James C. Riley - 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 Corporal Vietnam War James Riley served for four years, from 1963 to 1966. He attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After basic training, he completed specialized training in communications and cryptography through various four- and six-week courses at different schools on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. James's first duty station was with the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Camp Horno on Camp Pendleton, which was initially made up of Quonset huts. He was assigned to the M50 Ontos (anti-tank) battalion. The M50 is a 9-ton tracked, US Marine Corps anti-tank vehicle. During this time, he rose to the position of cryptographer. After his initial unit deployed to Vietnam without him, a delay caused by his taking leave to get married, he was assigned to the Shore Party, Headquarters Battalion. He worked with a Helicopter Support Team, where his primary duty was to set up communications from operational sites back to support units. Corporal Riley deployed to Vietnam about six weeks after his original unit departed and served there for one year. He was stationed at Chu Lai, south of Da Nang. Because the unit lacked a message center, he reverted to his basic MOS in radio communications rather than cryptography. During his tour, he participated in 13 major operations and five company sweeps, often being attached to different units, including the U.S. Army, the Korean military, and various Marine divisions, to provide communications support. After his year in the country, James returned to the States and continued working at Camp Pendleton. Corporal James Riley was honorably discharged at the end of 1966, having completed his four-year enlistment.
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James C. Riley - Vietnam War - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
United States Marine Corps Corporal Vietnam War James Riley served for four years, from 1963 to 1966. He attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After basic training, he completed specialized training in communications and cryptography through various four- and six-week courses at different schools on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. James's first duty station was with the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Camp Horno on Camp Pendleton, which was initially made up of Quonset huts. He was assigned to the M50 Ontos (anti-tank) battalion. The M50 is a 9-ton tracked, US Marine Corps anti-tank vehicle. During this time, he rose to the position of cryptographer. After his initial unit deployed to Vietnam without him, a delay caused by his taking leave to get married, he was assigned to the Shore Party, Headquarters Battalion. He worked with a Helicopter Support Team, where his primary duty was to set up communications from operational sites back to support units. Corporal Riley deployed to Vietnam about six weeks after his original unit departed and served there for one year. He was stationed at Chu Lai, south of Da Nang. Because the unit lacked a message center, he reverted to his basic MOS in radio communications rather than cryptography. During his tour, he participated in 13 major operations and five company sweeps, often being attached to different units, including the U.S. Army, the Korean military, and various Marine divisions, to provide communications support. After his year in the country, James returned to the States and continued working at Camp Pendleton. Corporal James Riley was honorably discharged at the end of 1966, having completed his four-year enlistment.