Nicholas Scordino - 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 Air Corp Corporal World War II Nicholas 'Nick' Scordino was born on May 27, 1922, in Rochester, NY, and served in the US Army Air Corps from Oct 10th, 1942, to Nov 22, 1945. Nick enlisted in the service on October 10th, 1942, and reported to Boot Camp. After finishing his basic training, he was assigned to serve with the Military Police. He was stationed at the new air station in Salinas, California. Nick had a side gig cutting hair for recruits at the Presidio at Monterey on his off hours. Nick was unhappy as an MP and volunteered as an aerial gunner. Nick reported to training as a waist gunner at Lowry Field in Colorado. He was training to be a crew member in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and was learning to operate a 50-cal machine gun. During his training, Nick had an accident, was grounded due to limited mobility, and did not receive an assignment to a B-17. After an injury, Nick was retrained as an ammunition mechanic and bomb handler. Nick was still training to work with the Bomber fleet but ended up in a fighter squadron. Nick was assigned to the 429th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. They were assigned to the south coast of England until D-day. On D-Day, he recounts watching hundreds of aircraft overhead as the first waves of the liberation of France began. His aircraft took off for their missions, providing air support and protecting the hundreds of paratrooper aircraft for the initial days of the invasion. Nick said they slept on the ground at the airfield for three days to be available for quick aircraft turnarounds. Two weeks later he and the unit landed on Omaha Beach while the fight continued. After the units broke out off the beach, he worked in temporary airfields, flying 4-6 sorties a day, moving as the front moved enough to build a new airfield. Nick finished his service as a Corporal (CPL). He served as the acting sergeant most of his time in Europe but was never promoted to that rank permanently. After the war, his squadron was assigned to the occupying forces in Germany. Having all his points, Nick was relieved and returned to the US for discharge processing. Corporal Nicholas Scordino was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life. After the war, Nick returned to barbering, moved to Fresno, CA, and opened and operated a shop for a while before moving to Los Angeles to continue cutting hair for over 60 years. Nick was married and had four children.
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Nicholas Scordino - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army Air Corp Corporal World War II Nicholas 'Nick' Scordino was born on May 27, 1922, in Rochester, NY, and served in the US Army Air Corps from Oct 10th, 1942, to Nov 22, 1945. Nick enlisted in the service on October 10th, 1942, and reported to Boot Camp. After finishing his basic training, he was assigned to serve with the Military Police. He was stationed at the new air station in Salinas, California. Nick had a side gig cutting hair for recruits at the Presidio at Monterey on his off hours. Nick was unhappy as an MP and volunteered as an aerial gunner. Nick reported to training as a waist gunner at Lowry Field in Colorado. He was training to be a crew member in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and was learning to operate a 50-cal machine gun. During his training, Nick had an accident, was grounded due to limited mobility, and did not receive an assignment to a B-17. After an injury, Nick was retrained as an ammunition mechanic and bomb handler. Nick was still training to work with the Bomber fleet but ended up in a fighter squadron. Nick was assigned to the 429th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. They were assigned to the south coast of England until D-day. On D-Day, he recounts watching hundreds of aircraft overhead as the first waves of the liberation of France began. His aircraft took off for their missions, providing air support and protecting the hundreds of paratrooper aircraft for the initial days of the invasion. Nick said they slept on the ground at the airfield for three days to be available for quick aircraft turnarounds. Two weeks later he and the unit landed on Omaha Beach while the fight continued. After the units broke out off the beach, he worked in temporary airfields, flying 4-6 sorties a day, moving as the front moved enough to build a new airfield. Nick finished his service as a Corporal (CPL). He served as the acting sergeant most of his time in Europe but was never promoted to that rank permanently. After the war, his squadron was assigned to the occupying forces in Germany. Having all his points, Nick was relieved and returned to the US for discharge processing. Corporal Nicholas Scordino was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life. After the war, Nick returned to barbering, moved to Fresno, CA, and opened and operated a shop for a while before moving to Los Angeles to continue cutting hair for over 60 years. Nick was married and had four children.