Sheldon Lewis - 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
U.S. Navy Electrician’s Mate Second Class World War II Sheldon Wayne Lewis was born in Iowa on October 16, 1920. He lived in Rio Dell, California, and graduated from Fortuna High School. He worked on his parents' dairy farm before enlisting in the Navy on September 3, 1942. He reported to the San Francisco Induction Center and was selected for submarine training. After graduating from boot camp, SA Lewis attended the Naval Training Schools at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa, to become an Electrician’s Mate (EM). EMSN Lewis then attended Basic Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, where he was introduced to the basic theory, construction, and operation of submarines. School was six weeks; he headed to the Pacific after graduation. He also attended the basic submarine electrician course, which specialized in power aboard a submarine. Sheldon reported to his first boat, the USS Gunnel (SS 253), a Gato-class diesel-electric submarine. The boat operated in the South China Sea, using Darwin and Fremantle, Australia, as bases to resupply. Sheldon made four patrols aboard the Gunnel, consisting of three months of operating at sea. They patrolled off the coast of Japan and were successful at a submarine’s main task: disrupting the flow of enemy war supplies. Petty Officer Lewis then reported to the USS Blackfin (SS 322), a Balao-class submarine. He was only onboard for transportation to Perth for his return to the United States. Petty Officer Second Class Electrician’s Mate (EM2)(SS) Lewis was honorably discharged after the war on September 16, 1945. Petty Officer Lewis was awarded the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one battle star and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars. After the military, Sheldon returned to his family’s dairy farm. He married Norma-Jean Adkins, whom he met in Iowa while at school and they had two boys and two girls.
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Sheldon Lewis - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
U.S. Navy Electrician’s Mate Second Class World War II Sheldon Wayne Lewis was born in Iowa on October 16, 1920. He lived in Rio Dell, California, and graduated from Fortuna High School. He worked on his parents' dairy farm before enlisting in the Navy on September 3, 1942. He reported to the San Francisco Induction Center and was selected for submarine training. After graduating from boot camp, SA Lewis attended the Naval Training Schools at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa, to become an Electrician’s Mate (EM). EMSN Lewis then attended Basic Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, where he was introduced to the basic theory, construction, and operation of submarines. School was six weeks; he headed to the Pacific after graduation. He also attended the basic submarine electrician course, which specialized in power aboard a submarine. Sheldon reported to his first boat, the USS Gunnel (SS 253), a Gato-class diesel-electric submarine. The boat operated in the South China Sea, using Darwin and Fremantle, Australia, as bases to resupply. Sheldon made four patrols aboard the Gunnel, consisting of three months of operating at sea. They patrolled off the coast of Japan and were successful at a submarine’s main task: disrupting the flow of enemy war supplies. Petty Officer Lewis then reported to the USS Blackfin (SS 322), a Balao-class submarine. He was only onboard for transportation to Perth for his return to the United States. Petty Officer Second Class Electrician’s Mate (EM2)(SS) Lewis was honorably discharged after the war on September 16, 1945. Petty Officer Lewis was awarded the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one battle star and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars. After the military, Sheldon returned to his family’s dairy farm. He married Norma-Jean Adkins, whom he met in Iowa while at school and they had two boys and two girls.