Joesph Durris - 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.

Copyright © 2024 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
US Navy YN3 World War 2 Joseph “Joe” Duris was born on April 21, 1927, one of Nine Children in Ford City, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the US Navy on January 4th, 1944. He was shipped to boot camp before his graduation ceremony, so his sister walked for him. Joe attended Boot Camp in Sampson, New York, one of 411,420 Navy recruits trained there before serving during World War 2. Joe reported to his first Sea command, the repair ship USS Telamon (ARB-8) Home ported in Pearl Harbor, HI.  The USS Telamon was an LST-542-class tank landing ship converted as one of twelve Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ships. The ship's Front loading dock was welded shut, turning the tank bay into a massive repair shop, and additional heavy lifts and other repair equipment were fitted to her deck. Joe reported as a deck seaman whose primary duties included the care and maintenance of the ship; this included chipping, grinding, and painting everything that did not move. Joe and the crew of The Uss Tellamon became part of the Service Squadron 10 (ServRon) stationed at Guam until the war's end. Joe worked on these duties but became a Yeoman one day when the “Big Chief” came on deck and asked, “Who here can type.” Joe answered quickly, “I can,” knowing it would get him off the deck and into an office. Joe worked on all the documents for the Deck department and his Chief for the remaining time in the command. Joe was eventually designated as a Yeoman and was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class, sewing on the coveted Petty Officers Crow on the uniform you see in his hands. Joe remembers a massive typhoon that he and the flat bottom, amphibious Telamon, had to ride out at sea before arriving in the Pacific operating area. Joe and every sailor on board the USS Telamon lent in to repair battle damage on ships that came alongside for service to repair battle damage, including bulkhead and door repair. Joe remembered they fixed or installed so many doors on the ships they were servicing that all hands had to pitch on door detail. After the end of World War 2, Joe and the crew took part in Operation Crossroads at the Bikini Atoll on 21 June 1946. Operation Crossroads was a pair of Nuclear bomb tests designed to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on warships. Joe and the crew were secured and far off the detonations but participated in the active live test of the bomb on our fleet. Joe returned to the US and was released after 18 months of active service. He attended College on the GI bill and received a Master's in Education with a focus on Biology. He moved back to Ford City and was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Duris, the sitter of a very good friend, and they had six children and over 70 years together.
Veteran,NIK,WW2
Joesph Durris - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy YN3 World War 2 Joseph “Joe” Duris was born on April 21, 1927, one of Nine Children in Ford City, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the US Navy on January 4th, 1944. He was shipped to boot camp before his graduation ceremony, so his sister walked for him. Joe attended Boot Camp in Sampson, New York, one of 411,420 Navy recruits trained there before serving during World War 2. Joe reported to his first Sea command, the repair ship USS Telamon (ARB-8) Home ported in Pearl Harbor, HI.  The USS Telamon was an LST-542-class tank landing ship converted as one of twelve Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ships. The ship's Front loading dock was welded shut, turning the tank bay into a massive repair shop, and additional heavy lifts and other repair equipment were fitted to her deck. Joe reported as a deck seaman whose primary duties included the care and maintenance of the ship; this included chipping, grinding, and painting everything that did not move. Joe and the crew of The Uss Tellamon became part of the Service Squadron 10 (ServRon) stationed at Guam until the war's end. Joe worked on these duties but became a Yeoman one day when the “Big Chief” came on deck and asked, “Who here can type.” Joe answered quickly, “I can,” knowing it would get him off the deck and into an office. Joe worked on all the documents for the Deck department and his Chief for the remaining time in the command. Joe was eventually designated as a Yeoman and was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class, sewing on the coveted Petty Officers Crow on the uniform you see in his hands. Joe remembers a massive typhoon that he and the flat bottom, amphibious Telamon, had to ride out at sea before arriving in the Pacific operating area. Joe and every sailor on board the USS Telamon lent in to repair battle damage on ships that came alongside for service to repair battle damage, including bulkhead and door repair. Joe remembered they fixed or installed so many doors on the ships they were servicing that all hands had to pitch on door detail. After the end of World War 2, Joe and the crew took part in Operation Crossroads at the Bikini Atoll on 21 June 1946. Operation Crossroads was a pair of Nuclear bomb tests designed to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on warships. Joe and the crew were secured and far off the detonations but participated in the active live test of the bomb on our fleet. Joe returned to the US and was released after 18 months of active service. He attended College on the GI bill and received a Master's in Education with a focus on Biology. He moved back to Ford City and was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Duris, the sitter of a very good friend, and they had six children and over 70 years together.