Jan Kratochvil - 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
US Army SGT Korean War Jan Kratochvil was born on Jan 23rd, 1931, and grew up in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Jan left Prague after his parents passed away. He was working in cost accounting for a few companies. He moved to Germany and decided that life in Europe was not for him. He worked for the railways in Australia and wished to reunite with members of this extended family in the US. He learned about Public Law 597, which permitted non-residents to enlist in the US Army. In 1953 he reported to Fort Dix for Basic training to become an infantry soldier. After graduating from Basic training, he stated he could type. Volunteering him as a company clerk. He worked in a student company at Fort Benning George, where officers attended Company Commander School. He then volunteered for duty in Europe and was assigned to the 594th Field Artillery Battalion in Giessen, Germany. He served as a company clerk with that unit and was promoted to Specialist. After a very good inspection result, he was offered orders to serve with the Inspector General Office of the Army 5th Corp keeping him in Germany. Jan was in charge of the HQ Adjutant Generals / Personnel Action Group. In Charge of enlisted personnel administration, he met and helped Private First Class Elvis Presley with an Army personnel action. Doing such a good job in Europe with the Adjutant Generals Office, Jan was offered a position at the Adjutant General's School in Fort Bennington, GA today Fort Moore. Here SGT Kratochvil worked with incoming ROTC students for his last year in the service. He left the service after five years in June 1958 with his wife Margit and son Jan Jr.
Jan Kratochvil - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army SGT Korean War Jan Kratochvil was born on Jan 23rd, 1931, and grew up in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Jan left Prague after his parents passed away. He was working in cost accounting for a few companies. He moved to Germany and decided that life in Europe was not for him. He worked for the railways in Australia and wished to reunite with members of this extended family in the US. He learned about Public Law 597, which permitted non-residents to enlist in the US Army. In 1953 he reported to Fort Dix for Basic training to become an infantry soldier. After graduating from Basic training, he stated he could type. Volunteering him as a company clerk. He worked in a student company at Fort Benning George, where officers attended Company Commander School. He then volunteered for duty in Europe and was assigned to the 594th Field Artillery Battalion in Giessen, Germany. He served as a company clerk with that unit and was promoted to Specialist. After a very good inspection result, he was offered orders to serve with the Inspector General Office of the Army 5th Corp keeping him in Germany. Jan was in charge of the HQ Adjutant Generals / Personnel Action Group. In Charge of enlisted personnel administration, he met and helped Private First Class Elvis Presley with an Army personnel action. Doing such a good job in Europe with the Adjutant Generals Office, Jan was offered a position at the Adjutant General's School in Fort Bennington, GA today Fort Moore. Here SGT Kratochvil worked with incoming ROTC students for his last year in the service. He left the service after five years in June 1958 with his wife Margit and son Jan Jr.