LeRoy Eckels - 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.

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US Army Specialist World War II LeRoy Eckels, born on July 11th, 1926, grew up in Alva, Oklahoma. He served as a Specialist in the US Army during the final days of World War II. Enlisting on January 29, 1945, LeRoy dedicated himself to the military until Nov 18th, 1946. Joining the Army at the age of 19, after completing one year of college, he went to boot camp like other GIs before attending Advanced Infantry Training (AIT.) LeRoy served in Mindanao, Philippines Islands, as a rifleman as part of Operation VICTOR V (the mop-up campaign). He served there until he was called out by a Colonel stationed in Tokyo who abruptly asked him how long it would take him to be ready to leave the island. After that he was reassigned to Tokyo to be a linguistics assistant because he already spoke Japanese. Private Eckles then worked as a translator for the Adjutant General Department, where he first attended the linguistics school. He then worked for the Adjutant General's staff during negotiations. He spent countless hours reading and translating text and served as a translator during conversations. He eventually worked in the Adjutant General Department in linguistics. LeRoy was promoted to Specialist working in a technical field. After two years, LeRoy was honorably discharged in November of 1946. He used his GI bill, returned to school, and received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, followed by a teaching degree. He taught school at many grade levels in the US for years, rising to become a principal in the Los Angeles area. He eventually returned to Japan, where he first worked as a copywriter and translator for three years before opening a school. At this school in Machida Tokyo, LeRoy Eckles served as the principal for 23 years. He is still active, playing volleyball and tennis, and he leads the daily exercise and mobility class at the Cal Vet facility in Los Angeles.
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LeRoy Eckels - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army Specialist World War II LeRoy Eckels, born on July 11th, 1926, grew up in Alva, Oklahoma. He served as a Specialist in the US Army during the final days of World War II. Enlisting on January 29, 1945, LeRoy dedicated himself to the military until Nov 18th, 1946. Joining the Army at the age of 19, after completing one year of college, he went to boot camp like other GIs before attending Advanced Infantry Training (AIT.) LeRoy served in Mindanao, Philippines Islands, as a rifleman as part of Operation VICTOR V (the mop-up campaign). He served there until he was called out by a Colonel stationed in Tokyo who abruptly asked him how long it would take him to be ready to leave the island. After that he was reassigned to Tokyo to be a linguistics assistant because he already spoke Japanese. Private Eckles then worked as a translator for the Adjutant General Department, where he first attended the linguistics school. He then worked for the Adjutant General's staff during negotiations. He spent countless hours reading and translating text and served as a translator during conversations. He eventually worked in the Adjutant General Department in linguistics. LeRoy was promoted to Specialist working in a technical field. After two years, LeRoy was honorably discharged in November of 1946. He used his GI bill, returned to school, and received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, followed by a teaching degree. He taught school at many grade levels in the US for years, rising to become a principal in the Los Angeles area. He eventually returned to Japan, where he first worked as a copywriter and translator for three years before opening a school. At this school in Machida Tokyo, LeRoy Eckles served as the principal for 23 years. He is still active, playing volleyball and tennis, and he leads the daily exercise and mobility class at the Cal Vet facility in Los Angeles.