Art Dioli - 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 S1c World War 2 Arthur Louis Dioli was born on May 20, 1927, and joined the Navy during WW2 serving from March 17, 1945, to July 15, 1946. He shipped out to Bootcamp in Sampson, New York, with no idea the war was about to end. He learned when his company commanders arrived in the middle of the night, told the company about the surrender, let the guys have a smoke, and then they returned to their racks. After his 12-week accelerated Bootcamp, Seaman Second Class Dioli reported to the Naval Armory, Chicago, in June of 45. The Armory was a Pier on Lake Michigan at the end of Randolph Street, where Art and other new service members were assigned to help discharge other service members returning from their tours in the Pacific operations area. Here, Arthur became a striker for the Yeomen Rate. After two months of this duty, Art was assigned just down the pier to the USS Wilmette. The Wilmette, formerly the SS Eastland, a passenger tour ship on Lake Michigan, was converted to a gunboat for service to the Navy. The USS Wilmette served as a training ship for Naval reservists in greater Chicago. It made voyages along the shores of the Great Lakes carrying trainees assigned to her from the Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. During the early days of World War Two, she served to prepare Navy armed guard crews for duty, manning the guns on armed merchant ships until the end of WWII in Europe. Arthur was assigned as one of an eight-man enlisted caretaker crew aboard, who all stood fire watch and maintained the ship. They lived in the officer's staterooms as quarters onboard, and according to Art, there was nothing to do on board; we roamed the ship, took soundings, and watched for fires. Seaman First Class Arthur Dioli was discharged in July 1946 at the end of his enlistment. He was shipped to Boston for discharge back near his home of record. Arthur used his GI bill to attend the University of Mass in Business administration. He married his wife Jeannette, and they had three kids and worked in the insurance industry.
Veteran,NIK,WW2
Art Dioli - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy S1c World War 2 Arthur Louis Dioli was born on May 20, 1927, and joined the Navy during WW2 serving from March 17, 1945, to July 15, 1946. He shipped out to Bootcamp in Sampson, New York, with no idea the war was about to end. He learned when his company commanders arrived in the middle of the night, told the company about the surrender, let the guys have a smoke, and then they returned to their racks. After his 12-week accelerated Bootcamp, Seaman Second Class Dioli reported to the Naval Armory, Chicago, in June of 45. The Armory was a Pier on Lake Michigan at the end of Randolph Street, where Art and other new service members were assigned to help discharge other service members returning from their tours in the Pacific operations area. Here, Arthur became a striker for the Yeomen Rate. After two months of this duty, Art was assigned just down the pier to the USS Wilmette. The Wilmette, formerly the SS Eastland, a passenger tour ship on Lake Michigan, was converted to a gunboat for service to the Navy. The USS Wilmette served as a training ship for Naval reservists in greater Chicago. It made voyages along the shores of the Great Lakes carrying trainees assigned to her from the Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. During the early days of World War Two, she served to prepare Navy armed guard crews for duty, manning the guns on armed merchant ships until the end of WWII in Europe. Arthur was assigned as one of an eight-man enlisted caretaker crew aboard, who all stood fire watch and maintained the ship. They lived in the officer's staterooms as quarters onboard, and according to Art, there was nothing to do on board; we roamed the ship, took soundings, and watched for fires. Seaman First Class Arthur Dioli was discharged in July 1946 at the end of his enlistment. He was shipped to Boston for discharge back near his home of record. Arthur used his GI bill to attend the University of Mass in Business administration. He married his wife Jeannette, and they had three kids and worked in the insurance industry.