Naval Academy.

 

"I wouldn't have had the chance to go into the Navy if it wasn't for my dad, a Navy mineman and World War II disabled veteran," he said. "You need a congressional nomination from a congressman or senator. I received a personal letter from President Ronald Reagan and was able to get in."

 

White would do his basic training at the Naval Academy. 

 

"It was very difficult for sure, it was a complete butt-kicking, humbling experience. I referred back to my high school coaches, Buddy Ferreira and Bruce Cranshaw — they taught me

tenacity," he said. "Sometimes you lose the war but win the battle."  

 

His first assignment would be on the USS Gary FFG-51 out of Long Beach, Calif., and he would also serve as operations officer on the USS Savannah AOR-4 before being deployed

to the Persian Gulf, where his ship was part of Operation Praying Mantis. 

 

The 1988 operation was a response to the guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts hitting a mine while escorting oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. Iran was accused of mining international waters and the U.S. military damaged or destroyed two Iranian oil platforms and several ships and fighter jets. 

 

"You knew you were going to get deployed so there wasn't much you could do," White said. "I was married at the time and you worry about leaving your family behind but you just do what you have to do."

 

He share this extremely powerful story on his first deployment. 

 

"Iraq and Iran were at war and our job was to protect two Navy SEAL barges in the northern Persian Gulf — they were actually sitting ducks," he said. "Iran fired two Silkworm missiles, the size of our ship, at us. If they hit our ship, it would disintergrate immediately.

 

"We were called to battle stations where I was in my position at the chaff launcher — it shoots up huge sheets of metal to make it look like a ship and deflect the missiles. They kept giving us the countdown on the closeness of the rapidly advancing missile that was locked on us — 10 miles, to 5 miles, to 3 miles, and finally down to one mile. 

 

"I got down on my hands and knees, drenched in sweat and prayed the Hail Mary. Halfway through I got up and stopped and went back to help the guys. The missile was finally led away from our ship. It was an incredibly scary situation."

 

How were the holidays? "Very difficult, but you learned about service," White said. "It's still

ingrained in my mind today. My parents always taught me to keep a stiff upper lip, do it and get it done." 

 

What was the entertainment like? "When I was at the Naval Academy, they had 38 Special come in, overseas, we were always underway. When we did stop it was for gas or at some ungodly remote place that nobody cared about. One time we stopped in Djibouti in east Africa."

 

 

Mentors? "All the way back for me in the Navy, you had to learn from people above. Eliott Powell was my first boss, Dallas Bethea was my first captain and Pete Roberts was my commanding officer — all great mentors," he recalled. 

 

His second duty station would take him back to the Naval Academy where he taught celestial navigation, engineering and basic navigation.

 

Thoughts on his service in the Navy? "For the most part, it was very humbling. My part was small. I've got friends that are true heroes, they've been shot at and have been combat warriors," he said. "It just makes me want to help others even more." 

 

White has continued to serve and make an impact on people as a founding board member and vice president of U.S. Academy, a board member of Friends of Navy Hockey and Pets4Vets, a leading charity in the assistance of military veterans transition into public life, and a longtime volunteer at Sarah's House at Fort Meade in Maryland, which offers shelter to woman and children in abusive relationships. 

 

He is the proud father of two sons, Mitch and Brooks.

 

Lt. Dan White, thank you for your service to our great country.

 

Wayne Soares is the host of the popular new veterans cooking show, "The Mess Hall" that airs Saturdays on NBC's NECN at 9:30 a.m. He also entertains our troops around the globe and is the host and producer of the Vietnam veterans documentary "Silent Dignity – The Chapter That Never Ends." He can be reached at waynesoares1@gmail.com.