Jim Potts - 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.

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US NAVY Capt Vietnam Jim Potts was born on March 11, 1936, and served in the US Navy from June 6, 1954, to June 30, 1994, after 40 years of honorable active duty service. Jim graduated from High school in Franklin, North Carolina. Jim grew up during WW2, became enamored with the US Navy, and decided early on that he would one day be a Sailor. Jim reported to boot camp on June 6, 1954, after a two-week train ride from the Carolinas to San Diego. After finishing boot camp, he was selected to attend hospital corpsman school at Balboa Naval Hospital. After graduating from Corpsman School, he selected orders to the Naval Hospital in Corona CA, formerly the Norconian. He served as a duty corpsman in the hospital’s infectious diseases wards for his first six months. He then trained as an X-ray technician and worked as a tech for the next two years. He was transferred to the Navy Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, for his last year on active duty. His wife joined them, and they enjoyed living in Japan until his obligated service ended in June 1958. He was discharged and worked as an X-ray tech when he decided he missed the Navy. He re-enlisted and attended the Blood School/Lab Tech at Balboa Hospital. He then ran the lab at NAS North Island for a year and then the dispensary at the foot of the Broadway Pier Naval Complex, San Diego, for three years, where he was promoted to HM1. He served on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), deploying on a WESTPAC in 1964. The ship was in the area during the Gulf of Tonkin incident and was maintained on station as the US engagement in Vietnam increased. The ship was redeployed to Vietnam for a second eight-month intense operation deployment. Returning from deployment, in 1966, HMC Potts sea duty was complete. He was transferred to a squadron, the VAW-11 “Early Elevens” and served at the base clinic. Jim was commissioned to the Medical Services Corps, as an Ensign on Dec 7th, 1967. Ens Potts served his first Officer appointment at Camp Lejeune Hospital, followed by many successful appointments and promotions. After 27 years as an officer, Captain Potts retired from the Navy on June 30, 1994, having served for 40 honorable years on active duty.
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Jim Potts - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US NAVY Capt Vietnam Jim Potts was born on March 11, 1936, and served in the US Navy from June 6, 1954, to June 30, 1994, after 40 years of honorable active duty service. Jim graduated from High school in Franklin, North Carolina. Jim grew up during WW2, became enamored with the US Navy, and decided early on that he would one day be a Sailor. Jim reported to boot camp on June 6, 1954, after a two-week train ride from the Carolinas to San Diego. After finishing boot camp, he was selected to attend hospital corpsman school at Balboa Naval Hospital. After graduating from Corpsman School, he selected orders to the Naval Hospital in Corona CA, formerly the Norconian. He served as a duty corpsman in the hospital’s infectious diseases wards for his first six months. He then trained as an X-ray technician and worked as a tech for the next two years. He was transferred to the Navy Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, for his last year on active duty. His wife joined them, and they enjoyed living in Japan until his obligated service ended in June 1958. He was discharged and worked as an X-ray tech when he decided he missed the Navy. He re-enlisted and attended the Blood School/Lab Tech at Balboa Hospital. He then ran the lab at NAS North Island for a year and then the dispensary at the foot of the Broadway Pier Naval Complex, San Diego, for three years, where he was promoted to HM1. He served on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), deploying on a WESTPAC in 1964. The ship was in the area during the Gulf of Tonkin incident and was maintained on station as the US engagement in Vietnam increased. The ship was redeployed to Vietnam for a second eight-month intense operation deployment. Returning from deployment, in 1966, HMC Potts sea duty was complete. He was transferred to a squadron, the VAW-11 “Early Elevens” and served at the base clinic. Jim was commissioned to the Medical Services Corps, as an Ensign on Dec 7th, 1967. Ens Potts served his first Officer appointment at Camp Lejeune Hospital, followed by many successful appointments and promotions. After 27 years as an officer, Captain Potts retired from the Navy on June 30, 1994, having served for 40 honorable years on active duty.