Melvin Holt - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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 SM1 World War 2 Melvin Holt served in the US Navy as a Signalman and rose to become a Petty Officer First Class (SM1) before leaving the service after five years. First working as an instructor at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, Melvin assisted future pilots during their training, which helped them earn their Naval Aviator wings of gold.  Melvin was reassigned to duty aboard the USS Lavaca (APA-180), an amphibious assault ship home-ported in San Diego, California.  The USS Lavaca was a Haskell-class attack transport ship of the Victory Class ship design.   USS Lavaca was transporting the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Cavalry, into Yokohama, Japan, for the planned invasion when the Japanese surrender was announced.  The troops then became part of the occupation force.  Melvin remembers seeing the surrender being signed on the USS Missouri through the signalman’s binoculars from the bridge wing of his ship, which was about 100 yards off the starboard bow. Melvin’s crew then returned to normal operations after the war and their time in Japan.  They served in the Pacific for many months, including duty transporting Navy Seabees to the Philippine Islands as they shuttled troops & equipment between the Admiralty & Philippine Islands.  The ship also rescued five Australian Airmen & salvaged their airplane in the waters off New Guinea.  Additionally, In October of 1946, the USS Lavaca carried liberated POW passengers, mostly women & children, from Shanghai, China, to San Francisco, CA.   Melvin was married to his wife Anita, a Navy Veteran who served during WWII as a Yeoman First Class. They were married for over 70 years and had four children, one girl and three boys.
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Melvin Holt - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy SM1 World War 2 Melvin Holt served in the US Navy as a Signalman and rose to become a Petty Officer First Class (SM1) before leaving the service after five years. First working as an instructor at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, Melvin assisted future pilots during their training, which helped them earn their Naval Aviator wings of gold.  Melvin was reassigned to duty aboard the USS Lavaca (APA-180), an amphibious assault ship home-ported in San Diego, California.  The USS Lavaca was a Haskell-class attack transport ship of the Victory Class ship design.   USS Lavaca was transporting the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Cavalry, into Yokohama, Japan, for the planned invasion when the Japanese surrender was announced.  The troops then became part of the occupation force.  Melvin remembers seeing the surrender being signed on the USS Missouri through the signalman’s binoculars from the bridge wing of his ship, which was about 100 yards off the starboard bow. Melvin’s crew then returned to normal operations after the war and their time in Japan.  They served in the Pacific for many months, including duty transporting Navy Seabees to the Philippine Islands as they shuttled troops & equipment between the Admiralty & Philippine Islands.  The ship also rescued five Australian Airmen & salvaged their airplane in the waters off New Guinea.  Additionally, In October of 1946, the USS Lavaca carried liberated POW passengers, mostly women & children, from Shanghai, China, to San Francisco, CA.   Melvin was married to his wife Anita, a Navy Veteran who served during WWII as a Yeoman First Class. They were married for over 70 years and had four children, one girl and three boys.