Wellington Kwan - 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
Army 1SG - 2LT World War 2 Born on Dec 13th, 1922, Wellington Kwan served with the U.S. Army from January 1943 to October 1947 as an enlisted man and later as a commissioned officer. Wellington attended Boot camp and followed on with Telephone Switchboard Operator school, learning to install, operate, and perform minor maintenance on portable magneto-type switchboards and common battery switchboards. At his first posting during World War II, he served as a switchboard operator and telecommunications specialist at the Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Chongqing, China, where he worked for General Eisenhower. This posting gave him access to lots of information that he needed to maintain secrecy to ensure the soldiers on the line were kept safe. During his time overseas, he rose to the rank of SSGT with the Signal Corps before accepting a commission. He fondly remembers flying over the Himalayas in a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber converted to operate as a passenger aircraft to get to his first duty station. While assigned in China, Wellington met Miss Hellen Hwa and married his GI Bride in December of 1945 before moving to Shanghai, China. In May of 46, he transferred to Engineer Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant 2lt and assigned to the “Bayonets” 65th Combat Engineers Battalion. The 65th was homeported at Schofield barracks in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He later returned to Japan and served an assignment in Osaka, Japan, at the Kanoka Barracks with the WW2 occupational forces. Lieutenant Kwan's tour was for just over a year before he returned to the States. After serving in the Army, Wellington became an attorney and assisted many families migrating to the United States, serving as an advocate until his 86th year. Wellington is the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.
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Wellington Kwan - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
Army 1SG - 2LT World War 2 Born on Dec 13th, 1922, Wellington Kwan served with the U.S. Army from January 1943 to October 1947 as an enlisted man and later as a commissioned officer. Wellington attended Boot camp and followed on with Telephone Switchboard Operator school, learning to install, operate, and perform minor maintenance on portable magneto-type switchboards and common battery switchboards. At his first posting during World War II, he served as a switchboard operator and telecommunications specialist at the Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Chongqing, China, where he worked for General Eisenhower. This posting gave him access to lots of information that he needed to maintain secrecy to ensure the soldiers on the line were kept safe. During his time overseas, he rose to the rank of SSGT with the Signal Corps before accepting a commission. He fondly remembers flying over the Himalayas in a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber converted to operate as a passenger aircraft to get to his first duty station. While assigned in China, Wellington met Miss Hellen Hwa and married his GI Bride in December of 1945 before moving to Shanghai, China. In May of 46, he transferred to Engineer Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant 2lt and assigned to the “Bayonets” 65th Combat Engineers Battalion. The 65th was homeported at Schofield barracks in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He later returned to Japan and served an assignment in Osaka, Japan, at the Kanoka Barracks with the WW2 occupational forces. Lieutenant Kwan's tour was for just over a year before he returned to the States. After serving in the Army, Wellington became an attorney and assisted many families migrating to the United States, serving as an advocate until his 86th year. Wellington is the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.