Dan Carmichael was born on October 24, 1918, in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, with a bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1941, and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve V5 Flight Training Program on March 18, 1942. Carmichael went on active duty on May 19, 1942, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator on March 1, 1943. After attending additional training at NAS Miami, Florida, and at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, he served as an F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat pilot with VF-2 from that squadron's establishment on June 1, 1943, until January 1945. During this time, LtJg Carmichael deployed aboard the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-12), and was credited with the destruction of 9 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 damaged. His next assignment was as an F6F pilot with VBF-12 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) from January to May 1945, and during this time he was credited with the destruction of an additional 4 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, for a total of 13 destroyed and 1 damaged during World War II. His final assignment was as an F4U Corsair pilot with VBF-98 at NAS Los Alamitos, California, from May 1945 until he left active duty and entered the U.S. Navy Reserve on November 20, 1945. He retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve with the rank of Captain on June 1, 1965. Dan Carmichael died on July 31, 2014.

His 2nd Silver Star Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron TWELVE, attached to the U.S.S. RANDOLPH, in action against enemy forces in the vicinity of Tokyo, Japan, on February 16, 1945. Leading his division in repeated rocket and strafing runs on a hostile airfield, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade), Carmichael contributed materially to the success of the mission in inflicting severe damage on numerous aircraft and installations. Counterattacked by a Japanese fighter force, he personally shot down two of the hostile planes and directed his division in destroying the rest. By his courage and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Carmichael upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.