Clarance “C.J.” Gerwien - 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.

US Navy Signalman First-Class Petty Officer World War II Signalman First-Class Petty Officer Clarance J. Gerwien “C.J.” served in the Navy from 1940 to 1946. CJ was born on July 29, 1920, and began serving in the Naval Reserve before the start of World War II. During his drill weekends, he practiced semaphore and Morse code used to communicate by his job rating. C.J. was the third family member to join the active-duty ranks during World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, most of his unit was activated to full active duty and mobilized. His first assignment was on board a Gate Vessel that opens or closes the boom and nets at the entrance to the Long Beach Naval facilities. He served there for a few months before being reassigned to the Amphibious Training Base in Coronado, CA. His unit trained for the attacks on Japan and was deployed to support the assault on the island of Iwo Jima. They arrived on 19 February 1945, and CJ landed on the 5th day of operations to coordinate the landing craft. Before going ashore, he remembered watching the Marines climb Mount Suribachi and raise the flag when they secured the mountain. C.J. remembered all the ships blowing their horns and ringing their bells, and everyone was hooting and hollering in celebration. He worked in the beach landing zone on Iwo Jima for another two months before returning to Hawaii to prepare for the invasion of Japan’s mainland. On 15 August, C.J. was enjoying a little R&R at an outdoor movie theater. The movie was paused when an announcement was made of Japan's surrender and the end of the war. The whole island erupted in celebration. C.J. returned to San Diego and was honorably discharged from active duty during demobilization. He continued to live in San Diego, was married, and had two boys, one of whom also served in the US Navy.

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Clarance “C.J.” Gerwien - WW2 Veterans - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series — US Navy Signalman First-Class Petty Officer World War II Signalman First-Class Petty Officer Clarance J. Gerwien “C.J.” served in the Navy from 1940 to 1946. CJ was born on July 29, 1920, and began serving in the Naval Reserve before the start of World War II. During his drill weekends, he practiced semaphore and Morse code used to communicate by his job rating. C.J. was the third family member to join the active-duty ranks during World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, most of his unit was activated to full active duty and mobilized. His first assignment was on board a Gate Vessel that opens or closes the boom and nets at the entrance to the Long Beach Naval facilities. He served there for a few months before being reassigned to the Amphibious Training Base in Coronado, CA. His unit trained for the attacks on Japan and was deployed to support the assault on the island of Iwo Jima. They arrived on 19 February 1945, and CJ landed on the 5th day of operations to coordinate the landing craft. Before going ashore, he remembered watching the Marines climb Mount Suribachi and raise the flag when they secured the mountain. C.J. remembered all the ships blowing their horns and ringing their bells, and everyone was hooting and hollering in celebration. He worked in the beach landing zone on Iwo Jima for another two months before returning to Hawaii to prepare for the invasion of Japan’s mainland. On 15 August, C.J. was enjoying a little R&R at an outdoor movie theater. The movie was paused when an announcement was made of Japan's surrender and the end of the war. The whole island erupted in celebration. C.J. returned to San Diego and was honorably discharged from active duty during demobilization. He continued to live in San Diego, was married, and had two boys, one of whom also served in the US Navy.