Karl Ulle - 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 Navy LT World War 2 Karl Ulle was born on 18 July 1927 and enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18. He served in the Navy for four years. Karl was selected for the V12 program early in Bootcamp and after converting from USNR to USN. This program trained enlisted members to become pilots. Karl then attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) in New London, CT, for approximately five months, graduating on June 27th, 1945. He reported to Pensacola Fl for flight training, but the V12 program was discontinued at the war's end. The two non-college graduates that had reported as Ensigns were both re-designated. Karl was sent to Bremerton, Washington, to attend Navy Supply Officer School. He learned to run the galley and storerooms, manage cooks, make payroll, and purchase supplies here. After completion, he was assigned to a transport ship heading to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the occupational forces. He was assigned to the repair ship USS Romulus (ARL-22) as a Supply Officer, home-ported in Okinawa. The Romulus made stops in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. No liberty was allowed, but all hands could view the destruction from the ship. The Romulus was assigned to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to clean up the ships damaged and beached during the war and typhoons. The U.S. Navy established a base and shipyard in Nakagusuku Bay after capturing Okinawa in 1945. These efforts took over a year for the crew to complete. Karl then sailed to Shang Hi, China, and Hong Kong for additional repairs to US ships. Karl and the Romulus returned to the US after a transit of 31 days at sea at only 9 knots per hour, arriving in San Pedro, Ca. Karl was transferred to a Destroyer Tender, the USS Frontier (AO-25), in San Diego, CA, where he was the Supply Officer for one year. Karl was selected for special duty as the Supply Officer aboard the USS Pasig (AW-3), one of four water-distilling ships. The ship sailed to Enewetak Island to participate in atomic bomb testing. There, she joined ServDiv 102 and continued to supply Pacific Fleet units and bases ashore with fresh water until she was ordered back to the United States. Karl watched one of the atom bomb tests through welders’ goggles from 4 miles offshore. The heat wave took just over 10 seconds to reach the ship. Karl stated that over 70% of his crew had died before age 50, and he had four tumors removed.
Veteran,NIK,WW2
Karl Ulle - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Navy LT World War 2 Karl Ulle was born on 18 July 1927 and enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18. He served in the Navy for four years. Karl was selected for the V12 program early in Bootcamp and after converting from USNR to USN. This program trained enlisted members to become pilots. Karl then attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) in New London, CT, for approximately five months, graduating on June 27th, 1945. He reported to Pensacola Fl for flight training, but the V12 program was discontinued at the war's end. The two non-college graduates that had reported as Ensigns were both re-designated. Karl was sent to Bremerton, Washington, to attend Navy Supply Officer School. He learned to run the galley and storerooms, manage cooks, make payroll, and purchase supplies here. After completion, he was assigned to a transport ship heading to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the occupational forces. He was assigned to the repair ship USS Romulus (ARL-22) as a Supply Officer, home-ported in Okinawa. The Romulus made stops in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. No liberty was allowed, but all hands could view the destruction from the ship. The Romulus was assigned to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to clean up the ships damaged and beached during the war and typhoons. The U.S. Navy established a base and shipyard in Nakagusuku Bay after capturing Okinawa in 1945. These efforts took over a year for the crew to complete. Karl then sailed to Shang Hi, China, and Hong Kong for additional repairs to US ships. Karl and the Romulus returned to the US after a transit of 31 days at sea at only 9 knots per hour, arriving in San Pedro, Ca. Karl was transferred to a Destroyer Tender, the USS Frontier (AO-25), in San Diego, CA, where he was the Supply Officer for one year. Karl was selected for special duty as the Supply Officer aboard the USS Pasig (AW-3), one of four water-distilling ships. The ship sailed to Enewetak Island to participate in atomic bomb testing. There, she joined ServDiv 102 and continued to supply Pacific Fleet units and bases ashore with fresh water until she was ordered back to the United States. Karl watched one of the atom bomb tests through welders’ goggles from 4 miles offshore. The heat wave took just over 10 seconds to reach the ship. Karl stated that over 70% of his crew had died before age 50, and he had four tumors removed.