Victor Lopez - 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.

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US Navy BM3 Korean War Victor Lopez was born on December 18th, 1929, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles in 1949. Victor worked in the silk screen printing industry, making Print fabrics. He was notified of his classification as a 1A and enlisted in the Navy on June 5, 1952. Victor attended Bootcamp in San Diego for eight weeks. After leave, he reported to his first command, the USS Lenawee (APA-195), an Auxiliary Personnel Attack ship, Home ported in San Diego whose primary mission was transporting invasion forces ashore. During his tour, he was assigned to the Deck Department, third division. He did lots of chipping, grinding, and painting the ship during upkeep. He loved standing watch during sea and anchor detail. “Driving the ship and keeping the course was great fun.” Victor remembered, “You had to have a good ear and pay attention.” Victor remembers missions during Korean operations, including twice transporting troops from Japan to Korea and transferring prisoners from Korea. Victor and the ship were at Inchon in July when the final truce was signed. They then evacuated refugees and Chinese civilians and assisted with the Dachen Islands evacuation in 1955. The ship returned to San Diego, continuing to train locally. Victor remembered a trip transporting Marines from Camp Pendleton to Alaska to train in their foul-weather gear. Victor was promoted to Boatswain’s Mate Third Class on April 16th, 1956. After three years, eight months, and seven days on 22 May 1956, Victor was separated at the end of his first enlistment.
Veteran,NIK,Korea
Victor Lopez - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy BM3 Korean War Victor Lopez was born on December 18th, 1929, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles in 1949. Victor worked in the silk screen printing industry, making Print fabrics. He was notified of his classification as a 1A and enlisted in the Navy on June 5, 1952. Victor attended Bootcamp in San Diego for eight weeks. After leave, he reported to his first command, the USS Lenawee (APA-195), an Auxiliary Personnel Attack ship, Home ported in San Diego whose primary mission was transporting invasion forces ashore. During his tour, he was assigned to the Deck Department, third division. He did lots of chipping, grinding, and painting the ship during upkeep. He loved standing watch during sea and anchor detail. “Driving the ship and keeping the course was great fun.” Victor remembered, “You had to have a good ear and pay attention.” Victor remembers missions during Korean operations, including twice transporting troops from Japan to Korea and transferring prisoners from Korea. Victor and the ship were at Inchon in July when the final truce was signed. They then evacuated refugees and Chinese civilians and assisted with the Dachen Islands evacuation in 1955. The ship returned to San Diego, continuing to train locally. Victor remembered a trip transporting Marines from Camp Pendleton to Alaska to train in their foul-weather gear. Victor was promoted to Boatswain’s Mate Third Class on April 16th, 1956. After three years, eight months, and seven days on 22 May 1956, Victor was separated at the end of his first enlistment.