Billy Adkins - 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 Navy Radioman Petty Officer Second Class (RM2) Korean War Billy Adkins was born on October 7, 1941, and grew up in the small town of Macray, Arkansas. Bill enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Macray High School, where he was one of 13 seniors in his class. Bill enlisted in the US Navy, seeing his draft number advance to the top and was proud to join his father and brother, both of whom had served in the Navy. Bill Adkins reported to the Recruit Training Center in San Diego in 1962. He then attended Naval Training Center San Diego for Radioman “A” School, a program that trained sailors to operate and maintain naval communication systems. After six months, he received his first set of orders to the Naval Air Facility Adak, Alaska, an anti-submarine warfare base. He reported for duty on his 21st birthday as a Radioman Seaman, E-3. Within a year, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class before completing this assignment. He returned to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, with orders to the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Bill served aboard during two Western Pacific deployments (WESTPAC) supporting operations on Yankee Station. This was a designated area in the South China Sea where U.S. Navy aircraft carriers operated to launch airstrikes against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Bill was promoted to RM2 and worked in crypto during his second deployment. After his second deployment, the ship was sent to the yards in San Francisco in 1965. Bill volunteered to work with the vessel during the yard period. After six months, Petty Officer Second Class Adkins was honorably discharged in June 1956. Bill met and married his wife, “Paulet,” while in San Francisco, and they moved to Minnesota. Bill worked for the Great Northern Railroad in Minnesota as a telegraph operator using his radio and Morse code knowledge. After one winter, Bill was ready to return to San Diego. He worked days with the railroad while attending night school at the Control Data Institute for programming. After graduation and was quickly recruited by the federal government, working there for many years.
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Billy Adkins - Korean War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Navy Radioman Petty Officer Second Class (RM2) Korean War Billy Adkins was born on October 7, 1941, and grew up in the small town of Macray, Arkansas. Bill enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Macray High School, where he was one of 13 seniors in his class. Bill enlisted in the US Navy, seeing his draft number advance to the top and was proud to join his father and brother, both of whom had served in the Navy. Bill Adkins reported to the Recruit Training Center in San Diego in 1962. He then attended Naval Training Center San Diego for Radioman “A” School, a program that trained sailors to operate and maintain naval communication systems. After six months, he received his first set of orders to the Naval Air Facility Adak, Alaska, an anti-submarine warfare base. He reported for duty on his 21st birthday as a Radioman Seaman, E-3. Within a year, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class before completing this assignment. He returned to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, with orders to the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Bill served aboard during two Western Pacific deployments (WESTPAC) supporting operations on Yankee Station. This was a designated area in the South China Sea where U.S. Navy aircraft carriers operated to launch airstrikes against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Bill was promoted to RM2 and worked in crypto during his second deployment. After his second deployment, the ship was sent to the yards in San Francisco in 1965. Bill volunteered to work with the vessel during the yard period. After six months, Petty Officer Second Class Adkins was honorably discharged in June 1956. Bill met and married his wife, “Paulet,” while in San Francisco, and they moved to Minnesota. Bill worked for the Great Northern Railroad in Minnesota as a telegraph operator using his radio and Morse code knowledge. After one winter, Bill was ready to return to San Diego. He worked days with the railroad while attending night school at the Control Data Institute for programming. After graduation and was quickly recruited by the federal government, working there for many years.