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.
United States Marine Corps
Sergeant (Sgt)
Korean War
Born on October 16, 1932, in Prague, Oklahoma, Robert L. Whatley’s family moved to California in 1937. With money tight, 15-year-old Robert moved to Gerber, California, to live and work on a dairy ranch. He attended and graduated from Los Molinos High School, also serving with the National Guard before enlisting in the Marine Corps.
Robert and a good friend decided to join the Marine Corps together, shipping off on September 12, 1951. They headed to the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, California, for eight weeks of basic infantry training.
After boot camp, Private Whatley reported to Camp Pendleton, where he attended the Weapons Training Battalion school and Tank Mechanic school. During this time, Robert met and married his wife, Betty May. He and other Marines learned to operate and maintain tanks and various Combat Vehicles (ACVs) including the M32 tank recovery vehicle.
Private First Class Whatley then transferred to Camp Lejeune for training, followed by an assembly at Camp Pendleton before deploying to Korea on the USNS General Nelson M. Walker (T-AP-125) with the 29th Draft. Upon arriving in Korea, Robert volunteered for infantry duty and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, serving as a loader with a mortar unit.
Corporal Whatley was assigned to George Company (G Co), 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. George Company was positioned on Hill 229, a slit trench system overlooking Pyongyang, when news of the ceasefire reached the front line. Robert recounted that around 10:00 p.m. the shooting stopped, and an eerie silence fell. The next morning, they saw the enemy standing a few hundred yards away on the far ridge, observing them as they realized how close the lines had been. Newly promoted Squad Leader Sergeant Whatley remained in Korea for a few more months until he received orders to return home.
While he was deployed, his daughter was born; they first met when she was 11 months old. Sergeant Whatley returned and was stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, where he underwent wrist surgery to repair a break sustained in Korea. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on April 28, 1956. His awards included the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, as well as numerous unit and service commendations.
After his service, Robert attended a seminary in El Cerrito, California. He and his wife, Betty May, had three children before serving as missionaries in Cusco, Peru, where they welcomed four more children into their family. He dedicated many years to mission work and remains active today, creating a museum and traveling to Peru several times a year.
United States Marine Corps
Sergeant (Sgt)
Korean War
Born on October 16, 1932, in Prague, Oklahoma, Robert L. Whatley’s family moved to California in 1937. With money tight, 15-year-old Robert moved to Gerber, California, to live and work on a dairy ranch. He attended and graduated from Los Molinos High School, also serving with the National Guard before enlisting in the Marine Corps.
Robert and a good friend decided to join the Marine Corps together, shipping off on September 12, 1951. They headed to the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, California, for eight weeks of basic infantry training.
After boot camp, Private Whatley reported to Camp Pendleton, where he attended the Weapons Training Battalion school and Tank Mechanic school. During this time, Robert met and married his wife, Betty May. He and other Marines learned to operate and maintain tanks and various Combat Vehicles (ACVs) including the M32 tank recovery vehicle.
Private First Class Whatley then transferred to Camp Lejeune for training, followed by an assembly at Camp Pendleton before deploying to Korea on the USNS General Nelson M. Walker (T-AP-125) with the 29th Draft. Upon arriving in Korea, Robert volunteered for infantry duty and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, serving as a loader with a mortar unit.
Corporal Whatley was assigned to George Company (G Co), 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. George Company was positioned on Hill 229, a slit trench system overlooking Pyongyang, when news of the ceasefire reached the front line. Robert recounted that around 10:00 p.m. the shooting stopped, and an eerie silence fell. The next morning, they saw the enemy standing a few hundred yards away on the far ridge, observing them as they realized how close the lines had been. Newly promoted Squad Leader Sergeant Whatley remained in Korea for a few more months until he received orders to return home.
While he was deployed, his daughter was born; they first met when she was 11 months old. Sergeant Whatley returned and was stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, where he underwent wrist surgery to repair a break sustained in Korea. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on April 28, 1956. His awards included the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, as well as numerous unit and service commendations.
After his service, Robert attended a seminary in El Cerrito, California. He and his wife, Betty May, had three children before serving as missionaries in Cusco, Peru, where they welcomed four more children into their family. He dedicated many years to mission work and remains active today, creating a museum and traveling to Peru several times a year.
