Garland Cheeks - 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
US Navy SM1 World War 2 Born on June 27th, 1920, Steward’s Mate First Class Garland Cheeks served in the US Navy aboard the USS Menard (APA-201), a Haskell-Class attack transport. Garland grew up on their little farm with his brother and parents in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He joined the Navy during the war, influenced by a few neighbors who had joined the Navy before him. He attended boot camp and then Steward’s Mate training. Garland joined the Stewards, who comprised approximately 35% of the African Americans serving during the war. Stewards like Garland prepared and served meals in the officers' mess and maintained the officers’ quarters including taking care of their uniforms. Garland rose in rank, duties, and responsibilities, becoming the mess sergeant or head enlisted Stewart's Mate. He managed the kitchen and wardroom where officers eat. He recounted that all the stewards had to stand while eating because the officers' wardroom did not provide a table for people of color. The USS Menard embarked Marines and cargo at Port Hueneme, California, before sailing for Hawaii to participate in amphibious training and joining a convoy bound for the Western Pacific. They resupplied at American bases in the Marshalls, the Carolines, and the Palaus, reaching Leyte Gulf, Philippines, where they staged before the invasion of Okinawa. They joined the invasion on April 1 and remained offloading cargo for a week. Garland remembered that the ship was filled with wounded men on the return trip, making the Menard a hospital ship for its return to Hawaii. The ship and all her sailors earned a battle star. The ship prepared for the anticipated invasion of the Japanese mainland, returned to San Francisco, embarked on replacement troops, and got underway for the Philippines. She offloaded her troops in Samar and loaded wounded for the return to the west coast when they received the news of the surrender of Japan. Garland married his high school sweetheart, Lenora Cheeks, and they had three children. They played in a band together, trombone and clarinet, respectively. After being honorably discharged, he opened a barbershop in Chicago, Illinois.
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Garland Cheeks - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy SM1 World War 2 Born on June 27th, 1920, Steward’s Mate First Class Garland Cheeks served in the US Navy aboard the USS Menard (APA-201), a Haskell-Class attack transport. Garland grew up on their little farm with his brother and parents in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He joined the Navy during the war, influenced by a few neighbors who had joined the Navy before him. He attended boot camp and then Steward’s Mate training. Garland joined the Stewards, who comprised approximately 35% of the African Americans serving during the war. Stewards like Garland prepared and served meals in the officers' mess and maintained the officers’ quarters including taking care of their uniforms. Garland rose in rank, duties, and responsibilities, becoming the mess sergeant or head enlisted Stewart's Mate. He managed the kitchen and wardroom where officers eat. He recounted that all the stewards had to stand while eating because the officers' wardroom did not provide a table for people of color. The USS Menard embarked Marines and cargo at Port Hueneme, California, before sailing for Hawaii to participate in amphibious training and joining a convoy bound for the Western Pacific. They resupplied at American bases in the Marshalls, the Carolines, and the Palaus, reaching Leyte Gulf, Philippines, where they staged before the invasion of Okinawa. They joined the invasion on April 1 and remained offloading cargo for a week. Garland remembered that the ship was filled with wounded men on the return trip, making the Menard a hospital ship for its return to Hawaii. The ship and all her sailors earned a battle star. The ship prepared for the anticipated invasion of the Japanese mainland, returned to San Francisco, embarked on replacement troops, and got underway for the Philippines. She offloaded her troops in Samar and loaded wounded for the return to the west coast when they received the news of the surrender of Japan. Garland married his high school sweetheart, Lenora Cheeks, and they had three children. They played in a band together, trombone and clarinet, respectively. After being honorably discharged, he opened a barbershop in Chicago, Illinois.