Juan Montano - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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Korean War

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during the Korean War

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.

Copyright © 2024 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
Juan Montano was born on June 27, 1926, in Detroit, MI, and ran away from the big city to live on a farm in the Upper Peninsula at 15. Juan joined the Navy at 17, enlisting on July 30, 1943, when his father received his draft notice. Juan volunteered to take his place, keeping his dad at the Ford Motor Company building B-24 Liberators. Juan attended Bootcamp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and, upon completion, reported with half of his company to the USS Bell Grove LSD-2, an Ashland-class dock landing ship in Pleasanton, Ca. After a shake-down training, the USS Bell Grove sailed to Pearl Harbor Hi. loaded the 7th Infantry and headed for Makin Island. Juan operated a landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP), or Higgins boat for the first time. Juans was in charge of (LCVP2-2) as a new BM3, loading troops and equipment on the beach for the first nine amphibious beach landings he participated in during WW2. Operating for 18 months, one beach after another. Sometimes spending weeks with his three-man crew onboard, sleeping right at their stations. When not landing on the beach, his LCPV served to make smoke, screening ships and landing craft from attacks by Japanese aircraft and ships. Occasionally, When onboard the Bell Grove and not in his LCVP, his General Quarter's GQ station was a 30 Cal Anti Aircraft gun. Juan recounted many attacks and Kamikaze runs on his ship during Pacific Operations. The Bell Grove and her crew participated in Nine different amphibious operations in 18 months, including Makin Island, Battle of Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian (3), Leyte Gulf (4), Luzon, Lingayen Gulf, San Pedro Bay, and Iwo Jima many included multiple resupply trips for the ship and then the beach. Iwo Jima was Juan’s 9th amphibious landing. He was assigned to land troops on Green Beach, the first beach below Mt. Suribachi. “The bullets were coming down like rain,” Juan remembered. His sister boat got stuck on Green Beach, and Juan refused to leave them, knowing how to pull him off to safety. When the two boats were free, they returned to no ships in the bay. The Japanese counterattack forced the slow amphibious ships back to the safety of the sea, leaving both LCVPs and their crews to spend two nights on their boats fending off attacks each night. Juan served for 28 months on the Bell Grove, being one of only 282 ships company to serve during all combat operations during WW2. The Bell Grove returned to San Diego on Dec 31, 1945, but could not pull in for his first liberty until Jan 1, 1946, because of fog. Juan stayed in the service and served on many commands, including the USS Merrick AKA-97, USS Springfield CL-66, and USS Dixie AD-22. During the Korean War, he served on USS Naifeh DE-352. Other commands included the USS Uhlman DD-687, the USS Southerland DDR-743, USS Ingersoll DD-652, and the USS Boyd DD 544. Petty Officer Montano was a sailor, and sailors go to sea and serve on ships. He retired from active service on 31 May 1963.
Juan Montano - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
Juan Montano was born on June 27, 1926, in Detroit, MI, and ran away from the big city to live on a farm in the Upper Peninsula at 15. Juan joined the Navy at 17, enlisting on July 30, 1943, when his father received his draft notice. Juan volunteered to take his place, keeping his dad at the Ford Motor Company building B-24 Liberators. Juan attended Bootcamp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and, upon completion, reported with half of his company to the USS Bell Grove LSD-2, an Ashland-class dock landing ship in Pleasanton, Ca. After a shake-down training, the USS Bell Grove sailed to Pearl Harbor Hi. loaded the 7th Infantry and headed for Makin Island. Juan operated a landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP), or Higgins boat for the first time. Juans was in charge of (LCVP2-2) as a new BM3, loading troops and equipment on the beach for the first nine amphibious beach landings he participated in during WW2. Operating for 18 months, one beach after another. Sometimes spending weeks with his three-man crew onboard, sleeping right at their stations. When not landing on the beach, his LCPV served to make smoke, screening ships and landing craft from attacks by Japanese aircraft and ships. Occasionally, When onboard the Bell Grove and not in his LCVP, his General Quarter's GQ station was a 30 Cal Anti Aircraft gun. Juan recounted many attacks and Kamikaze runs on his ship during Pacific Operations. The Bell Grove and her crew participated in Nine different amphibious operations in 18 months, including Makin Island, Battle of Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian (3), Leyte Gulf (4), Luzon, Lingayen Gulf, San Pedro Bay, and Iwo Jima many included multiple resupply trips for the ship and then the beach. Iwo Jima was Juan’s 9th amphibious landing. He was assigned to land troops on Green Beach, the first beach below Mt. Suribachi. “The bullets were coming down like rain,” Juan remembered. His sister boat got stuck on Green Beach, and Juan refused to leave them, knowing how to pull him off to safety. When the two boats were free, they returned to no ships in the bay. The Japanese counterattack forced the slow amphibious ships back to the safety of the sea, leaving both LCVPs and their crews to spend two nights on their boats fending off attacks each night. Juan served for 28 months on the Bell Grove, being one of only 282 ships company to serve during all combat operations during WW2. The Bell Grove returned to San Diego on Dec 31, 1945, but could not pull in for his first liberty until Jan 1, 1946, because of fog. Juan stayed in the service and served on many commands, including the USS Merrick AKA-97, USS Springfield CL-66, and USS Dixie AD-22. During the Korean War, he served on USS Naifeh DE-352. Other commands included the USS Uhlman DD-687, the USS Southerland DDR-743, USS Ingersoll DD-652, and the USS Boyd DD 544. Petty Officer Montano was a sailor, and sailors go to sea and serve on ships. He retired from active service on 31 May 1963.