Dave Rehmann was born in 1942 in Bay City, Michigan, and grew up in California. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on February 12, 1964, and entered the U.S. Navy School of Preflight at NAS Pensacola, Florida, in September 1964. Rehmann was commissioned an Ensign and awarded his Naval Flight Officer Wings on August 1, 1965, and then completed Radar Intercept Officer School at NAS Glynco, Georgia, in October 1965. After serving as a recruiter for two months at NAS Alameda, California, ENS Rehmann attended F-4 Phantom II Replacement Air Group training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar, California, from December 1965 to June 1966. He was then assigned as an F-4 RIO with VF-154 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from June 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 2, 1966. After spending 2,265 days in captivity, LT Rehmann was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was hospitalized at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, to recover from his injuries, and was medically retired from the Navy on April 30, 1974.

His Legion of Merit w/Valor Citation reads:

For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 1966 to February 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, he performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.