Joe Davis - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series View More Photos 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 © 2025 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
United States Army National Guard Private First Class (PFC) Vietnam War Joe Davis was born on September 11, 1935, and grew up in California. Aiming to return to California State University, Fresno, to finish his degree in Education, Joe watched the draft list closely. He joined the Army National Guard in February 1958, planning his active service so he would miss only one semester of school. Joe reported for ten weeks of Basic Training at Fort Ord, California, on February 16, 1958. He remained at Fort Ord afterward to be trained as a U.S. Army clerk-typist. Historically known by various MOS codes (such as 405), this role involved clerical duties, filing, administrative support, and managing correspondence and records. Joe utilized this training to work as a clerk in the administration department at Fort Ord Post Hospital, also known as Silas B. Hays Army Community Hospital. After finishing his first six months of active service, he was able to return to his home unit and classes at Fresno State. He and his wife, Molly, and they were married on January 28, 1960, while serving, and they went on to have three children. He was assigned to his permanent unit with the California National Guard in Fresno, where he fulfilled his service obligation by drilling one weekend a month and attending summer training deployments. Joe returned to CSU Fresno, finished his bachelor’s degree, and earned his teaching certificate. Joe was promoted to Private First Class before being honorably discharged after three years of National Guard service on February 16, 1961. After teaching school for two years, Joe felt attracted to business. He started an electrical manufacturing company, making power boxes and control centers for large construction projects, a career that took him all up and down california including San Francisco, Fresno, and Los Angeles.
mickey,strand,photograph,nikon,Z8,portrait,VPS,veteran,california
Joe Davis - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Army National Guard Private First Class (PFC) Vietnam War Joe Davis was born on September 11, 1935, and grew up in California. Aiming to return to California State University, Fresno, to finish his degree in Education, Joe watched the draft list closely. He joined the Army National Guard in February 1958, planning his active service so he would miss only one semester of school. Joe reported for ten weeks of Basic Training at Fort Ord, California, on February 16, 1958. He remained at Fort Ord afterward to be trained as a U.S. Army clerk-typist. Historically known by various MOS codes (such as 405), this role involved clerical duties, filing, administrative support, and managing correspondence and records. Joe utilized this training to work as a clerk in the administration department at Fort Ord Post Hospital, also known as Silas B. Hays Army Community Hospital. After finishing his first six months of active service, he was able to return to his home unit and classes at Fresno State. He and his wife, Molly, and they were married on January 28, 1960, while serving, and they went on to have three children. He was assigned to his permanent unit with the California National Guard in Fresno, where he fulfilled his service obligation by drilling one weekend a month and attending summer training deployments. Joe returned to CSU Fresno, finished his bachelor’s degree, and earned his teaching certificate. Joe was promoted to Private First Class before being honorably discharged after three years of National Guard service on February 16, 1961. After teaching school for two years, Joe felt attracted to business. He started an electrical manufacturing company, making power boxes and control centers for large construction projects, a career that took him all up and down california including San Francisco, Fresno, and Los Angeles.