John Larson - 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
US Army Private First Class World War II John Gilbert Larson was born on March 31st, 1928, and served in the US Army during World War II. John joined the Army in the summer after graduating from high school in 1946. John attended basic training in Aberdeen, Maryland, at the proving grounds. The facility is located adjacent to Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland. He was stationed with the occupational forces in Japan and billeted at what had been the Maritime Training Academy in Tokyo. John served with the US 7th Cavalry, 7th Division. The 7th Cavalry set its headquarters at the Japanese Imperial Merchant Marine Academy and was assigned to guard the US embassy and General MacArthur's residence there. The 7th Cavalry remained as an occupational force in Tokyo for five years. John played the baritone horn during high school and auditioned for Bugler's duties when he arrived in Japan. He got the job and blew bugle calls all day. He said his duty assignment was pretty light, working all day from reveille to taps, blowing all the army duty calls. They worked on one day and off work the next. John remembered that his first call of the day, reveille, was always difficult when his lips were still puffy in the morning. John loved it when he was assigned to fill in with work crews assisting with the rebuilding in town. They were removing rubble from bombed-out buildings. It was dangerous work. He recalled the kids out in the city asking the crews to sing American tunes. They sang rhythmic work tunes like You Are My Sunshine, and I've Been Working on the Railroad. The children loved his stories about living in the United States. John would perform his bugle calls on top of a base building, playing it into a megaphone. John and the Drum and Bugle Corps performed once at the Japanese Emperor's royal compound, aka the Tokyo Imperial Palace, for a parade. The Palace was an island compound in the middle of the city and was very beautiful. John completed his 18-month enlistment and returned to the United States via troop transport, and he was discharged from active duty. He joined partly because of the call of the G.I. Bill and the opportunity to attend college after his assignment. He attended school at UC Berkeley and San Fransisco State. John got a degree in Mathematics and worked for the Concord Naval Weapons Station for many years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
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John Larson - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army Private First Class World War II John Gilbert Larson was born on March 31st, 1928, and served in the US Army during World War II. John joined the Army in the summer after graduating from high school in 1946. John attended basic training in Aberdeen, Maryland, at the proving grounds. The facility is located adjacent to Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland. He was stationed with the occupational forces in Japan and billeted at what had been the Maritime Training Academy in Tokyo. John served with the US 7th Cavalry, 7th Division. The 7th Cavalry set its headquarters at the Japanese Imperial Merchant Marine Academy and was assigned to guard the US embassy and General MacArthur's residence there. The 7th Cavalry remained as an occupational force in Tokyo for five years. John played the baritone horn during high school and auditioned for Bugler's duties when he arrived in Japan. He got the job and blew bugle calls all day. He said his duty assignment was pretty light, working all day from reveille to taps, blowing all the army duty calls. They worked on one day and off work the next. John remembered that his first call of the day, reveille, was always difficult when his lips were still puffy in the morning. John loved it when he was assigned to fill in with work crews assisting with the rebuilding in town. They were removing rubble from bombed-out buildings. It was dangerous work. He recalled the kids out in the city asking the crews to sing American tunes. They sang rhythmic work tunes like You Are My Sunshine, and I've Been Working on the Railroad. The children loved his stories about living in the United States. John would perform his bugle calls on top of a base building, playing it into a megaphone. John and the Drum and Bugle Corps performed once at the Japanese Emperor's royal compound, aka the Tokyo Imperial Palace, for a parade. The Palace was an island compound in the middle of the city and was very beautiful. John completed his 18-month enlistment and returned to the United States via troop transport, and he was discharged from active duty. He joined partly because of the call of the G.I. Bill and the opportunity to attend college after his assignment. He attended school at UC Berkeley and San Fransisco State. John got a degree in Mathematics and worked for the Concord Naval Weapons Station for many years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.