Born on July 22, 1942 in Coalville, Utah, JD went on to join the Navy ROTC unit at the University of Utah, which led to a successful career in Naval Intelligence from 1964-1984. During his career, he served on the USS Ranger, at various west coast and Hawaii commands, as an attache to Venezuela, and in the Vietnam war. Following his retirement in 1984, he and his wife Pat lived in La Mesa for 40 years, where he worked In the custom construction business.