James Baker - 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.

Copyright © 2025 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
United States Army Specialist Five (SP5) Korean War James Baker was born in San Diego on June 27, 1941. He graduated from San Diego State with a B.S. in Chemistry and was working for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Los Angeles when he received his draft notice on Christmas Eve 1965. After saying goodbye to his wife, Carolynn, he reported to Fort Bliss, Texas, for boot camp on January 12, 1966. Upon completing boot camp, Private Baker’s chemistry background led to an immediate assignment at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, beginning April 1, 1966. He served as a scientific and engineering assistant and lab technician for the Army’s chemical warfare section, a role for which his prior education was considered highly valuable. As a specialist, Baker’s team conducted field tests to assess the effectiveness of biological and chemical weapons. Their process involved placing 3,000 to 4,000 air samplers across the test range before detonation. Baker and his team collected and logged these samplers, documenting the weapons’ efficacy. The lab team—a mix of officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian technicians—focused on evaluating materials developed by the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service. Specialist Baker was promoted to senior technician before finishing his two-year tour and was honorably discharged on June 11, 1968. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Expert Badges. After serving in the military, Jim returned to San Diego and spent 29 years working for Kelco, a company originally focused on kelp harvesting. He collaborated with engineers who harvested and tested kelp and helped bring Xanthan gum—a product now widely used as a food thickener and stabilizer—into commercial production.
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James Baker - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Army Specialist Five (SP5) Korean War James Baker was born in San Diego on June 27, 1941. He graduated from San Diego State with a B.S. in Chemistry and was working for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Los Angeles when he received his draft notice on Christmas Eve 1965. After saying goodbye to his wife, Carolynn, he reported to Fort Bliss, Texas, for boot camp on January 12, 1966. Upon completing boot camp, Private Baker’s chemistry background led to an immediate assignment at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, beginning April 1, 1966. He served as a scientific and engineering assistant and lab technician for the Army’s chemical warfare section, a role for which his prior education was considered highly valuable. As a specialist, Baker’s team conducted field tests to assess the effectiveness of biological and chemical weapons. Their process involved placing 3,000 to 4,000 air samplers across the test range before detonation. Baker and his team collected and logged these samplers, documenting the weapons’ efficacy. The lab team—a mix of officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian technicians—focused on evaluating materials developed by the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service. Specialist Baker was promoted to senior technician before finishing his two-year tour and was honorably discharged on June 11, 1968. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Expert Badges. After serving in the military, Jim returned to San Diego and spent 29 years working for Kelco, a company originally focused on kelp harvesting. He collaborated with engineers who harvested and tested kelp and helped bring Xanthan gum—a product now widely used as a food thickener and stabilizer—into commercial production.