Joyce Gourly - 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 Army Specialist 5 (Spec 5) Vietnam War Joyce was born on November 16, 1946, in Arkansas, just outside Fort Smith. Her father, Jack Lee Gorley, served briefly in the Navy. During her childhood, her family moved frequently. She later moved to Southern California, where she attended and graduated from Santa Fe High School in Los Angeles County in 1965. Joyce joined the Army on 30 August 1965, following high school graduation. She attended boot camp at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, a training base for the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). After basic training, she completed Advanced Individualized Training (AIT) in clerical work, specializing in military typing and clerical procedures. Her first duty assignment sent her back to California, to the Oakland Army Base. The base served as a major hub for soldiers traveling to and from Vietnam. Joyce worked as a clerk-typist in the transportation department, starting her day at 6:00 AM and using manual typewriters. Her primary responsibility was typing and correcting transportation details, service members’ names, and destination codes. Clerks were the logistical architects of the war effort, translating strategic command decisions into the essential supplies, troop movements, and intelligence that fueled operations on the ground. Joyce remained in Oakland for the duration of her enlistment and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a Specialist 5 on 22 Aug 1967. In this advanced role, she took on supervisory duties, managing a team of 7 clerks and training new personnel to operate large correctional typewriters. She was frequently reassigned to different sections, such as the medical unit for labeling, because of her accuracy and skill. During this time, she lived in the women's barracks on base. Joyce received an honorable discharge in August 1968 after completing three years of service. She chose not to re-enlist, returning home to care for her sick parents. She received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Joyce continued working in clerical and supervisory roles. Her first job after the Army was as a typist, and she later spent nine years with a company that manufactured stains and lacquers, overseeing office operations. She eventually transitioned into customer service with companies such as Trane and a furniture rental business before medically retiring.
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Joyce Gourly - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Army Specialist 5 (Spec 5) Vietnam War Joyce was born on November 16, 1946, in Arkansas, just outside Fort Smith. Her father, Jack Lee Gorley, served briefly in the Navy. During her childhood, her family moved frequently. She later moved to Southern California, where she attended and graduated from Santa Fe High School in Los Angeles County in 1965. Joyce joined the Army on 30 August 1965, following high school graduation. She attended boot camp at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, a training base for the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). After basic training, she completed Advanced Individualized Training (AIT) in clerical work, specializing in military typing and clerical procedures. Her first duty assignment sent her back to California, to the Oakland Army Base. The base served as a major hub for soldiers traveling to and from Vietnam. Joyce worked as a clerk-typist in the transportation department, starting her day at 6:00 AM and using manual typewriters. Her primary responsibility was typing and correcting transportation details, service members’ names, and destination codes. Clerks were the logistical architects of the war effort, translating strategic command decisions into the essential supplies, troop movements, and intelligence that fueled operations on the ground. Joyce remained in Oakland for the duration of her enlistment and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a Specialist 5 on 22 Aug 1967. In this advanced role, she took on supervisory duties, managing a team of 7 clerks and training new personnel to operate large correctional typewriters. She was frequently reassigned to different sections, such as the medical unit for labeling, because of her accuracy and skill. During this time, she lived in the women's barracks on base. Joyce received an honorable discharge in August 1968 after completing three years of service. She chose not to re-enlist, returning home to care for her sick parents. She received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Joyce continued working in clerical and supervisory roles. Her first job after the Army was as a typist, and she later spent nine years with a company that manufactured stains and lacquers, overseeing office operations. She eventually transitioned into customer service with companies such as Trane and a furniture rental business before medically retiring.