Winfield A. Dean - Korean War - 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.

Copyright © 2025 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
United States Air Force Airman First Class (A1c) Korean War Winfield A. Dean was born on January 10, 1931, in Picher, Oklahoma. His family moved to California, where he attended and graduated from Point Loma High School. He, known as “Win,” enlisted in the Air Force on December 16, 1950. With the Korean War approaching, the training base at Lackland Air Force Base was full. He was sent to boot camp at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita, Texas, along with three other flights. The acceleration of all training activities quickly moved many recruits through basic training. With a large influx of service members, some, like Winfield, who had higher education backgrounds, volunteered and were selected to instruct basic training using the instruction manual. They received a few days of training, were promoted to acting Corporal, and assigned to the next groups arriving a few weeks later. Win held these duties for about eleven months until the Air Force established a new training center at Parks Air Force Base in Dublin, California, on a former World War II Naval Training Base. Airman First Class Dean was transferred to Parks and taught Basic Training for about 1.5 years until the end of the Korean War. He was then reassigned to the Air Base Defense Command, where he instructed in atomic, biological, and chemical (CBR) warfare and defense. His training included threats, designing protective equipment, detection methods, decontamination procedures, and medical responses to exposure. His students ranged from new enlistees to a class of field-grade officers. While on active duty, A1C Win Dean married his wife, Margorie. He was honorably discharged on September 7, 1954, a few months early, after enrolling at San Diego State University to utilize the GI Bill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and industrial arts. They stayed in San Diego, and Win taught U.S. history and wood shop at Grossmont High School. He was chosen to chair a school district committee that merged shop, accounting, and home economics classes. This joint class initiative built homes in San Diego for many years, teaching students the entire process of home construction. Win worked with the district until 1991.
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Winfield A. Dean - Korean War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Air Force Airman First Class (A1c) Korean War Winfield A. Dean was born on January 10, 1931, in Picher, Oklahoma. His family moved to California, where he attended and graduated from Point Loma High School. He, known as “Win,” enlisted in the Air Force on December 16, 1950. With the Korean War approaching, the training base at Lackland Air Force Base was full. He was sent to boot camp at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita, Texas, along with three other flights. The acceleration of all training activities quickly moved many recruits through basic training. With a large influx of service members, some, like Winfield, who had higher education backgrounds, volunteered and were selected to instruct basic training using the instruction manual. They received a few days of training, were promoted to acting Corporal, and assigned to the next groups arriving a few weeks later. Win held these duties for about eleven months until the Air Force established a new training center at Parks Air Force Base in Dublin, California, on a former World War II Naval Training Base. Airman First Class Dean was transferred to Parks and taught Basic Training for about 1.5 years until the end of the Korean War. He was then reassigned to the Air Base Defense Command, where he instructed in atomic, biological, and chemical (CBR) warfare and defense. His training included threats, designing protective equipment, detection methods, decontamination procedures, and medical responses to exposure. His students ranged from new enlistees to a class of field-grade officers. While on active duty, A1C Win Dean married his wife, Margorie. He was honorably discharged on September 7, 1954, a few months early, after enrolling at San Diego State University to utilize the GI Bill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and industrial arts. They stayed in San Diego, and Win taught U.S. history and wood shop at Grossmont High School. He was chosen to chair a school district committee that merged shop, accounting, and home economics classes. This joint class initiative built homes in San Diego for many years, teaching students the entire process of home construction. Win worked with the district until 1991.