Roy Ebner - 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 Air Corps Staff Sergeant World War II Born on March 22nd, 1921, Roy served in the U.S. Army, Air Corps from June 25th, 1942 to October 27th, 1945.   Roy primarily served as the Message Center Chief for the 312th Bombardment Group (Light) headquarters. Roy was responsible for processing all message traffic for the headquarters and its four squadrons.   Roy's unit, the 312th Bombardment Group, operated Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers and attack aircraft. In 1943, the 312th was deployed to the Southwest Pacific, commencing combat operations in New Guinea. They subsequently moved to the Philippines and then Okinawa, Japan.   They moved from airfield to airfield to support front-line troops.  Most combat sorties were flown at low altitudes and slow to avoid the Japanese flak. As the US moved from island to island in the Pacific, A-20Gs were ideal weapons for pinpoint strikes against aircraft, hangars, and supply dumps. The Bomber group attacked airfields, troop concentrations, gun positions, bridges, and warehouses on the northern and western coasts of New Guinea.   The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing eight strikes against butanol plants on Formosa from 25 March to 4 April 1945. Roy recounted landing on Okinawa on D+3 with the advanced air segment.  The airfield was under continuous heavy shelling, forcing Roy and the other service members to spend their first few nights sleeping under a water tank at the airfield, though they hardly got any sleep.  One day, while at the captured airfield, a Japanese pilot landed his aircraft and surrendered to Roy and his buddies without a shot being fired. Roy recounted that an Army Light Colonel approached him while working at the airfield and said, " If you want to go home, be on the boat tomorrow morning." Roy packed as fast as he could, and on the return trip, he and his unit's administrative officer, a Major, filled out all the awards and discharge forms, updating the records for his whole unit. Roy was honorably discharged from the Air Corps and returned home.  Roy lives at the California Veterans Home in Ventura, California. 
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Roy Ebner - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Air Corps Staff Sergeant World War II Born on March 22nd, 1921, Roy served in the U.S. Army, Air Corps from June 25th, 1942 to October 27th, 1945.   Roy primarily served as the Message Center Chief for the 312th Bombardment Group (Light) headquarters. Roy was responsible for processing all message traffic for the headquarters and its four squadrons.   Roy's unit, the 312th Bombardment Group, operated Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers and attack aircraft. In 1943, the 312th was deployed to the Southwest Pacific, commencing combat operations in New Guinea. They subsequently moved to the Philippines and then Okinawa, Japan.   They moved from airfield to airfield to support front-line troops.  Most combat sorties were flown at low altitudes and slow to avoid the Japanese flak. As the US moved from island to island in the Pacific, A-20Gs were ideal weapons for pinpoint strikes against aircraft, hangars, and supply dumps. The Bomber group attacked airfields, troop concentrations, gun positions, bridges, and warehouses on the northern and western coasts of New Guinea.   The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing eight strikes against butanol plants on Formosa from 25 March to 4 April 1945. Roy recounted landing on Okinawa on D+3 with the advanced air segment.  The airfield was under continuous heavy shelling, forcing Roy and the other service members to spend their first few nights sleeping under a water tank at the airfield, though they hardly got any sleep.  One day, while at the captured airfield, a Japanese pilot landed his aircraft and surrendered to Roy and his buddies without a shot being fired. Roy recounted that an Army Light Colonel approached him while working at the airfield and said, " If you want to go home, be on the boat tomorrow morning." Roy packed as fast as he could, and on the return trip, he and his unit's administrative officer, a Major, filled out all the awards and discharge forms, updating the records for his whole unit. Roy was honorably discharged from the Air Corps and returned home.  Roy lives at the California Veterans Home in Ventura, California.