Ray McCauley - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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World War 2

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during the World War 2.

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.

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US Navy AMM 3/c World War 2 Born on 15 Oct 1926, Ray McCauley enlisted in the US Navy just before his 18 birthday on 7 October 1944 and served for three years until 28 November 1947. World War II was winding down, but Ray wanted to serve as a Combat Aircrew Turret Gunner in the US Navy. Before shipping off, Ray completed high school at Hanford High and worked the summer at a ranch in Eureka, California. Ray reported to a special accelerated combat-aircrew boot camp in Memphis, TN. Ray then moved to Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, where Ray trained to be an Aviation Machinist Mate. He then moved to Miami, Florida, for Aerial Gunner Crewman school. Ray remembers learning how to lead a moving target you wanted to shoot. They began the training with a shotgun, shooting skeet targets, and then moving to a training turret. Ray was then assigned to a training squadron in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a crewman onboard Grumman TBM Avenger. This was the Torpedo Bombers built during World War 2 by Grumman. The Avengers had a three-man crew consisting of a pilot, a radio operator, and a gunner. Ray went home on leave after completing his training, and while on leave, his aircrew team was mobilized to San Diego and assigned to one of the aircraft carriers. Ray reported back and was assigned to the next batch heading out but never was assigned to a deploying crew. Ray stayed in Florida and worked at NAS Jacksonville. He worked with base support as a plane captain in the base operations department. Finally, Ray transferred to Naval Station San Diego for his last days in the Navy and out-processing at the war's end. Ray is married, and they have four children.
Ray McCauley - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy AMM 3/c World War 2 Born on 15 Oct 1926, Ray McCauley enlisted in the US Navy just before his 18 birthday on 7 October 1944 and served for three years until 28 November 1947. World War II was winding down, but Ray wanted to serve as a Combat Aircrew Turret Gunner in the US Navy. Before shipping off, Ray completed high school at Hanford High and worked the summer at a ranch in Eureka, California. Ray reported to a special accelerated combat-aircrew boot camp in Memphis, TN. Ray then moved to Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, where Ray trained to be an Aviation Machinist Mate. He then moved to Miami, Florida, for Aerial Gunner Crewman school. Ray remembers learning how to lead a moving target you wanted to shoot. They began the training with a shotgun, shooting skeet targets, and then moving to a training turret. Ray was then assigned to a training squadron in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a crewman onboard Grumman TBM Avenger. This was the Torpedo Bombers built during World War 2 by Grumman. The Avengers had a three-man crew consisting of a pilot, a radio operator, and a gunner. Ray went home on leave after completing his training, and while on leave, his aircrew team was mobilized to San Diego and assigned to one of the aircraft carriers. Ray reported back and was assigned to the next batch heading out but never was assigned to a deploying crew. Ray stayed in Florida and worked at NAS Jacksonville. He worked with base support as a plane captain in the base operations department. Finally, Ray transferred to Naval Station San Diego for his last days in the Navy and out-processing at the war's end. Ray is married, and they have four children.