Warriors: Then & Now
** Meet Second Lieutenant Dan Hansen, U.S. Marine Corps **
Warrior Foundation Freedom Station is proud to present Warriors: Then & Now, a special series dedicated to stories of impact. While our foundation is known for helping ill and injured warriors, we are also proud that our work expands even further to inspire, influence and encourage young men and women to serve their country.
Dan Hansen knew he wanted to be in the military from the time he was 12 years old and attending Black Mountain Middle School in San Diego. He had always been very close with his grandfather, who served as a Marine in Vietnam, and his uncle, a Marine Cobra pilot who had deployed multiple times.
Dan and two of his best friends enrolled in the Young Marine program, where they got an incredible amount of exposure to service members, which only strengthened his resolve to one day join America’s fighting forces.
“Growing up, my mom did an amazing job of describing the amount of sacrifice that our service members make,” says Dan. “There were also a lot of Vietnam veterans in my grandfather’s neighborhood, so I grew up hearing their stories as well. Between those experiences and the Young Marine program, I got to meet people who had made sacrifices not for recognition, but to serve their country.”
It was also during his middle school years that Dan started volunteering with Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. He participated in the foundation’s annual Deck the Halls decoration days at Naval Medical Center San Diego, and even helped with preparations for the opening of Freedom Station I back in 2011. It would leave a lasting mark on the young teen and further influence his desire to join the military.
“Through the Young Marine program, I gained a lot of exposure to active duty service members, but at Freedom Station, that’s where I was introduced to our ill and injured warriors,” continues Dan. “That was extremely impactful. These men and women had served their country and paid a price for it. It’s hard to describe why, but it made me lean into my dreams even more. I remember two of the guys I got closest with were Josue Barron and Toran Gaal. I was so excited every time I got to visit them. At the time, we weren’t hearing things about the guys who were coming out on the other side and dealing with injuries. It was really eye-opening to hear their stories and perspectives on life, which painted the bigger picture for me. I followed their inspirational journeys, watching Toran handcycle across the U.S. and Josue play for the Wolfpack. They get up and go after it!”
In high school, Dan decided to take the path of becoming an officer and earned a ROTC scholarship through Oregon State University. He says, “I really tried to develop a leadership perspective early on and throughout college. It’s nothing less than an honor than to stand in front of and lead the people who are making these sacrifices. It not only motivated me, but it helped me understand how important it was to be a good leader and serve those Marines before anything else.”
Dan graduated in June 2020 and was commissioned immediately into Reserve status as a Second Lieutenant. Due to the pandemic, his start date for basic school at Quantico was delayed from October 2020 to May 2021. In the meantime, Dan is hoping to get temporary duty at officer selection offices, with San Diego being his first choice.
Reflecting on how his volunteer service with Warrior Foundation Freedom Station has impacted his life, Dan says, “Meeting incredible people around Warrior Foundation Freedom Station helped personalize the concept of service and my dreams of joining the military. It is absolutely incredible what foundations like these do for injured service members. Hearing the warriors’ stories and learning the lessons they had to share was invaluable. It’s not something many people get to experience, but it’s something that everyone should.”
As for his future goals, Dan looks forward to deployment and would eventually like to be part of a training environment later in his career, such as an instructor at Officer Candidate Training School, so he can have an impact on future warriors.
“To me, being a Marine means representing higher standards in any regard,” says Dan. “When I think about the Marine Corps, it’s not just about the standard qualifications and physical fitness - it’s about how you treat others. Take care of each other and pay attention to the details. When the bullets start flying, the Marines to your left and right are the most important things in the that moment. The opportunity to lead Marines is not something I take for granted. I will push myself every day to try and be someone worthy of leading them, knowing what we do serves a higher purpose and the greater good of our country.”
