David Lutz - 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 Navy Radioman Senior Chief Petty Officer (RMCS) Vietnam War Dave C. Lutz was born on September 12, 1944. He graduated from high school. David faced the draft and chose to enlist to fulfill his service obligation, believing that after his initial two to three-year enlistment, he would be finished. On May 28, 1962, Seman Recruit Lutz reported to boot camp at the Recruit Training Command in San Diego. Seaman Lutz was assigned to the fleet as a striker and reported to the USS Marsh (DE-699), a Buckley-class destroyer escort. He remembered, as a non-rated sailor, spending many hours chipping and painting the ship to keep it operational in the face of the seas. After a year and a half, he was transferred to Radioman A school in San Diego, which is the Navy’s basic training for radiomen. This technical rating involved learning Morse code, electronics theory, and radio procedures. He scored well enough to be selected for advanced training, also known as B school, and was then chosen to attend both the teletype repair and crypto machine repair schools. All of this training extended his enlistment, but David felt it was worth it because of the valuable skills he gained. David then reported to the staff Service Group Three (ServRon 3) aboard the permanent flagship, USS Ajax (AR-6), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. He was promoted to Radioman Third Class, Petty Officer. He served for two years and was assigned to the Task Force 73.5 staff, which was responsible for all underway replenishment during the Vietnam War, often operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. He also served on the USS Klondike AR-22 and the USS Dixie (AD-14), spending many years in the Gulf of Tonkin. In 1972, RM1 Lutz reported to the Naval Communication Center in San Diego as the watch supervisor. During this assignment, David was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He managed communications for the entire San Diego area at the Broadway Pier Complex. David also served at the Anti-Sub Warfare Center Pacific and then at the Naval Air Forces Pacific, where he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. He retired while stationed with Naval Air Pacific after 21 years of active duty. David met and married his wife, Elizabeth, in 1965 while on active duty.
mickey,strand,photograph,nikon,Z8,portrait,VPS,veteran,california
David Lutz - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Navy Radioman Senior Chief Petty Officer (RMCS) Vietnam War Dave C. Lutz was born on September 12, 1944. He graduated from high school. David faced the draft and chose to enlist to fulfill his service obligation, believing that after his initial two to three-year enlistment, he would be finished. On May 28, 1962, Seman Recruit Lutz reported to boot camp at the Recruit Training Command in San Diego. Seaman Lutz was assigned to the fleet as a striker and reported to the USS Marsh (DE-699), a Buckley-class destroyer escort. He remembered, as a non-rated sailor, spending many hours chipping and painting the ship to keep it operational in the face of the seas. After a year and a half, he was transferred to Radioman A school in San Diego, which is the Navy’s basic training for radiomen. This technical rating involved learning Morse code, electronics theory, and radio procedures. He scored well enough to be selected for advanced training, also known as B school, and was then chosen to attend both the teletype repair and crypto machine repair schools. All of this training extended his enlistment, but David felt it was worth it because of the valuable skills he gained. David then reported to the staff Service Group Three (ServRon 3) aboard the permanent flagship, USS Ajax (AR-6), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. He was promoted to Radioman Third Class, Petty Officer. He served for two years and was assigned to the Task Force 73.5 staff, which was responsible for all underway replenishment during the Vietnam War, often operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. He also served on the USS Klondike AR-22 and the USS Dixie (AD-14), spending many years in the Gulf of Tonkin. In 1972, RM1 Lutz reported to the Naval Communication Center in San Diego as the watch supervisor. During this assignment, David was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He managed communications for the entire San Diego area at the Broadway Pier Complex. David also served at the Anti-Sub Warfare Center Pacific and then at the Naval Air Forces Pacific, where he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. He retired while stationed with Naval Air Pacific after 21 years of active duty. David met and married his wife, Elizabeth, in 1965 while on active duty.