Billy Ball - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series Skip to Main Content

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
US Navy MRCM Vietnam War Billy Ball was born on January 30, 1938, in Burdine, Kentucky, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Billy graduated from high school and worked for Jeffries Manufacturing, building mining equipment and working in the machining shop, hoping for an apprenticeship. A mentor told him the best machine trade school was in the US Navy. Being a Sailor would put him on the fast track. He enlisted a week later, heading off to Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot camp on 6 Aug 1956. Seaman Ball attended Machinery Repairmen A school in San Diego, where he learned to fabricate every variety of bolt, screw, nail, and other parts required for repairs and maintenance, along with a range of other tools and equipment used to keep ships in top shape. After three months, he received orders to his first sea-going command, USS Saint Paul (CA-73). He was stationed there for about three months when he was selected to be reassigned to the MR Shop onboard USS Hamul (AD-20), a destroyer tender home-ported in Long Beach, CA. Petty Officer Ball was promoted to MR2 by the end of his four-year enlistment and decided to leave the Navy. MR2 Ball returned to the Navy after 80 days, deciding that the Navy and its stability were a good deal for him and his young family. He was assigned to the USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853), where he worked in the ship’s repair shop. After six months, Petty Officer Ball was reassigned again to the destroyer tender USS Cascade (AD-16). He worked there for approximately six months and was promoted to MR1. He was reassigned to shore duty at the Submarine base in New London, Ct. He worked in the noise and vibration shop, making submarines run silent and deep. MR1 Ball was transferred to San Diego to the USS Seminole (AKA-104). In addition to working in the machine shop, he performed many duties, like serving as a master at arms and working on the mess decks. He reported to the USS Nereus AS-17 submarine tender, where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and worked for San Diego Shore Patrol as a section leader, the Military Liaison to the San Diego Police Department city jail. MRC Ball reported to the USS Whetstone (LSD-27), a dock landing ship, where he ran the machine shop. He made one Western Pacific deployment to support the Vietnam War, including operations up in the Saigon River. He then served as a Company Commander at Recruit Training Command, San Diego. He trained three companies and ran the company commander school when promoted to Senior Chief. He transferred to the USS Prairie (AD-15) as his last sea duty command and was promoted to Master Chief just after arriving. He ran the machine shop and served as the Assistant Division Officer and the Command Master Chief. His final duty station was at the Machinery Repairmen A School. MRCM Ball was honorably discharged and used his G.I. Bill to earn a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. He worked for Redding Steel as a consultant until deciding to enjoy his retirement. Billy is married to his lovely wife, Judy, and they have four children. Billy earned the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
mickey,strand,photograph,nikon,Z8,REdding,portrait,VPS,veteran,CALVET
Billy Ball - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy MRCM Vietnam War Billy Ball was born on January 30, 1938, in Burdine, Kentucky, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Billy graduated from high school and worked for Jeffries Manufacturing, building mining equipment and working in the machining shop, hoping for an apprenticeship. A mentor told him the best machine trade school was in the US Navy. Being a Sailor would put him on the fast track. He enlisted a week later, heading off to Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot camp on 6 Aug 1956. Seaman Ball attended Machinery Repairmen A school in San Diego, where he learned to fabricate every variety of bolt, screw, nail, and other parts required for repairs and maintenance, along with a range of other tools and equipment used to keep ships in top shape. After three months, he received orders to his first sea-going command, USS Saint Paul (CA-73). He was stationed there for about three months when he was selected to be reassigned to the MR Shop onboard USS Hamul (AD-20), a destroyer tender home-ported in Long Beach, CA. Petty Officer Ball was promoted to MR2 by the end of his four-year enlistment and decided to leave the Navy. MR2 Ball returned to the Navy after 80 days, deciding that the Navy and its stability were a good deal for him and his young family. He was assigned to the USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853), where he worked in the ship’s repair shop. After six months, Petty Officer Ball was reassigned again to the destroyer tender USS Cascade (AD-16). He worked there for approximately six months and was promoted to MR1. He was reassigned to shore duty at the Submarine base in New London, Ct. He worked in the noise and vibration shop, making submarines run silent and deep. MR1 Ball was transferred to San Diego to the USS Seminole (AKA-104). In addition to working in the machine shop, he performed many duties, like serving as a master at arms and working on the mess decks. He reported to the USS Nereus AS-17 submarine tender, where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and worked for San Diego Shore Patrol as a section leader, the Military Liaison to the San Diego Police Department city jail. MRC Ball reported to the USS Whetstone (LSD-27), a dock landing ship, where he ran the machine shop. He made one Western Pacific deployment to support the Vietnam War, including operations up in the Saigon River. He then served as a Company Commander at Recruit Training Command, San Diego. He trained three companies and ran the company commander school when promoted to Senior Chief. He transferred to the USS Prairie (AD-15) as his last sea duty command and was promoted to Master Chief just after arriving. He ran the machine shop and served as the Assistant Division Officer and the Command Master Chief. His final duty station was at the Machinery Repairmen A School. MRCM Ball was honorably discharged and used his G.I. Bill to earn a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. He worked for Redding Steel as a consultant until deciding to enjoy his retirement. Billy is married to his lovely wife, Judy, and they have four children. Billy earned the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.