Robert Larson - 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
Please email

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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Oregon National Guard - United States Navy Ship Fitter Second Class Petty Officer (SF2) Korean War Robert “Bob” Larson lived in Portland, Oregon. He first served a three-year enlistment in the Oregon National Guard’s headquarters division starting in 1949. He joined the Navy in 1952 to avoid being drafted into the Army after his Guard service ended. Bob joined the Navy in 1952 and attended boot camp at Recruit Training Command in San Diego. He then attended Ship Fitter A School at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, alongside his best friend, Robert Nissome, with whom he served throughout his four-year enlistment. Navy Ship Fitters specialize in structural ship repair and metalwork, fabrication, and repair. They learn to weld, cut, and shape metal for structural repairs and pipe fitting, as well as to maintain sewage, plumbing, and structural systems on ships. His first duty station was the USS Satyr (ARL-23), an amphibious repair ship based in San Diego. There, he worked in the repair division (R). Larson’s duties included performing arc and heliarc welding to upgrade and maintain ships. He specifically worked on LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks), repairing damage such as "messed up bow doors" after beaching operations. The ship was forward-deployed, arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 September 1953, and then operated in waters off Korea. In Korea, the USS Satyr operated at sea, pulling alongside LSTs to perform repairs. One notable task involved repairing an LST that had been rammed from the waterline up to the second deck, requiring Larson to weld raw stock plates to the hull to make it seaworthy. Robert decided to leave the military in 1956 at the end of his four-year enlistment. He was honorably discharged and settled down in San Diego.
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Robert Larson - Korean War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
Oregon National Guard - United States Navy Ship Fitter Second Class Petty Officer (SF2) Korean War Robert “Bob” Larson lived in Portland, Oregon. He first served a three-year enlistment in the Oregon National Guard’s headquarters division starting in 1949. He joined the Navy in 1952 to avoid being drafted into the Army after his Guard service ended. Bob joined the Navy in 1952 and attended boot camp at Recruit Training Command in San Diego. He then attended Ship Fitter A School at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, alongside his best friend, Robert Nissome, with whom he served throughout his four-year enlistment. Navy Ship Fitters specialize in structural ship repair and metalwork, fabrication, and repair. They learn to weld, cut, and shape metal for structural repairs and pipe fitting, as well as to maintain sewage, plumbing, and structural systems on ships. His first duty station was the USS Satyr (ARL-23), an amphibious repair ship based in San Diego. There, he worked in the repair division (R). Larson’s duties included performing arc and heliarc welding to upgrade and maintain ships. He specifically worked on LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks), repairing damage such as "messed up bow doors" after beaching operations. The ship was forward-deployed, arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 September 1953, and then operated in waters off Korea. In Korea, the USS Satyr operated at sea, pulling alongside LSTs to perform repairs. One notable task involved repairing an LST that had been rammed from the waterline up to the second deck, requiring Larson to weld raw stock plates to the hull to make it seaworthy. Robert decided to leave the military in 1956 at the end of his four-year enlistment. He was honorably discharged and settled down in San Diego.