Merle Holloway - 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. ARMY Private World War II Merle Holloway was born on October 1, 1926, and grew up in Bay City, Michigan. He graduated from high school and was drafted into the Army on January 16, 1945. He attended 16 weeks of basic infantry training at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. He then attended training at the Garrison Center at Fort Meade, Maryland. Merle was at Garrison for VE Day, and he participated in the VE Day parade in New York City with the infantry, marching down 5th Avenue. He was loaded onto a train to Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington. He and his fellow troops boarded a Liberty ship bound for Hawaii, where they spent weeks jungle training and preparing for the invasion of mainland Japan. When Japan surrendered, Private Holloway was still in Hawaii and recalled the whole island was one big party that night. Not having served long enough to have the points to complete his enlistment, he received orders to replace members at the Hawaii Garrison. He was assigned to Headquarters, 294th Search Light AAA Battalion, which provided anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight operations. While at the 294th, Merle received on-the-job training to operate a teletype machine and was then assigned to work at the message center for six months at Schofield Barracks. He then worked as a company clerk at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii with the 97th Gun Battalion and as a guard at the Honouliuli Internment Camp. PVT Holloway completed his enlistment and returned home on his 20th birthday. PVT Holloway was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on November 9, 1946. He participated in the 52-20 transition program, receiving $20 for 52 weeks before finding a job. This GI transition program afforded servicemembers the funds to transition to civilian life. He found a punch press operator job at Chrysler Automotive, making car horns. After the service, Merle married his wife, Orpha, and they had six children, including one set of twins. He worked in the insurance industry for Sun Life Insurance for a few years and then for a fire protection company before starting his own fire protection business.
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Merle Holloway - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
U.S. ARMY Private World War II Merle Holloway was born on October 1, 1926, and grew up in Bay City, Michigan. He graduated from high school and was drafted into the Army on January 16, 1945. He attended 16 weeks of basic infantry training at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. He then attended training at the Garrison Center at Fort Meade, Maryland. Merle was at Garrison for VE Day, and he participated in the VE Day parade in New York City with the infantry, marching down 5th Avenue. He was loaded onto a train to Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington. He and his fellow troops boarded a Liberty ship bound for Hawaii, where they spent weeks jungle training and preparing for the invasion of mainland Japan. When Japan surrendered, Private Holloway was still in Hawaii and recalled the whole island was one big party that night. Not having served long enough to have the points to complete his enlistment, he received orders to replace members at the Hawaii Garrison. He was assigned to Headquarters, 294th Search Light AAA Battalion, which provided anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight operations. While at the 294th, Merle received on-the-job training to operate a teletype machine and was then assigned to work at the message center for six months at Schofield Barracks. He then worked as a company clerk at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii with the 97th Gun Battalion and as a guard at the Honouliuli Internment Camp. PVT Holloway completed his enlistment and returned home on his 20th birthday. PVT Holloway was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on November 9, 1946. He participated in the 52-20 transition program, receiving $20 for 52 weeks before finding a job. This GI transition program afforded servicemembers the funds to transition to civilian life. He found a punch press operator job at Chrysler Automotive, making car horns. After the service, Merle married his wife, Orpha, and they had six children, including one set of twins. He worked in the insurance industry for Sun Life Insurance for a few years and then for a fire protection company before starting his own fire protection business.