Gary Tsosie - 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
Please email

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 Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Vietnam War Gary was born on April 4, 1952, and grew up in Castle View, Arizona. He is a Navajo member and graduated from Winslow High School in 1971. Gary joined the Marines in 1971 and finished boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. After boot camp, he attended advanced training at Camp Pendleton, where he learned field skills like shooting, hiking, and setting up camp. He then went to electrician school for about two months. Private Tsosies’ first assignment was at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, serving with the MAG-11 headquarters group as an electrician. He was stationed there for only a month before his application for Marine Security Guard / Embassy duty was accepted. Gary completed the course at Quantico, Virginia, before shipping off to Vietnam. Gary was assigned to the embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, where he served from 1971 to 1975. He was present during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, witnessing North Vietnamese tanks breach the gates of the presidential palace before he was evacuated by plane to Seattle. After returning from Vietnam, Gary continued his service at various duty stations. He attended the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics course in May 1978, the journeyman course in November 1080, and the Maintenance Management course in August of 1990. Gary was later stationed in Barstow, California, where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant before completing 20 years of active duty and retiring with an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on March 9, 1991. SSGT Tsosie received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Good Conduct Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, both rifle and pistol sharpshooter badges, and numerous unit and other service awards. After completing his service, Gary attended the University of California, San Marcos, and earned a degree in “culture." He later worked in maintenance at a medical clinic in San Marcos.
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Gary Tsosie - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Vietnam War Gary was born on April 4, 1952, and grew up in Castle View, Arizona. He is a Navajo member and graduated from Winslow High School in 1971. Gary joined the Marines in 1971 and finished boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. After boot camp, he attended advanced training at Camp Pendleton, where he learned field skills like shooting, hiking, and setting up camp. He then went to electrician school for about two months. Private Tsosies’ first assignment was at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, serving with the MAG-11 headquarters group as an electrician. He was stationed there for only a month before his application for Marine Security Guard / Embassy duty was accepted. Gary completed the course at Quantico, Virginia, before shipping off to Vietnam. Gary was assigned to the embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, where he served from 1971 to 1975. He was present during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, witnessing North Vietnamese tanks breach the gates of the presidential palace before he was evacuated by plane to Seattle. After returning from Vietnam, Gary continued his service at various duty stations. He attended the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics course in May 1978, the journeyman course in November 1080, and the Maintenance Management course in August of 1990. Gary was later stationed in Barstow, California, where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant before completing 20 years of active duty and retiring with an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on March 9, 1991. SSGT Tsosie received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Good Conduct Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, both rifle and pistol sharpshooter badges, and numerous unit and other service awards. After completing his service, Gary attended the University of California, San Marcos, and earned a degree in “culture." He later worked in maintenance at a medical clinic in San Marcos.