James Forrester - WW2 Veterans - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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World War 2

Click on Veteran's photo to see their Ledgend. These American Heros 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
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.

United States Navy Fire Controlman Chief Petty Officer (FCC) Commander World War II James Forrester was born on November 21, 1920, and enlisted in 1939 before the United States officially entered the war. He is a survivor of the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7). James was a plank owner and served aboard from her commissioning on 25 April 1940 until she was sunk on 15 September 1942 by three torpedoes from the Japanese B1-type submarine (I-19) during the Battle of Guadalcanal. FC1 Forrester remembered the Captain declaring “Abandoned Ship" over the 1MC, the Public Address system, about 30 minutes after the strikes. James donned his Kapok life vest and jumped into the water on the port side. He was separated from his shipmates while swimming away from the sinking ship and remained so until late at night. James recounted that that night, while praying and making his peace with God, he saw the light of a motor whaleboat. Splashing and yelling, the boat’s coxswain spotted him. The small boat was already full of survivors, but James grabbed the tow line with three other men and was towed back to the USS Farenholt DD-491. The Farenhold pulled 143 Wasp Sailors, including James, from the Coral Sea that night. James returned to San Diego for survivors’ leave and still gets emotional about the day he pulled into San Diego, realizing he would be okay. Four destroyers pulled survivors from the Pacific that night, and the Wasp lost 193 of her 2100 sailors. James served aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16), where he survived another torpedo attack that damaged her rudder before the end of World War II. James remained on active duty, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer, and was transferred to the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). James left the Navy at the end of World War II in 1946, but returned to active duty a few months later. He was commissioned as a Naval Weapons Officer, rose through the ranks on multiple ships as a fire control officer, and retired as a Commander after 30 years of service.

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James Forrester - WW2 Veterans - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series — United States Navy Fire Controlman Chief Petty Officer (FCC) Commander World War II James Forrester was born on November 21, 1920, and enlisted in 1939 before the United States officially entered the war. He is a survivor of the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7). James was a plank owner and served aboard from her commissioning on 25 April 1940 until she was sunk on 15 September 1942 by three torpedoes from the Japanese B1-type submarine (I-19) during the Battle of Guadalcanal. FC1 Forrester remembered the Captain declaring “Abandoned Ship" over the 1MC, the Public Address system, about 30 minutes after the strikes. James donned his Kapok life vest and jumped into the water on the port side. He was separated from his shipmates while swimming away from the sinking ship and remained so until late at night. James recounted that that night, while praying and making his peace with God, he saw the light of a motor whaleboat. Splashing and yelling, the boat’s coxswain spotted him. The small boat was already full of survivors, but James grabbed the tow line with three other men and was towed back to the USS Farenholt DD-491. The Farenhold pulled 143 Wasp Sailors, including James, from the Coral Sea that night. James returned to San Diego for survivors’ leave and still gets emotional about the day he pulled into San Diego, realizing he would be okay. Four destroyers pulled survivors from the Pacific that night, and the Wasp lost 193 of her 2100 sailors. James served aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16), where he survived another torpedo attack that damaged her rudder before the end of World War II. James remained on active duty, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer, and was transferred to the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). James left the Navy at the end of World War II in 1946, but returned to active duty a few months later. He was commissioned as a Naval Weapons Officer, rose through the ranks on multiple ships as a fire control officer, and retired as a Commander after 30 years of service.