Edward Targaczewski - 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 Army PFC World War 2 Edward Targaczewski was born in January 1925, served as an Infantry soldier with the 3rd Battalion, 317th Infantry regiment, 80th Blue Ridge Infantry Division during WW2. Ed, who grew up in Allegheny, PA, enlisted into the army after completing two years of High School on 13 March 1943 at Ft Meade, Maryland. Ed trained with his unit, moved to Scotland, and was deployed into Europe on the 5th of Aug 1944, landing on Utah Beach as the Work Horse of Pattons 3rd Army. Ed volunteered as a driver for an M4(105) VVSS Sherman 105mm Howitzer tank because nobody else wanted to drive the tank. The M4(105) was armed with a 105 mm howitzer designed to fire powerful high explosive HE artillery rounds His unit was deployed in a six-tank platoon and provided fire support and smoke to assist the lead tanks. It was not designed to take on enemy tanks. It was an artillery gun fitted inside a tank turret. The M4 had a five-man crew: commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/machine gunner. While out on foot patrol one day, Ed found a Thompson Submachine. Thinking the gun booby-trapped, he secured a line, exited the building, and pulled the Tommy Gun out. He had to clean dirt out of the barrel but got it back into service within 30 minutes. Members of his unit coveted this find for standing guard duty, especially at night. The regiment experienced its first combat in August 1944 when it assisted in closing the gap at Falaise and spearheaded Third Army's attack on Nancy. The regiment moved through the Maginot Line in November and prepared to attack Hitler's West Wall. Ed and the 317th was one of the first units to begin the movement north to relieve the beleaguered American troops in the Ardennes. The Third Army resumed the offensive in February on Valentine's Day, 1945, when they entered the Reich, moved rapidly through the Eifel and Palatinate regions, and crossed the Rhine River. The 317th overran some concentration camps before moving through Nuremberg and into Austria, where the war ended as it prepared for a ferocious battle. After serving as an occupation force, the unit was deactivated in January 1946. Ed was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, w) 3 bronze stars, and the World War 2 Victory Medal. Ed was separated on 24 Jan 1946.
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Edward Targaczewski - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army PFC World War 2 Edward Targaczewski was born in January 1925, served as an Infantry soldier with the 3rd Battalion, 317th Infantry regiment, 80th Blue Ridge Infantry Division during WW2. Ed, who grew up in Allegheny, PA, enlisted into the army after completing two years of High School on 13 March 1943 at Ft Meade, Maryland. Ed trained with his unit, moved to Scotland, and was deployed into Europe on the 5th of Aug 1944, landing on Utah Beach as the Work Horse of Pattons 3rd Army. Ed volunteered as a driver for an M4(105) VVSS Sherman 105mm Howitzer tank because nobody else wanted to drive the tank. The M4(105) was armed with a 105 mm howitzer designed to fire powerful high explosive HE artillery rounds His unit was deployed in a six-tank platoon and provided fire support and smoke to assist the lead tanks. It was not designed to take on enemy tanks. It was an artillery gun fitted inside a tank turret. The M4 had a five-man crew: commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/machine gunner. While out on foot patrol one day, Ed found a Thompson Submachine. Thinking the gun booby-trapped, he secured a line, exited the building, and pulled the Tommy Gun out. He had to clean dirt out of the barrel but got it back into service within 30 minutes. Members of his unit coveted this find for standing guard duty, especially at night. The regiment experienced its first combat in August 1944 when it assisted in closing the gap at Falaise and spearheaded Third Army's attack on Nancy. The regiment moved through the Maginot Line in November and prepared to attack Hitler's West Wall. Ed and the 317th was one of the first units to begin the movement north to relieve the beleaguered American troops in the Ardennes. The Third Army resumed the offensive in February on Valentine's Day, 1945, when they entered the Reich, moved rapidly through the Eifel and Palatinate regions, and crossed the Rhine River. The 317th overran some concentration camps before moving through Nuremberg and into Austria, where the war ended as it prepared for a ferocious battle. After serving as an occupation force, the unit was deactivated in January 1946. Ed was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, w) 3 bronze stars, and the World War 2 Victory Medal. Ed was separated on 24 Jan 1946.