Robert Divine - 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 Senior Chief Petty Officer World War II and Korean War Robert E. Divine was born in Levelland, Texas, on November 16, 1926, and grew up in Columbus, Kansas. He left high school at age 16 before graduation to work full-time at a meat packing plant for a year before returning home to enlist in the Navy. He was still underage, so his father signed the paperwork to allow him to join. He enlisted in Joplin, Missouri, on March 23, 1943, and attended boot camp at the Farragut Idaho Naval Training Station. Seaman Apprentice Divine reported to the USS Munda (CVE 104), an escort aircraft carrier still being built in Vancouver, Washington. The ship served as an aircraft transport and replenishment escort carrier in the Pacific Theater. He made his first Western Pacific Deployment and served in the V-1 division as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate. He was temporarily assigned to the engine shop to work on aircraft carburetors and as a plane captain before learning to be an aircraft handler. Robert served onboard until the war's end as a member of the catapult crew and was onboard when they decommissioned the ship. Robert married his wife, Pearl, whom he met in Oakland at a roller rink. They were married in Reno while he was decommissioning the ship's catapult, and then he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class. He did an exceptional job and was transferred to the USS Bougainville (CVE 100) to decommission their catapults. He was then transferred to the 19th Reserve Fleet, which consisted of 30 CVEs. He continued decommissioning ships and was promoted to AB2. He was assigned shore duty at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, as a newly promoted Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Petty Officer First Class to run the airfield crash crew. After two years, the United States entered the Korean War, and AB1 Divine was assigned to the USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) as the V1 division Leading Petty Officer until he was selected to transfer to the USS Antietam (CV 36), which needed a catapult-qualified lead to set up the new Flight Deck and the division, with all new junior sailors. They deployed and were on station for a year straight. He transferred to the USS Shangri-La (CV 38) and then the USS Yorktown (CV 10), where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Robert was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, when he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer on November 16, 1958. This was the Navy's first promotion of the new pay grades E8 Senior Chief and E9 Master Chief Petty Officer. He was stationed on NAS North Island, working at FAETUPac, a training command running the student barracks, when he decided to retire from the Navy after 20 years. ABCS Robert Divine was honorably discharged on October 3, 1963. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service, Navy Occupation Service, United Nations Service, five Good Conduct Medals, and a host of other awards and commendations.
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Robert Divine - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer World War II and Korean War Robert E. Divine was born in Levelland, Texas, on November 16, 1926, and grew up in Columbus, Kansas. He left high school at age 16 before graduation to work full-time at a meat packing plant for a year before returning home to enlist in the Navy. He was still underage, so his father signed the paperwork to allow him to join. He enlisted in Joplin, Missouri, on March 23, 1943, and attended boot camp at the Farragut Idaho Naval Training Station. Seaman Apprentice Divine reported to the USS Munda (CVE 104), an escort aircraft carrier still being built in Vancouver, Washington. The ship served as an aircraft transport and replenishment escort carrier in the Pacific Theater. He made his first Western Pacific Deployment and served in the V-1 division as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate. He was temporarily assigned to the engine shop to work on aircraft carburetors and as a plane captain before learning to be an aircraft handler. Robert served onboard until the war's end as a member of the catapult crew and was onboard when they decommissioned the ship. Robert married his wife, Pearl, whom he met in Oakland at a roller rink. They were married in Reno while he was decommissioning the ship's catapult, and then he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class. He did an exceptional job and was transferred to the USS Bougainville (CVE 100) to decommission their catapults. He was then transferred to the 19th Reserve Fleet, which consisted of 30 CVEs. He continued decommissioning ships and was promoted to AB2. He was assigned shore duty at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, as a newly promoted Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Petty Officer First Class to run the airfield crash crew. After two years, the United States entered the Korean War, and AB1 Divine was assigned to the USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) as the V1 division Leading Petty Officer until he was selected to transfer to the USS Antietam (CV 36), which needed a catapult-qualified lead to set up the new Flight Deck and the division, with all new junior sailors. They deployed and were on station for a year straight. He transferred to the USS Shangri-La (CV 38) and then the USS Yorktown (CV 10), where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Robert was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, when he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer on November 16, 1958. This was the Navy's first promotion of the new pay grades E8 Senior Chief and E9 Master Chief Petty Officer. He was stationed on NAS North Island, working at FAETUPac, a training command running the student barracks, when he decided to retire from the Navy after 20 years. ABCS Robert Divine was honorably discharged on October 3, 1963. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service, Navy Occupation Service, United Nations Service, five Good Conduct Medals, and a host of other awards and commendations.