Lawrance Stanley Dukes - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

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 Corp CPL World War 2 Lawrence Dukes was born on 12 March 1923 and joined the US Army Air Corps, Signal Corps as an Information Center Operator. In 1943, working as a Form-Maker on B-24 Liberators at the Consolidated Aircraft Plant in San Diego, Lawrence was draft exempt, so he quit his job. He asked to be drafted but was told no because of his essential war effort job. He quit again, left the plant, and was allowed in the service on January 4th, 1943. During in-processing, he remembered the heartbreak of other young men disqualified from service for various reasons. He attended Bootcamp in a stripped-out hotel on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He reported to Tampa, Florida, Drew Field with his buddy Myers for Radar Technician training. They both studied hard, took extra sessions at night to speed up their graduation, and were promoted quickly to Corporal. CPL Dukes was transported on the Queen Mary with twenty thousand other troopers bound for the war. He reported to England to an established complete radar unit, but after three days, they moved all the extra folks, including him, to Garston Liverpool, and all were put to work. Cpl Dukes learned to operate a 90-pound Jackhammer with a road-building crew. He then worked at the fuel depot for a while. He finally reported to Salisbury Downs, to the 671st Quartermaster Salvage Collection unit. They trained and were outfitted for their deployment to France. His unit was transported to France, but Germany surrendered just as his unit reported. He felt he never got to do what he was trained for but had a whole load of service. He sadly remembers distributing food to starving German citizens, and his unit was responsible for battlefield clean-up, including dead soldiers and salvageable war equipment. The trip home was on an old Kaiser transport ship that took 16 days. The troops played cards and spent most hours on deck where there was fresh air. A welcome home dinner included steaks that most troops had not seen in years. His brother Louise (Louie) served in the US Navy during WW2 aboard the Patrol ship PMG-21. Lawrence's wife, Rosemary, also served during WW2 as a Navy Store Keeper second Class SK2. They had three children, all living in San Diego.
Veteran,NIK,WW2
Lawrance Stanley Dukes - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Air Corp CPL World War 2 Lawrence Dukes was born on 12 March 1923 and joined the US Army Air Corps, Signal Corps as an Information Center Operator. In 1943, working as a Form-Maker on B-24 Liberators at the Consolidated Aircraft Plant in San Diego, Lawrence was draft exempt, so he quit his job. He asked to be drafted but was told no because of his essential war effort job. He quit again, left the plant, and was allowed in the service on January 4th, 1943. During in-processing, he remembered the heartbreak of other young men disqualified from service for various reasons. He attended Bootcamp in a stripped-out hotel on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He reported to Tampa, Florida, Drew Field with his buddy Myers for Radar Technician training. They both studied hard, took extra sessions at night to speed up their graduation, and were promoted quickly to Corporal. CPL Dukes was transported on the Queen Mary with twenty thousand other troopers bound for the war. He reported to England to an established complete radar unit, but after three days, they moved all the extra folks, including him, to Garston Liverpool, and all were put to work. Cpl Dukes learned to operate a 90-pound Jackhammer with a road-building crew. He then worked at the fuel depot for a while. He finally reported to Salisbury Downs, to the 671st Quartermaster Salvage Collection unit. They trained and were outfitted for their deployment to France. His unit was transported to France, but Germany surrendered just as his unit reported. He felt he never got to do what he was trained for but had a whole load of service. He sadly remembers distributing food to starving German citizens, and his unit was responsible for battlefield clean-up, including dead soldiers and salvageable war equipment. The trip home was on an old Kaiser transport ship that took 16 days. The troops played cards and spent most hours on deck where there was fresh air. A welcome home dinner included steaks that most troops had not seen in years. His brother Louise (Louie) served in the US Navy during WW2 aboard the Patrol ship PMG-21. Lawrence's wife, Rosemary, also served during WW2 as a Navy Store Keeper second Class SK2. They had three children, all living in San Diego.