Noboru Seki - 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 Army Corporal World War 2 Corporal Noboru "Don" Seki served in the US Army with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, L company. The 442nd was a segregated unit comprised of Japanese American service members. Over 12,000 second-generation Japanese Americans (Nisei) volunteered for service. Don was selected alongside 2686 other Hawaiian Island Japanese, and 1500 mainland Nisei were selected to serve. They all reported to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for basic infantry training and were formed into the 442 Infantry Regiment. Don and the 442nd saw combat operations in the European theater of Italy and France with the 100th Battalion. The 442nd made landfall in Italy at Civitavecchia, north of Rome. They fought with the 100th battalion all the way to Florence, Italy. Don remembers that after that push, they took a break from combat at a farmhouse along the river Arno. Tired of Army rations, they made fresh chicken soup from foraging spoils. While resting at the farmhouse, he and his mates talked about missing the taste of fresh fish. No soldier had a fishing pole, so they used grenades and made “the best fish soup” Don could remember. Moving North, they advanced from Marseille, France, to the Vosges Mountains. They arrived in the cold rain and slush of October. His unit was assigned to take the town of Bruyères, France. The Germans had the high ground and surrounded the 36th Infantry Division, also known as the famous Lost Battalion. They took heavy casualties fighting uphill but got the 36th out. Four days later, in Biffontaine, France, on November 4, 1944, Don lost his arm during a heavy machine-gun attack. He was taken to a field hospital where they saved his life, but his arm was too far gone. Don was awarded the Purple Heart at that field hospital for injuries sustained by the enemy. He was evacuated stateside to recuperate first at McGuire Army General Hospital but was then transferred to Brigham Young Hospital in Salt Lake City for nine months. Here, he learned how to use his new prosthesis and come to terms with the trauma of a combat injury. Don was later transferred to the General Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, before being discharged. Don was awarded a Purple Heart along with 2 Unit Citations. The 442nd Regiment is the most decorated unit in US Military history. Don moved to California and worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for over 37 years.
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Noboru Seki - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army Corporal World War 2 Corporal Noboru "Don" Seki served in the US Army with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, L company. The 442nd was a segregated unit comprised of Japanese American service members. Over 12,000 second-generation Japanese Americans (Nisei) volunteered for service. Don was selected alongside 2686 other Hawaiian Island Japanese, and 1500 mainland Nisei were selected to serve. They all reported to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for basic infantry training and were formed into the 442 Infantry Regiment. Don and the 442nd saw combat operations in the European theater of Italy and France with the 100th Battalion. The 442nd made landfall in Italy at Civitavecchia, north of Rome. They fought with the 100th battalion all the way to Florence, Italy. Don remembers that after that push, they took a break from combat at a farmhouse along the river Arno. Tired of Army rations, they made fresh chicken soup from foraging spoils. While resting at the farmhouse, he and his mates talked about missing the taste of fresh fish. No soldier had a fishing pole, so they used grenades and made “the best fish soup” Don could remember. Moving North, they advanced from Marseille, France, to the Vosges Mountains. They arrived in the cold rain and slush of October. His unit was assigned to take the town of Bruyères, France. The Germans had the high ground and surrounded the 36th Infantry Division, also known as the famous Lost Battalion. They took heavy casualties fighting uphill but got the 36th out. Four days later, in Biffontaine, France, on November 4, 1944, Don lost his arm during a heavy machine-gun attack. He was taken to a field hospital where they saved his life, but his arm was too far gone. Don was awarded the Purple Heart at that field hospital for injuries sustained by the enemy. He was evacuated stateside to recuperate first at McGuire Army General Hospital but was then transferred to Brigham Young Hospital in Salt Lake City for nine months. Here, he learned how to use his new prosthesis and come to terms with the trauma of a combat injury. Don was later transferred to the General Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, before being discharged. Don was awarded a Purple Heart along with 2 Unit Citations. The 442nd Regiment is the most decorated unit in US Military history. Don moved to California and worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for over 37 years.