John Knight - 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 Navy Radioman Petty Officer Second Class World War II John Knight, born September 25, 1924, served in the US Navy as a Radioman with the Armed Guard. John enlisted in the Navy on December 10, 1942, and attended boot camp in San Diego and Radio A School at the Chavez Ravine Reserve Armory in Los Angeles. After completing A-School, John was appointed to work with the US Armed Guard. The US Navy Armed Guard was a unit that stationed communications, gunners, and a few officers on US Merchant Marine ships. John was one of 30 radiomen who attended merchant ship training after completing their A School and technical training and were assigned to the Armed Guard. John's first assignment at the Guard was to a troopship, the SS POELAU LAUT, a Dutch passenger-cargo ship. His first trip at sea was to deliver troops to Guadalcanal, where they arrived a few days into the campaign. They then removed wounded GIs off the beach, returning them to the United States to be treated in military hospitals. John was injured while onboard the POELAU LAUT and was hospitalized at Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA. After his rehabilitation, he was ready for sea again. This time, he was assigned to a new ship, the SS Jose M. Morelos, a liberty ship class troop and cargo transport home-ported in San Francisco. John was assigned to run the radio shack and would code and decode messages for the ship. John ran a flashing light Morse code for the captain's communications with ships in the local area while they transited in a group. John served on four ships and crossed the Pacific Ocean seven times during his enlistment. Additionally, he was in Tokyo Bay on VJ-Day. John rose to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and was honorably discharged at the end of the war.
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John Knight - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy Radioman Petty Officer Second Class World War II John Knight, born September 25, 1924, served in the US Navy as a Radioman with the Armed Guard. John enlisted in the Navy on December 10, 1942, and attended boot camp in San Diego and Radio A School at the Chavez Ravine Reserve Armory in Los Angeles. After completing A-School, John was appointed to work with the US Armed Guard. The US Navy Armed Guard was a unit that stationed communications, gunners, and a few officers on US Merchant Marine ships. John was one of 30 radiomen who attended merchant ship training after completing their A School and technical training and were assigned to the Armed Guard. John's first assignment at the Guard was to a troopship, the SS POELAU LAUT, a Dutch passenger-cargo ship. His first trip at sea was to deliver troops to Guadalcanal, where they arrived a few days into the campaign. They then removed wounded GIs off the beach, returning them to the United States to be treated in military hospitals. John was injured while onboard the POELAU LAUT and was hospitalized at Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA. After his rehabilitation, he was ready for sea again. This time, he was assigned to a new ship, the SS Jose M. Morelos, a liberty ship class troop and cargo transport home-ported in San Francisco. John was assigned to run the radio shack and would code and decode messages for the ship. John ran a flashing light Morse code for the captain's communications with ships in the local area while they transited in a group. John served on four ships and crossed the Pacific Ocean seven times during his enlistment. Additionally, he was in Tokyo Bay on VJ-Day. John rose to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and was honorably discharged at the end of the war.