Dean Dunphy - 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 ARM3c - LTJG World War 2 - Korea Dean joined the Navy exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942, at only 17 years old. Being underage, Dean needed permission from his mother to join active duty. Dean participated in the volunteer Naval Reserve class V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet (NavCad) program that sent civilian and enlisted candidates to train as aviation cadets. Dean's first training location was for prep-flight training. at Naval Air Station Pasco Washington. the class was then sent to Naval Flight Preparatory School, at Monmouth College Illinois for Pre-Flight. followed by CAA WTS at the University of Iowa Field House & Armory. Followed by three months of flight instruction at the Iowa City Airport. Like many members of flight training, Dean did not finish his flight training and was transferred to serve as an enlisted man. He reported to Great Lakes Recruit Training Command and served as a percussionist in the marching band, participating in graduations. He then reported to training at Millington, TN, for training in Aviation Radioman. The school was during the brutal hot summer. but Dean learned to program and operate all the equipment he would use in flight. He then reported to Whisky Island, Washington, for gunnery school to learn how to be a 30-cal machine gunner. Permanently assigned to the radio tower at Alameda Naval Air Station. Dean then Volunteered to serve with the VPB-144 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VBP-144), flying the Lockheed Ventura PV-2 Harpoon as a radioman. Training until August 1945, they were reassigned to serve with VPB-133. The squadron was loaded onto an aircraft carrier to transit to support the attacks on mainland Japan. While waiting for their departure, Dean learned about the atomic bomb attack while riding the BART into San Fransisco. VPB-133 reported for operations with FAW-1 at Yonabaru Airfield, Okinawa, Japan. Before shipping home, Dean enjoyed a few days of R&R in Shanghai, China. Dean returned to the US on a troop transport and was discharged on 24 April 1946. Pictured here with his crew consisting of two officers, one Chief Petty Officer, and three enlisted aviators. Dean is the Sailor on the right in the front row, Standing in front of their aircraft in Okinawa, Japan. After finishing his Bachelor's in Business Finance from USC in 1950, Dean returned to duty in the Naval Reserves as an Intelligence Officer, during the Korean War and was appointed to LTJG on December 9, 1955. He left the reserves and returned to the private sector, where he has been exceptionally busy. He was President and CEO of Dunphy Construction Company for forty years. The Governor appointed him Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. He served on the board of Directors for the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the SD Center City Development Corporation. He became its President for seven years, and served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Transit Corporation, serving as president for seven years, building SD Transit into one of the largest agencies in California, carrying over 35 million passengers each year.
Dean Dunphy - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy ARM3c - LTJG World War 2 - Korea Dean joined the Navy exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942, at only 17 years old. Being underage, Dean needed permission from his mother to join active duty. Dean participated in the volunteer Naval Reserve class V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet (NavCad) program that sent civilian and enlisted candidates to train as aviation cadets. Dean's first training location was for prep-flight training. at Naval Air Station Pasco Washington. the class was then sent to Naval Flight Preparatory School, at Monmouth College Illinois for Pre-Flight. followed by CAA WTS at the University of Iowa Field House & Armory. Followed by three months of flight instruction at the Iowa City Airport. Like many members of flight training, Dean did not finish his flight training and was transferred to serve as an enlisted man. He reported to Great Lakes Recruit Training Command and served as a percussionist in the marching band, participating in graduations. He then reported to training at Millington, TN, for training in Aviation Radioman. The school was during the brutal hot summer. but Dean learned to program and operate all the equipment he would use in flight. He then reported to Whisky Island, Washington, for gunnery school to learn how to be a 30-cal machine gunner. Permanently assigned to the radio tower at Alameda Naval Air Station. Dean then Volunteered to serve with the VPB-144 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VBP-144), flying the Lockheed Ventura PV-2 Harpoon as a radioman. Training until August 1945, they were reassigned to serve with VPB-133. The squadron was loaded onto an aircraft carrier to transit to support the attacks on mainland Japan. While waiting for their departure, Dean learned about the atomic bomb attack while riding the BART into San Fransisco. VPB-133 reported for operations with FAW-1 at Yonabaru Airfield, Okinawa, Japan. Before shipping home, Dean enjoyed a few days of R&R in Shanghai, China. Dean returned to the US on a troop transport and was discharged on 24 April 1946. Pictured here with his crew consisting of two officers, one Chief Petty Officer, and three enlisted aviators. Dean is the Sailor on the right in the front row, Standing in front of their aircraft in Okinawa, Japan. After finishing his Bachelor's in Business Finance from USC in 1950, Dean returned to duty in the Naval Reserves as an Intelligence Officer, during the Korean War and was appointed to LTJG on December 9, 1955. He left the reserves and returned to the private sector, where he has been exceptionally busy. He was President and CEO of Dunphy Construction Company for forty years. The Governor appointed him Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. He served on the board of Directors for the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the SD Center City Development Corporation. He became its President for seven years, and served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Transit Corporation, serving as president for seven years, building SD Transit into one of the largest agencies in California, carrying over 35 million passengers each year.