John Blake - 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
John Blake - Army Air Corps - SSgt US Army Air Corps SSgt World War 2 John Blake served for a total of nine years in the US Army Air Corps and then continued over to the early days of the new US Air Force.  John had a short break in service of two different enlistments with a very quick trip into the reserves and a quick recall back to active duty. After completing boot camp and firefighters training, John's first duty assignment was as an Aviation Firefighter / Crash and salvage member.  They were always on duty during flight operations and ready for anything should a mishap occur.  He served on the base with the firefighting crew but did not remember having to be called out too many times for fires.  John only served for a short time on the base with that crew.  With the fighting in Europe, the Air Corps needed replacement crews for bombers.  John volunteered for reassignment and a new training path.   He was later transferred to duty as a gunner in a North American B-25 Mitchell.  His first duty was with the replacement forces destined for the European theater.  John was assigned to a crew and remembers flying out of airfields all over Germany as the front moved forward and the Allies bombed targets in Germany.   John was on active duty on VE day and continued to serve during the occupying forces until his transfer to the reserves. Shortly after his transfer to the reserve unit, he was called back to service and reported to a B-25 replacement crew in the Pacific campaign.  John and his crews flew missions across the Pacific islands, liberating each one from Japan's control.   John was on active duty for VJ day, his second Victory Day, serving in WWII.   John remained on active duty after the war and was still serving when the Army Air Corps transitioned into the US Air Force, serving during the first Air Force birthday on September 18, 1947.  John was promoted to Staff Sergeant before his enlistment was complete, and he returned to civilian life. 
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John Blake - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
John Blake - Army Air Corps - SSgt US Army Air Corps SSgt World War 2 John Blake served for a total of nine years in the US Army Air Corps and then continued over to the early days of the new US Air Force.  John had a short break in service of two different enlistments with a very quick trip into the reserves and a quick recall back to active duty. After completing boot camp and firefighters training, John's first duty assignment was as an Aviation Firefighter / Crash and salvage member.  They were always on duty during flight operations and ready for anything should a mishap occur.  He served on the base with the firefighting crew but did not remember having to be called out too many times for fires.  John only served for a short time on the base with that crew.  With the fighting in Europe, the Air Corps needed replacement crews for bombers.  John volunteered for reassignment and a new training path.   He was later transferred to duty as a gunner in a North American B-25 Mitchell.  His first duty was with the replacement forces destined for the European theater.  John was assigned to a crew and remembers flying out of airfields all over Germany as the front moved forward and the Allies bombed targets in Germany.   John was on active duty on VE day and continued to serve during the occupying forces until his transfer to the reserves. Shortly after his transfer to the reserve unit, he was called back to service and reported to a B-25 replacement crew in the Pacific campaign.  John and his crews flew missions across the Pacific islands, liberating each one from Japan's control.   John was on active duty for VJ day, his second Victory Day, serving in WWII.   John remained on active duty after the war and was still serving when the Army Air Corps transitioned into the US Air Force, serving during the first Air Force birthday on September 18, 1947.  John was promoted to Staff Sergeant before his enlistment was complete, and he returned to civilian life.