About Danny Lane

Professional Biography

Early Life and Military Service

Daniel “Danny” Lane answered his nation’s call as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War. From 1968 to 1969, he served on the front lines over 300 days, where he was wounded several times during his 150 or more combat engagements. He received multiple commendations for valor including two Purple Hearts and the Marine Corps Combat Action Medal. Upon returning home in late 1969, Danny began a lifelong struggle with what would later be recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—long before the condition was formally named or understood.

Post-War Career in Law Enforcement

Determined to continue serving his community, Danny joined his city’s Police Department shortly after leaving active duty. Over a distinguished career, he:

• Patrolled high-risk neighborhoods, confronting violence and crime head-on

• Sharpened his investigative skills and retired as a respected criminal investigator

• Became a recognized martial arts instructor and use-of-force expert and was a mentor to younger officers that joined the department. His calm demeanor under pressure and dedication to justice earned him wide respect among colleagues and community members alike.

Personal Challenges and Turning Point

or more than five decades, Danny battled extreme anxiety, insomnia, and recurring flashbacks. He relied on sleep aids and alcohol and at times contemplated ending his own life. In May 2018, a massive heart attack followed by a stroke left him severely disabled and facing his mortality again. Danny was diagnosed with Agent Orange a chemical that was sprayed in the dense jungles of Vietnam to help the Marines search the jungle canopy for enemy troops. Forty-eight years after his return he was still paying the price of war. During his extensive recovery, his wife Gina encouraged him to channel his experiences into writing suggestions that proved to be a turning point to rid his mind of the atrocities he had to do under the rules of combat.

Authorship

Danny’s memoirs were named Some Gave It All. It was read and endorsed by Motion picture and television star Chuck Norris. It was praised by military professionals and the Veterans Administration historical archives and recommends it as essential reading for veterans grappling with PTSD.

Writing the book not only helped Danny break the silence on his deepest traumas but also significantly reduced his nightmares and flashbacks and gave him renewed purpose.

He is also the author of:

• American Fighter

• Code of Steel

• The Reality of Combat

• Elite Warriors

*Spy Combat with CIA Officer Hason Hanson

*Police Defensive Tactics of America Training Manual

• Black Silk Pajamas- The autobiography of the First Lady of South Vietnam.

Martial Arts and Professional Fighting

Parallel to his law-enrcement career, Danny pursued martial arts with relentless focus:

• Achieved the US OPEN TKD CHAMPIONSHIPS in 1975-77. He won the world championship status in full-contact karate and kickboxing in January 1976. He went on to win hundreds of tournament awards over the years including the 1994 Seniors Sport Jiu-jitsu Championships, 1996 North American Karate Circuit Seniors Grand Championships in Fighting and Kata and 9 UFAF Chuck Norris Championships in weapons, fighting and forms (kata).

• He met and became a training partner with World Champion Chuck Norris’s in 1980.

Over the years to come Danny became one of his top black belts, as featured in Black Belt Magazine’s Chuck Norris Top Fighters” and chosen by Black Belt Magazine as one of the men that made Master Chuck Norris’s UFAF organization a success.”

• He has been elected to 18 Halls of Fame for achievements in karate, mixed martial arts, and law enforcement. He credits the discipline and mental toughness of his military, law enforcement, and martial-arts training to help him survive hundreds of near-death experiences in the jungles of Vietnam and the streets of America. He continues to fight battles with the Devil’s grip most every night he closes his eyes, but when he abruptly wakes up, he takes a deep breath and thanks God he has been blessed to be alive.

Advocacy, Speaking, and Faith

Today, Danny is a sought-after instructor, a motivational speaker and veterans’ advocate.

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He works tirelessly to:

• Raise awareness of veteran suicide and homelessness.

• Provide honest, faith-based conversations for those “walking through the valley of death”

• Encourage fellow veterans to trust in God’s plan and embrace new beginnings

• After a seven-year absence from teaching seminars due to his medical condition,

Danny—now 76—is once again on the national stage, sharing his physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual knowledge. He offers his time, voice, and expertise to initiatives combating child sex trafficking, supporting homeless veterans, and bolstering his “Brothers in Blue.”

Current Work and Mission

As a retired police detective and now use-of-force consultant, Danny and his wife continue to consult on legal cases, train law-enforcement personnel, and partner with nonprofits.

His life stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of storytelling. He remains steadfast in ensuring that no veteran faces PTSD alone and that every comrade in arms knows it’s never too late to start over.

Personal Life

Danny credits his wife, Gina, for saving his life in countless ways. She stood by him through sickness and health, through every battle with PTSD, and led him on a spiritual journey that opened his heart to the love of God instead of his hate for his sacrifice. Though he still carries the scars of war, life with Gina has given him the love and peace he once thought unattainable.

For more information or to invite Danny to speak, visit:

Website: http://USEOFFORCEEXPERTS.COM

http://www.dannylane.com

Email: LaneInvestigations@Gmail.com

Phone: 606-316-4433 – 304-638-8235