Joe Renteria - WW2 Veterans - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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World War 2

Click on Veteran's photo to see their Ledgend. These American Heros 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
Please email

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.

United States Army - United States Navy Corporal - Photographers Mate Chief Petty Officer World War II - Korea - Vietnam Navy Chief Photographers Mate Joe Renteria was born on July 17, 1917, and photographed the world every day of his life. Joe began his service in 1936 in the United States Army, first serving for three years with a heavy machine gun unit. He described caring for the mule teams, the Beast of Burden in war, which pulled the carts of equipment and ammunition for the large, heavy gun team. Joe is a full-blooded Cherokee, and as a Native American, was limited in his job opportunities in the Army and felt the mule team was beneath his abilities. Unhappy with his position in the Army, Joe walked down the hall and joined the Navy at the end of his service. He was still in his Army uniform when the Navy recruiter had him raise his hand to take the oath of enlistment. Joe was an undesignated airman and first served in aviation at Pearl Harbor, flying with a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat unit assigned to patrol for Japanese ships. While stationed at the PBY command, he received his transfer orders to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola for the Photographers A school in historic Building 1600 to become a Navy Photographer’s Mate. There, he learned about cameras and film, processing and chemistry, light, and the art of making prints. The classes covered the basics of all facets of Naval Photography. Joe did well in school and enjoyed his time in Florida. Joe then served as Fleet Admiral William Halsey Jr.’s duty photographer throughout World War II. They hopped around the Pacific, from island to island, and Joe, because of his earlier flight skills (qualifications), was assigned to fly aerial photo missions with his favorite Folmer Graflex K-20 Navy aerial camera, documenting the atomic bomb tests. The K-20 seen here with Joe was a lightweight, handheld World War II aerial camera. The K-20 used a 5.25-inch × 20-foot or 200-foot roll of film that produced 4x5-inch negatives. Joe lived in his San Diego home, which he and his son Michael built by hand as they gathered supplies. After the Navy, Joe served as the Department Head of the Photo Department at San Diego State University for another 33 years. He also worked as a freelance photographer, photographing weddings and other events, helping pay for the supplies to build his home. The Chief remained actively involved in quality of life and education for Indian affairs, serving on many councils and committees for the Cherokee Nation and Southern California Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

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Joe Renteria - WW2 Veterans - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series — United States Army - United States Navy Corporal - Photographers Mate Chief Petty Officer World War II - Korea - Vietnam Navy Chief Photographers Mate Joe Renteria was born on July 17, 1917, and photographed the world every day of his life. Joe began his service in 1936 in the United States Army, first serving for three years with a heavy machine gun unit. He described caring for the mule teams, the Beast of Burden in war, which pulled the carts of equipment and ammunition for the large, heavy gun team. Joe is a full-blooded Cherokee, and as a Native American, was limited in his job opportunities in the Army and felt the mule team was beneath his abilities. Unhappy with his position in the Army, Joe walked down the hall and joined the Navy at the end of his service. He was still in his Army uniform when the Navy recruiter had him raise his hand to take the oath of enlistment. Joe was an undesignated airman and first served in aviation at Pearl Harbor, flying with a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat unit assigned to patrol for Japanese ships. While stationed at the PBY command, he received his transfer orders to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola for the Photographers A school in historic Building 1600 to become a Navy Photographer’s Mate. There, he learned about cameras and film, processing and chemistry, light, and the art of making prints. The classes covered the basics of all facets of Naval Photography. Joe did well in school and enjoyed his time in Florida. Joe then served as Fleet Admiral William Halsey Jr.’s duty photographer throughout World War II. They hopped around the Pacific, from island to island, and Joe, because of his earlier flight skills (qualifications), was assigned to fly aerial photo missions with his favorite Folmer Graflex K-20 Navy aerial camera, documenting the atomic bomb tests. The K-20 seen here with Joe was a lightweight, handheld World War II aerial camera. The K-20 used a 5.25-inch × 20-foot or 200-foot roll of film that produced 4x5-inch negatives. Joe lived in his San Diego home, which he and his son Michael built by hand as they gathered supplies. After the Navy, Joe served as the Department Head of the Photo Department at San Diego State University for another 33 years. He also worked as a freelance photographer, photographing weddings and other events, helping pay for the supplies to build his home. The Chief remained actively involved in quality of life and education for Indian affairs, serving on many councils and committees for the Cherokee Nation and Southern California Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).