Milton Chapman - 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 Air Force A2C Korean War Milton Chapman was born on September 9, 1932, and grew up in San Fransisco, California. He graduated from Balboa High School in San Fransisco in 1951. During his senior year, he spent two weekends a month and two months in the summer in the Air National Guard, rising to Second Class Airman. This time was spent with the 54th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, and it counted as Milton's basic training. He enlisted full-time in the Air Force and stayed with the 54th. On July 23, 1951, his entire unit was activated to full-time active duty status. The unit sent Airman 2nd Class Chapman and a few other unit members to attend the Powermen Course with the 3450th Technical Training Wing at Frances E. Warren Air Force Base Wyoming. At Powermen school, he learned to string communications, climb power poles, set up transformers, repair diesel engines, and supply power to the radar units. This was a lot of information to learn in just four months. Milton returned to Hamilton Field in California but was reassigned even before spending one day on a power pole. Milton had been a musician and played the French horn most of his life. They reassigned him to work with the 561st Air Force band. The band's mission is to provide support for recruiting, military parades, ceremonies, entertainment, and official functions. The band also performs extensively to support Air Force and Department of Defense community relations programs. They played on the tarmac when dignitaries arrived at Fairchild AFB just outside of Spokane, Washington. They played march music in parades and even the Boy Scout jamboree. Milton was honorably discharged after four years and returned home to San Francisco. He attended school on Public Law 550, known as the Korean GI Bill, at San Francisco State to attend college, majoring in Music and literature, but left school in his third year when he turned pro. Milton was part of a vocal quartet, The Axidentals. The Axidentals were a four-piece vocal group consisting of one lady and three gentlemen who met while majoring in music at San Francisco State College. They produced records and performed on the road, so much so that he could not see staying in school. Hits like Love is Sweeping the Country and their four albums are still found online today. Milton also sang with The Hi-Lo’s, The Ray Conniff Singers and The Smother's Brothers. He can be found playing the piano at the California Veterans Home in Barstow, California.
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Milton Chapman - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Air Force A2C Korean War Milton Chapman was born on September 9, 1932, and grew up in San Fransisco, California. He graduated from Balboa High School in San Fransisco in 1951. During his senior year, he spent two weekends a month and two months in the summer in the Air National Guard, rising to Second Class Airman. This time was spent with the 54th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, and it counted as Milton's basic training. He enlisted full-time in the Air Force and stayed with the 54th. On July 23, 1951, his entire unit was activated to full-time active duty status. The unit sent Airman 2nd Class Chapman and a few other unit members to attend the Powermen Course with the 3450th Technical Training Wing at Frances E. Warren Air Force Base Wyoming. At Powermen school, he learned to string communications, climb power poles, set up transformers, repair diesel engines, and supply power to the radar units. This was a lot of information to learn in just four months. Milton returned to Hamilton Field in California but was reassigned even before spending one day on a power pole. Milton had been a musician and played the French horn most of his life. They reassigned him to work with the 561st Air Force band. The band's mission is to provide support for recruiting, military parades, ceremonies, entertainment, and official functions. The band also performs extensively to support Air Force and Department of Defense community relations programs. They played on the tarmac when dignitaries arrived at Fairchild AFB just outside of Spokane, Washington. They played march music in parades and even the Boy Scout jamboree. Milton was honorably discharged after four years and returned home to San Francisco. He attended school on Public Law 550, known as the Korean GI Bill, at San Francisco State to attend college, majoring in Music and literature, but left school in his third year when he turned pro. Milton was part of a vocal quartet, The Axidentals. The Axidentals were a four-piece vocal group consisting of one lady and three gentlemen who met while majoring in music at San Francisco State College. They produced records and performed on the road, so much so that he could not see staying in school. Hits like Love is Sweeping the Country and their four albums are still found online today. Milton also sang with The Hi-Lo’s, The Ray Conniff Singers and The Smother's Brothers. He can be found playing the piano at the California Veterans Home in Barstow, California.