Daniel Lopez Munoz

When the attack on Pearl Harbor brought World War II to the United States, Dan was a teenager attending high school in San Fernando.  On July 25, 1945, after graduating from high school, Dan, with two friends, immediately went to the Navy Recruiting Station and enlisted. As he was only 16 years old, his mother had to sign legal permission for him to join the armed forces. 

Once he enlisted, he was sent to the Naval training Center in San Diego.  Due to his ability to learn speed code and to use the code sending instrument, he was designated as a Radio Operator and assigned to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. From 1945 -1947 he was assigned to the War Room, which was the center of communications that maintained contact with the fleet in port and at sea.  He was released from active duty in 1947. 

When the Korean Conflict erupted, Dan, who was in the Naval Reserve, was recalled to active duty in October 1950 where he served on the aircraft carriers, USS Princeton and the USS Bon Homme Richard.  At the end of the Korean Conflict, Dan was assigned to shore duty peace assignments.

During the Viet Nam War, starting in 1964, Dan had a variety of assignments in the Gulf of Tonkin, which included serving on several destroyers.  Dan also served as an instructor of foreign officers teaching them how to use   code encryption machines in the Operations Department of the Naval Air Station, North Island, and served  with the Commander Carrier Division, Sangley Point Naval Air Station, in the Philippines.   

When the attack on Pearl Harbor brought World War II to the United States, Dan was a teenager attending high school in San Fernando.  On July 25, 1945, after graduating from high school, Dan, with two friends, immediately went to the Navy Recruiting Station and enlisted. As he was only 16 years old, his mother had to sign legal permission for him to join the armed forces. 

Once he enlisted, he was sent to the Naval training Center in San Diego.  Due to his ability to learn speed code and to use the code sending instrument, he was designated as a Radio Operator and assigned to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. From 1945 -1947 he was assigned to the War Room, which was the center of communications that maintained contact with the fleet in port and at sea.  He was released from active duty in 1947. 

When the Korean Conflict erupted, Dan, who was in the Naval Reserve, was recalled to active duty in October 1950 where he served on the aircraft carriers, USS Princeton and the USS Bon Homme Richard.  At the end of the Korean Conflict, Dan was assigned to shore duty peace assignments.

During the Viet Nam War, starting in 1964, Dan had a variety of assignments in the Gulf of Tonkin, which included serving on several destroyers.  Dan also served as an instructor of foreign officers teaching them how to use   code encryption machines in the Operations Department of the Naval Air Station, North Island, and served  with the Commander Carrier Division, Sangley Point Naval Air Station, in the Philippines.   

Dan was promoted to Chief September 1958 and later achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Dan served his country for twenty-two years. With the love and support of his wife, Lydia, Dan balanced serving his country with the responsibilities of being the father of six.    During his time of service, he also pursued and increased his academic and professional ability through formal study at San Diego Mesa College.   

After retiring from the Navy in 1969, Dan followed his educational dreams and graduated from UCSD, and received his Master’s Degree from USIU.   His post-retirement years were filled with involvement in local politics, the Chicano movement, and serving as publisher and editor of La Prensa San Diego, and enjoying his family.