About Dan Laguna
Dan Laguna retired from the Army in 2001 after 30 years of service as a CW4 and a B Company Flight Lead/Instructor Pilot in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Previously he was a Special Forces Green Beret assigned to an A Team in the 7th Special Forces Group in Panama and later was assigned to a new unit called Charlie 3/7 in Panama that performed special missions in Central and South America. Later he was assigned to the Special Operations Warfare School at Ft. Bragg, NC as a Survival Instructor at Camp McCall working under Col. Nick Rowe.
Dan’s life has been a full of adventures, some good and some bad. Through it all he as managed to keep his faith in God and to also not let life get him down. He has struggled to overcome many hard times that would try the best of men and women.
Dan’s book “You Have To Live Hard To Be Hard” tells about these trying times as well as the good times. Dan was in a helicopter accident in July 1994 in which his best friend, Carlos Guerrero was tragically killed and Dan was hospitalized for months. Later in Feb 2007, while working as a contractor, Dan and his brother, Arthur Laguna were flying separate helicopters on the same mission in Baghdad, Iraq. Arthur’s helicopter was shot down and he and his entire crew were killed. Dan’s helicopter was shot up and should not have been able to make it back to safety but was miraculously able to fly back to the Green Zone. Dan recounts the many miracles in his life and hopes that his story will be an inspiration for others going through hard times and to not give up.
Dan’s medals include the Air Medal in Desert Storm, Legion of Merit, Silver Star awarded by Poland, Master Parachutist, Combat Diver, Special Forces Tab, Drill Instructor Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Aviator Wings, and numerous other awards. Upon retiring from the United States Army he was awarded the Saint Michaels Bronze Award for Courage, Justice, Gallantry and Excellence in Aviation.
Dan’s motto, “You Have To Live Hard To Be Hard” means you must never give up no matter how difficult your circumstances may be.