Gary Bauer - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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 SSGT Korean War Gary Bauer was born on January 22, 1935, and grew up in Napa, California. He graduated from Sonoma High School in 1953 and enlisted in the Army, serving his country in the war in Korea. Recruit Bauer reported for basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey, California. Basic training and advanced individual training turned Gary into a heavy weapons operator in 16 weeks’ time. He learned to operate and maintain weapons like the 105mm recoilless rifle mounted on a Jeep. He was one of four men, including the gunner, two loaders, and the Jeep driver. Gary is confident this is how he lost most of his hearing. He could also operate The M30 106.7 mm (4.2 inch, or "Four-deuce") heavy mortar. This required a crew of five to carry it into battle and operate it. They could also operate the man-carried 81 mm mortar. Gary was sent to Korea for assignment as a replacement troop. He boarded a troop transport that he recounts was an old single stacker that bounced them around like a cork during the transit. This transit took a few weeks, and Gary and most of his crew became horribly seasick. They arrived in Korea in Busan but were turned around in only 24 hours and loaded back onto the same ship for reassignment to Germany. Privet Bauer rode the transport to Germany for what he felt was a month. They arrived in Germany in the spring of 1954. He was assigned to the occupational forces with the 43rd Infantry Division of the 172nd regiment. This was a National Guard regiment out of Vermont mobilized during WW2. Gary served as a heavy weapons operator infantryman for this unit. The unit was stationed in Munich, Germany, in the old German Warner Kaserne. Former SS troop lodging. This was the army's second largest building, smaller only to the Pentagon. Gary served in Germany for two years with the 43rd Infantry when the Army’s 5th Division assumed command. He continued to serve for another year with the 5th, totaling a three-year tour. Completing his assignment, he returned to the States late in 1956, landing on a troop transport in New Jersey and then riding a military troop plane MATS flight to return to Fort Ord, California. Gary was reassigned to duty as a heavy weapons instructor after being promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, in 1961 to teach advanced infantry with the Second Armored Division. Gary learned to operate M-47 tanks and the M113 armored infantry vehicle. After two and a half years, he decided his military service was complete. After receiving his honorable discharge, Gary bought an apple orchard in Albany, Oregon. He operated that farm for four years. He had stayed in the Oregon National Guard and decided to return to the service as an engineer. He operated with them, earning a meritorious service medal for training service members in the operation of the TOW missile system. He served until completing 20 years of service. He kept the apple farm and served as a state water technician with Culligan. Gary is married and has two sons.
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Gary Bauer - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army SSGT Korean War Gary Bauer was born on January 22, 1935, and grew up in Napa, California. He graduated from Sonoma High School in 1953 and enlisted in the Army, serving his country in the war in Korea. Recruit Bauer reported for basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey, California. Basic training and advanced individual training turned Gary into a heavy weapons operator in 16 weeks’ time. He learned to operate and maintain weapons like the 105mm recoilless rifle mounted on a Jeep. He was one of four men, including the gunner, two loaders, and the Jeep driver. Gary is confident this is how he lost most of his hearing. He could also operate The M30 106.7 mm (4.2 inch, or "Four-deuce") heavy mortar. This required a crew of five to carry it into battle and operate it. They could also operate the man-carried 81 mm mortar. Gary was sent to Korea for assignment as a replacement troop. He boarded a troop transport that he recounts was an old single stacker that bounced them around like a cork during the transit. This transit took a few weeks, and Gary and most of his crew became horribly seasick. They arrived in Korea in Busan but were turned around in only 24 hours and loaded back onto the same ship for reassignment to Germany. Privet Bauer rode the transport to Germany for what he felt was a month. They arrived in Germany in the spring of 1954. He was assigned to the occupational forces with the 43rd Infantry Division of the 172nd regiment. This was a National Guard regiment out of Vermont mobilized during WW2. Gary served as a heavy weapons operator infantryman for this unit. The unit was stationed in Munich, Germany, in the old German Warner Kaserne. Former SS troop lodging. This was the army's second largest building, smaller only to the Pentagon. Gary served in Germany for two years with the 43rd Infantry when the Army’s 5th Division assumed command. He continued to serve for another year with the 5th, totaling a three-year tour. Completing his assignment, he returned to the States late in 1956, landing on a troop transport in New Jersey and then riding a military troop plane MATS flight to return to Fort Ord, California. Gary was reassigned to duty as a heavy weapons instructor after being promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, in 1961 to teach advanced infantry with the Second Armored Division. Gary learned to operate M-47 tanks and the M113 armored infantry vehicle. After two and a half years, he decided his military service was complete. After receiving his honorable discharge, Gary bought an apple orchard in Albany, Oregon. He operated that farm for four years. He had stayed in the Oregon National Guard and decided to return to the service as an engineer. He operated with them, earning a meritorious service medal for training service members in the operation of the TOW missile system. He served until completing 20 years of service. He kept the apple farm and served as a state water technician with Culligan. Gary is married and has two sons.