Paul Grisham - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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Vietnam War

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during the Vietnam 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 © 2024 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
Paul Grisham was born on Aug 12, 1929, and enlisted in the US Navy in September 1948 at age 19. He served in the Navy for 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant, Limited Duty Officer (LDO) as a meteorologist. Paul’s service included both the Korean and Vietnam wars. After graduating from Douglas Arizona High School, Paul enlisted and attended Bootcamp in September of 1948 at NTC San Diego. He attended Airman Training School for six weeks in Memphis, TN, and then Aerographer’s Mate (AG) A School at Naval Support Activity, Lakehurst, NJ, for six months. Here he learned to prepare weather maps, take weather readings, and make forecasts that might affect the fleet. He graduated as an AG3 Petty Officer 3rd class and reported to the Fleet Weather facility in the federal building in downtown San Francisco. After six months, the office moved to Naval Air Station Alameda, where he served for one more year until the Korean War began. He transferred in 1951 to Fleet Weather Central, Guam, where he was promoted to AG2 during the 18-month tour. He ended his current service in Aug 1952. After two years, Paul received an associate’s degree in Whittier, CA, and worked. In Sep 1957, Paul decided he missed the Navy and re-enlisted. He had been out long enough to convert back to an Airman AGAN – E3, losing two promotions. Paul reported to Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, for a three-year tour. A reduction in force took him to the USS Bennington, CV-20, an Essex Class aircraft carrier. He was promoted to AG1 by the end of this tour. AG1 Grisham then reported to NAF Monterey, where he learned to be a local forecaster for the air station. He then attended B school at Enlisted Forecaster School in Lakehurst, NJ, for six months. After graduation, he reported to Fleet Weather Central, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1965, Paul was selected forChief Petty Officer and LDO and transferred to the eight-week OCS. After completion, he was transferred to NAS Alameda, CA, as the installation weather officer. In 1968, he reported to “Operation Deep Freeze” in McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for 13 months. LT Grisham then transferred to the weather office onboard Naval Air Station North Island. During this tour, he was selected as one of the first LDOs to attend the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, CA, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Science and a Master’s Degree in Meteorology. He then reported as the ship’s weather officer aboard the USS Hancock, CV-19. He served aboard during “Operation Frequent Wind,” the evacuation of Saigon. Paul retired from active service in 1977 as an LT assigned to Fleet Weather Central Monterey, the first computerized weather center in the Navy.
Paul Grisham - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
Paul Grisham was born on Aug 12, 1929, and enlisted in the US Navy in September 1948 at age 19. He served in the Navy for 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant, Limited Duty Officer (LDO) as a meteorologist. Paul’s service included both the Korean and Vietnam wars. After graduating from Douglas Arizona High School, Paul enlisted and attended Bootcamp in September of 1948 at NTC San Diego. He attended Airman Training School for six weeks in Memphis, TN, and then Aerographer’s Mate (AG) A School at Naval Support Activity, Lakehurst, NJ, for six months. Here he learned to prepare weather maps, take weather readings, and make forecasts that might affect the fleet. He graduated as an AG3 Petty Officer 3rd class and reported to the Fleet Weather facility in the federal building in downtown San Francisco. After six months, the office moved to Naval Air Station Alameda, where he served for one more year until the Korean War began. He transferred in 1951 to Fleet Weather Central, Guam, where he was promoted to AG2 during the 18-month tour. He ended his current service in Aug 1952. After two years, Paul received an associate’s degree in Whittier, CA, and worked. In Sep 1957, Paul decided he missed the Navy and re-enlisted. He had been out long enough to convert back to an Airman AGAN – E3, losing two promotions. Paul reported to Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, for a three-year tour. A reduction in force took him to the USS Bennington, CV-20, an Essex Class aircraft carrier. He was promoted to AG1 by the end of this tour. AG1 Grisham then reported to NAF Monterey, where he learned to be a local forecaster for the air station. He then attended B school at Enlisted Forecaster School in Lakehurst, NJ, for six months. After graduation, he reported to Fleet Weather Central, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1965, Paul was selected forChief Petty Officer and LDO and transferred to the eight-week OCS. After completion, he was transferred to NAS Alameda, CA, as the installation weather officer. In 1968, he reported to “Operation Deep Freeze” in McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for 13 months. LT Grisham then transferred to the weather office onboard Naval Air Station North Island. During this tour, he was selected as one of the first LDOs to attend the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, CA, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Science and a Master’s Degree in Meteorology. He then reported as the ship’s weather officer aboard the USS Hancock, CV-19. He served aboard during “Operation Frequent Wind,” the evacuation of Saigon. Paul retired from active service in 1977 as an LT assigned to Fleet Weather Central Monterey, the first computerized weather center in the Navy.