Linden grew up in the coastal city of Ventura, California where his love for surfing taught him to become one with nature. He attended Ventura Community College and majored in Electrical Engineering where he excelled as an engineering student and won awards.

Although, he had a student deferment, he chose to enlist in the U.S. Army and volunteered for Special Forces and Vietnam. Prior to his deployment to Vietnam, he married and fathered the first of two sons.

Linden as a young Special Forces sergeant in Vietnam was involved in hazardous reconnaissance missions deep behind enemy lines. He served with C Company Airborne Rangers, 75th Infantry and MACV-SOG, 5th Special Forces Group.

When he returned from the Vietnam war, he resumed his college studies but changed his major from Electrical Engineering to Psychology. The war had decisively changed him. He learned the hard way about the reality of war and what it did to people. He was appalled by the horrendous cost in human life both military and civilian,  and the physical and psychological toll it inflicted on the wounded and survivors. He learned a valuable lesson to respect all life, even his enemy.  His long journey as a wounded warrior and healer had begun.