William P. Jansen - Vietnam War - 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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United States Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Vietnam War William “Bill” P. Jansen was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on March 17, 1939. He was raised in Rockwell City, Iowa, and graduated from Rockwell City High School. Bill attended UCLA, where he earned a BA in history and politics. While finishing his Master’s in accounting, he received his draft notice. Instead of being drafted, Bill explored Navy options, selecting Naval Air. After completing his Master’s, and before reporting for training, he married his wife, Patricia. Bill began training in May 1962 at the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” in Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, with the goal of becoming a naval aviator. After completing introductory and basic flight training, he was selected for rotary-wing training at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, to learn to fly helicopters. He was subsequently assigned to a helicopter squadron conducting medical evacuations off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. He and U.S. Marine Corps Pilots flew a Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse Helicopter, operating from the Haven-class hospital ships, the USS Sanctuary (AH-17) and the USS Repose (AH-16), modernized for service in Vietnam. After five months with the squadron, then-Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Jansen was selected to attend cryptological training at Fort Meade, Maryland, just north of Washington, D.C. After completing cryptology school, he was promoted to Lieutenant (LT) and chosen to serve as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Naval Communication Station in Ponce, Puerto Rico. While stationed there, Bill and Patricia welcomed the first two of their four children. Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) William P. Jansen was honorably discharged on May 26, 1966, and returned to Los Angeles. Bill transitioned to a civilian career at Hughes Aircraft in the accounting division, where he worked on the Moon Surveyor program. Hughes built, launched, and landed the seven Surveyor spacecraft, successfully demonstrating the feasibility of a lunar landing. He continued his work on other military projects at Hughes before moving on. Later, Bill worked at ITT Gilfillan, a company that specialized in military radars. An avid golfer, Bill ended his career working with a developer to build homes and golf courses along Mulholland Drive in Malibu, California.
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William P. Jansen - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Vietnam War William “Bill” P. Jansen was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on March 17, 1939. He was raised in Rockwell City, Iowa, and graduated from Rockwell City High School. Bill attended UCLA, where he earned a BA in history and politics. While finishing his Master’s in accounting, he received his draft notice. Instead of being drafted, Bill explored Navy options, selecting Naval Air. After completing his Master’s, and before reporting for training, he married his wife, Patricia. Bill began training in May 1962 at the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” in Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, with the goal of becoming a naval aviator. After completing introductory and basic flight training, he was selected for rotary-wing training at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, to learn to fly helicopters. He was subsequently assigned to a helicopter squadron conducting medical evacuations off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. He and U.S. Marine Corps Pilots flew a Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse Helicopter, operating from the Haven-class hospital ships, the USS Sanctuary (AH-17) and the USS Repose (AH-16), modernized for service in Vietnam. After five months with the squadron, then-Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Jansen was selected to attend cryptological training at Fort Meade, Maryland, just north of Washington, D.C. After completing cryptology school, he was promoted to Lieutenant (LT) and chosen to serve as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Naval Communication Station in Ponce, Puerto Rico. While stationed there, Bill and Patricia welcomed the first two of their four children. Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) William P. Jansen was honorably discharged on May 26, 1966, and returned to Los Angeles. Bill transitioned to a civilian career at Hughes Aircraft in the accounting division, where he worked on the Moon Surveyor program. Hughes built, launched, and landed the seven Surveyor spacecraft, successfully demonstrating the feasibility of a lunar landing. He continued his work on other military projects at Hughes before moving on. Later, Bill worked at ITT Gilfillan, a company that specialized in military radars. An avid golfer, Bill ended his career working with a developer to build homes and golf courses along Mulholland Drive in Malibu, California.