Raymond Flores - 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 Marine Corps Cpl Korean War Raymond Flores was born on May 1, 1932, and grew up in Ventura, California. He graduated from Ventura High School as one of seven children to a single mother. Raymond enlisted in the Marine Corps USMC in August 1951. Raymond and his friend Tito Boy took their first-ever bus trip to the MEPS processing center in Los Angeles before boarding a train, another first, to San Diego. The recruits were picked up from Union Station, where they were introduced to the Corps. Upon completing basic training, Raymond attended Advanced Infantry Training AIT at Camp Pendleton, where he learned to operate larger crew-served weapons and became a heavy machine gun operator. Private Flores was a replacement troop to the 11th Item Company, 3rd Battalion 1st Marine Division. He boarded a troop transport ship for his ten-day Pacific crossing. They hit a large storm, and the trip was rough on this new Marine. They arrived at the processing center on the East Coast of the Korean peninsula. Pvt Flores was shipped to the West Coast to meet up with his unit close to Panmunjom, where he was stationed on the line over the winter months for many periods of bitter cold fighting. Private Flores was stationed on the front lines during the battle of Bunker Hill. He and the unit experienced intense fighting, and Ray moved his heavy machine gun to what he felt was a better fighting spot. Raymond's documented efforts that day were immortalized in New Heroic Comics, Issue #87, which was distributed to keep folks back home informed of the heroic efforts of the fighting service members in the Korean War. Private Flores was awarded the Bronze Star with a V for valor in the Battle for Bunker Hill and was promoted to Corporal. To this day, Ray sadly remembers two teammates, Red and Curry, whom he lost to a mortar attack one night. Ray also lost two weeks of memories after that battle as well. Corporal Flores was relieved from duty in Korea in Jan of 1953. He was first given ten days of rest and relaxation (R&R) in Japan with a buddy and a pocket full of cash. This was his first real experience with alcohol, and it was at the 333 Club in Kyoto, Japan. He returned to the States via a troop transport, arriving at Mare Island. He worked at the retraining command until the unit was reassigned to Camp Elliot in San Diego County, where he received his honorable discharge in Aug 1954. Ray was awarded the Bronze Star with V for Valor, a Navy Commendation Medal with V for Valor, the Presidential Unit Commendation, and other service and unit awards. Ray was married to Mrs. Ida Rayes, whom he met after the war at Ventura College, where he was playing baseball. They were married for 63 years and had three children. Ray worked for Culligan Water Company for 22 years and still lives in Ventura County.
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Raymond Flores - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Marine Corps Cpl Korean War Raymond Flores was born on May 1, 1932, and grew up in Ventura, California. He graduated from Ventura High School as one of seven children to a single mother. Raymond enlisted in the Marine Corps USMC in August 1951. Raymond and his friend Tito Boy took their first-ever bus trip to the MEPS processing center in Los Angeles before boarding a train, another first, to San Diego. The recruits were picked up from Union Station, where they were introduced to the Corps. Upon completing basic training, Raymond attended Advanced Infantry Training AIT at Camp Pendleton, where he learned to operate larger crew-served weapons and became a heavy machine gun operator. Private Flores was a replacement troop to the 11th Item Company, 3rd Battalion 1st Marine Division. He boarded a troop transport ship for his ten-day Pacific crossing. They hit a large storm, and the trip was rough on this new Marine. They arrived at the processing center on the East Coast of the Korean peninsula. Pvt Flores was shipped to the West Coast to meet up with his unit close to Panmunjom, where he was stationed on the line over the winter months for many periods of bitter cold fighting. Private Flores was stationed on the front lines during the battle of Bunker Hill. He and the unit experienced intense fighting, and Ray moved his heavy machine gun to what he felt was a better fighting spot. Raymond's documented efforts that day were immortalized in New Heroic Comics, Issue #87, which was distributed to keep folks back home informed of the heroic efforts of the fighting service members in the Korean War. Private Flores was awarded the Bronze Star with a V for valor in the Battle for Bunker Hill and was promoted to Corporal. To this day, Ray sadly remembers two teammates, Red and Curry, whom he lost to a mortar attack one night. Ray also lost two weeks of memories after that battle as well. Corporal Flores was relieved from duty in Korea in Jan of 1953. He was first given ten days of rest and relaxation (R&R) in Japan with a buddy and a pocket full of cash. This was his first real experience with alcohol, and it was at the 333 Club in Kyoto, Japan. He returned to the States via a troop transport, arriving at Mare Island. He worked at the retraining command until the unit was reassigned to Camp Elliot in San Diego County, where he received his honorable discharge in Aug 1954. Ray was awarded the Bronze Star with V for Valor, a Navy Commendation Medal with V for Valor, the Presidential Unit Commendation, and other service and unit awards. Ray was married to Mrs. Ida Rayes, whom he met after the war at Ventura College, where he was playing baseball. They were married for 63 years and had three children. Ray worked for Culligan Water Company for 22 years and still lives in Ventura County.