Capt. Dave Diefenderfer retiring at month’s end after 30 years

Capt. Dave Diefenderfer said he doesn’t want to retire from the Navy Reserve after 30 years. However, at 62, he’s reached maximum participation age, and his last day is Sunday, Nov. 30.

“I would like to stay in longer, but it’s a young person’s deal,” said Diefenderfer.

Diefenderfer joined the Navy Reserve at 32 as part of the construction battalion, known as the Seabees. He already had a job working in Philadelphia on Navy ships as a civilian engineer. With multiple members of his family having served, he had always wanted to be in the military, but he went straight to work after graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in mechanical engineering.

“I had to pay bills like everybody else,” said Diefenderfer.

It took a few years, but after settling into his job, he decided to join the Navy Reserve. As a college graduate, he was able to enlist as an officer.

“They needed engineers,” he said. “And joining the reserves still allowed for a normal life most of the time.”

Diefenderfer was deployed twice during his time as a reservist – nine months in Iraq and a year in Afghanistan. 

In Afghanistan, he was in charge of a battalion of 600 people. With detachments at forward-operating bases scattered around the area, it’s a seven-day-a-week job, he said.

“Getting deployed to support and defend America was the most rewarding part of the job,” said Diefenderfer.

Diefenderfer is proud he’s aging out of the reserves and not stopping because he’s no longer physically able to do it. He credits working out five days a week and always being active as the secret to his longevity.

“I’m 62 and I’m still beating some of the kids,” he said, with a big smile. “I should be coming in last.”

Diefenderfer’s unit is based out of Gulfport, Miss. The government shutdown has prevented Diefenderfer from going down to drill with his unit one last time.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “I did get to go down in early October and saw everybody, but hopefully I’ll get one more turn if the budget is passed.”

Diefenderfer retired from his civilian engineering job during COVID after 35 years. He and wife Carolyn now live on New Castle Street in Rehoboth Beach in a house that his paternal grandfather built in the early 1930s.

While the house has been renovated, Diefenderfer can remember what it looked like growing up. She said it was a typical beach cottage with a front porch. He has an old end table with a painting of the cottage prior to the renovation.

Diefenderfer grew up in Wilmington, but he and his family would spend every weekend and vacation in Rehoboth.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” said Diefenderfer. “We’d come down in the winter and the only place to go to eat was Grotto.”

When the opportunity came to move permanently to Rehoboth, Diefenderfer said it was an easy decision.

“It's a small town. The pace is a little slower down here. A person can walk everywhere,” said Diefenderfer. “We love it down here.”

Both Diefenderfers have spent time volunteering on city committees and with nonprofit organizations.

“You can’t sit back and complain if you’re not willing to put forth the effort to make things better,” he said.

In addition to retiring from the Navy Reserve, Diefenderfer is about to finish a three-year tenure as commander of VFW Post 7447, located off State Road. Many of the executive staff members are getting older, so they needed help to run the place, he said, so he stepped up.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into running the VFW,” he said. “It’s time for someone else. I’ve done my penance.”

As post commander, one of Diefenderfer’s primary roles is to organize events, which is why he will be emceeing the annual Veterans Day ceremony the post hosts at the Bandstand. He takes the responsibility seriously.

Veterans Day is a chance to honor all veterans who served the country, said Diefenderfer, who is quick to note the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day honors all the troops who never made it home. Those troops are the real heroes,” he said.

A reserve officer since the 1990s, Diefenderfer recognizes his generation of the military was lucky to be treated very well by the American public when coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. That wasn't always the case, he said.

“I'm still thanked for my service,” he said. “On the other hand, Vietnam vets were treated very poorly when they came home as it was not a popular war. Thankfully, the American public now appreciates all veterans.”

Except for a ceremonial ball or event, the Veterans Day ceremony will likely be the last time he will wear his dress blues.

When asked if he can fit in the dress blues he’s had since the beginning, he said, “Absolutely. I might cut back a bit, but exercise is the key to staying young.”