John Holmquest - Peacetime Service - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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Peacetime Service

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during times between major conflicts.

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.

Copyright © 2025 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
United States Air Force Airman First Class (A1c) Cold War Service John Holmquest was born on March 30, 1937, a "California guy” living all over the state. He was raised in the church and took auto shop in school, which gave him some basic knowledge of engines. John joined the Air Force in August 1955. He attended basic training at Parks Air Force Base in San Francisco. Following basic training, he was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois, to attend dental school, but did not finish. John was sent to Thule AFB, Greenland and was assigned as a ground power mechanic. He received on-the-job training (OJT) rather than formal technical school for this role. He worked in a maintenance hangar, rebuilding and maintaining equipment used to start aircraft, such as gasoline engines and blowers that shot warm air into planes. He lived in insulated quarters that resembled shipping containers, with latching doors like those on a refrigerator. Located above the Arctic Circle, he experienced 24 hours of total darkness and 24 hours of total light. The base used "Phases" to categorize dangerous weather; during a Phase 3 wind, personnel were forbidden from leaving the barracks because they could become lost and freeze quickly. His "best friend" during this time was a beat-up acoustic guitar he purchased on base. He played gospel music and songs like "Ain't She Sweet" and "Bye-bye Blues" by ear. After his duty in Greenland, John chose not to reenlist, returned to the lower 48, and was honorably discharged in May 1959.
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John Holmquest - Peacetime Service - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Air Force Airman First Class (A1c) Cold War Service John Holmquest was born on March 30, 1937, a "California guy” living all over the state. He was raised in the church and took auto shop in school, which gave him some basic knowledge of engines. John joined the Air Force in August 1955. He attended basic training at Parks Air Force Base in San Francisco. Following basic training, he was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois, to attend dental school, but did not finish. John was sent to Thule AFB, Greenland and was assigned as a ground power mechanic. He received on-the-job training (OJT) rather than formal technical school for this role. He worked in a maintenance hangar, rebuilding and maintaining equipment used to start aircraft, such as gasoline engines and blowers that shot warm air into planes. He lived in insulated quarters that resembled shipping containers, with latching doors like those on a refrigerator. Located above the Arctic Circle, he experienced 24 hours of total darkness and 24 hours of total light. The base used "Phases" to categorize dangerous weather; during a Phase 3 wind, personnel were forbidden from leaving the barracks because they could become lost and freeze quickly. His "best friend" during this time was a beat-up acoustic guitar he purchased on base. He played gospel music and songs like "Ain't She Sweet" and "Bye-bye Blues" by ear. After his duty in Greenland, John chose not to reenlist, returned to the lower 48, and was honorably discharged in May 1959.