John DeVos - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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Betweeners

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during times between major conflicts

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where can I donate?

I have created a way to accept donations to grow the project, use the WWII Veterans Portrait Series Go Fund Me.

Where are you located?

I live in the San Diego area but have traveled to many locations to interview and photograph Veterans.


How Long is an Appointment?

Appointments usually last an hour. But please free up time for Mickey to set up lights and cameras, hold the interview, and take some still photographers for in the project.

Do you accept reservations?

Yes is the simple answer to the question. Each appointment is set up as an individual session. Group sessions have been set up when I visited a senior living facility or many of the California Veterans Homes.

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US ARMY CPL John DeVos was born on July 22, 1931, and was drafted into the Army on 8 August 1953. John graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan and majored in Mathematics at Kalamazoo College. John's draft notice differed from being drafted each semester until he finished his degree. When he received his diploma, he was finally drafted into the Army. John attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was placed directly into an infantry unit. Infantry is a military specialization of military personnel who engage in ground combat. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, regular infantry, and heavy infantry. John was in the Second Army Division, Fox Company, fourth squad. John's primary duties were as an ammunition bearer for a heavy machine gun team. John described the infantry as a constant state of preparation, akin to being in perpetual basic training, honing skills for both field and combat. John was promoted to corporal E-4 during his second year of service. The unit did not deploy and was in a training and readiness cycle. John was then assigned to teach English to the unit's heavy contingency of Puerto Rican soldiers, even though his Spanish needed to be improved. He enjoyed working with the students, which freed the base from the obligation of a civilian hire. John enjoyed playing tennis in his off-time and volunteered to participate in the base tournament sponsored by the Army. He won the Ft. Lewis base singles and doubles in 1954 and the follow-up 6th Army Tournament, winning the doubles division in 1954. John served on active duty until June 6, 1955, when his draft obligation was completed.
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John DeVos - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US ARMY CPL John DeVos was born on July 22, 1931, and was drafted into the Army on 8 August 1953. John graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan and majored in Mathematics at Kalamazoo College. John's draft notice differed from being drafted each semester until he finished his degree. When he received his diploma, he was finally drafted into the Army. John attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was placed directly into an infantry unit. Infantry is a military specialization of military personnel who engage in ground combat. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, regular infantry, and heavy infantry. John was in the Second Army Division, Fox Company, fourth squad. John's primary duties were as an ammunition bearer for a heavy machine gun team. John described the infantry as a constant state of preparation, akin to being in perpetual basic training, honing skills for both field and combat. John was promoted to corporal E-4 during his second year of service. The unit did not deploy and was in a training and readiness cycle. John was then assigned to teach English to the unit's heavy contingency of Puerto Rican soldiers, even though his Spanish needed to be improved. He enjoyed working with the students, which freed the base from the obligation of a civilian hire. John enjoyed playing tennis in his off-time and volunteered to participate in the base tournament sponsored by the Army. He won the Ft. Lewis base singles and doubles in 1954 and the follow-up 6th Army Tournament, winning the doubles division in 1954. John served on active duty until June 6, 1955, when his draft obligation was completed.