Theodore “Ted” Strzelski - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series View More Photos Skip to Main Content

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.

US Marine Corps Corporal World War II Theodore “Ted” Strzelski was born Nov 19th, 1925. Ted joined the Marine Corps at 17 before graduating High School. Corporal Strzelski served from Sep 18th, 1943 - July 1st, 1946. After graduating from boot camp at MCRD, Parris Island SC, PFC Strzelski then reported to Ground Supply School. Here, he received formal entry-level training in the supply and distribution fields.  Ted graduated as a Marine Corps Aviation Supply Technician.  Ted was stationed with the Marine Aircraft Group 93 (MAG-93), a dive-bombing training group headquartered at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield, Bogue, North Carolina. He received his flight training to be a gunner on the Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers.  The SBD-2 was a carrier-based scout/dive that rose to fame at the Battle of Midway, driving the decisive blows to Japan's Carters, earning the bomber's nickname "Slow But Deadly.” Ted was promoted to Corporal at graduation.  Ted was assigned to Camp Pendelton to a squadron aboard the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38), an Essex-class World War II aircraft carrier. They trained off the coast of Southern California.  Ted enjoyed flying as a tail gunner with his favorite pilot, Warrant Officer Spencer, in their Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers. The Shangri-La was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.  Ted remembers the primary mission was coastal defense up and down the West Coast.   In April 1945, the USS Shangri-La sailed the Ulithi Atoll south of Guam. On 24 April, they joined Task Group (TG) 58.4 and rendezvoused with TG 50.8. where the Shangri-La and her air group, CVG-85, launched their first strike against the Japanese at Okino Daito Jima, a group of islands several hundred miles to the southeast of Okinawa. The task force continued operations on  Okinawa until 14 May. The air group participated in operations at Okinawa, Kyushu, Leyte, and the mainland, including Tokyo, Honshu, and Hokkaido, until Japan's surrender. Then, the squadron planes sortied on missions of mercy, air-dropping supplies to Allied prisoners of war in Japan. Ted returned with his ship to NAS North Island Sand Diego, CA, and having completed the required points; he was Honorably discharged.  Ted married his wife, Jean, and had three children: Alice, Karen, and Brian.
mickey,strand,photograph,nikon,Ventura,portrait,VPS,veteran,CALVET
Theodore “Ted” Strzelski - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Marine Corps Corporal World War II Theodore “Ted” Strzelski was born Nov 19th, 1925. Ted joined the Marine Corps at 17 before graduating High School. Corporal Strzelski served from Sep 18th, 1943 - July 1st, 1946. After graduating from boot camp at MCRD, Parris Island SC, PFC Strzelski then reported to Ground Supply School. Here, he received formal entry-level training in the supply and distribution fields.  Ted graduated as a Marine Corps Aviation Supply Technician.  Ted was stationed with the Marine Aircraft Group 93 (MAG-93), a dive-bombing training group headquartered at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield, Bogue, North Carolina. He received his flight training to be a gunner on the Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers.  The SBD-2 was a carrier-based scout/dive that rose to fame at the Battle of Midway, driving the decisive blows to Japan's Carters, earning the bomber's nickname "Slow But Deadly.” Ted was promoted to Corporal at graduation.  Ted was assigned to Camp Pendelton to a squadron aboard the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38), an Essex-class World War II aircraft carrier. They trained off the coast of Southern California.  Ted enjoyed flying as a tail gunner with his favorite pilot, Warrant Officer Spencer, in their Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers. The Shangri-La was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.  Ted remembers the primary mission was coastal defense up and down the West Coast.   In April 1945, the USS Shangri-La sailed the Ulithi Atoll south of Guam. On 24 April, they joined Task Group (TG) 58.4 and rendezvoused with TG 50.8. where the Shangri-La and her air group, CVG-85, launched their first strike against the Japanese at Okino Daito Jima, a group of islands several hundred miles to the southeast of Okinawa. The task force continued operations on  Okinawa until 14 May. The air group participated in operations at Okinawa, Kyushu, Leyte, and the mainland, including Tokyo, Honshu, and Hokkaido, until Japan's surrender. Then, the squadron planes sortied on missions of mercy, air-dropping supplies to Allied prisoners of war in Japan. Ted returned with his ship to NAS North Island Sand Diego, CA, and having completed the required points; he was Honorably discharged.  Ted married his wife, Jean, and had three children: Alice, Karen, and Brian.