"Drawn To Serve" was created in 2017, when Jacqueline and Stacy Kamin, professional artist, volunteered to draw and paint portraits of veterans at the CalVet Veterans Home in Los Angeles. The stories that they heard from these veterans helped them capture the spirit of a dying breed of men who sacrificed everything for our country. Jacqueline and Stacy are honored to be able to draw these Veterans. Capturing our nations heroes through portraiture is their mission. Once completed they plan to put on a traveling portrait exhibit with accompanying documentary testimonials, where viewers will be able to see the portraits come to life along with the veterans stories.
AIRFORCE, 1972 - 76,
Medical Core (dental)
MARINE CORE PRESIDENTAL GAURD. 1946 - 49
Model for IWO Jima Memorial
90 yrs old , speaks 9 languages
MARINE CORE, 1951 - 1955, Korean War
Staff Sargeant, Purple Heart in Combat
"Helicopter crashed while picking up wounded in Korea, caused my back to be broken. My most memorable thought is many people I served with that never came back."
Kenneth
U.S. NAVY 1951 -
ARMY, 1949 - 1952, 1959 - 1979, Vietnam
Mess Sargeant
"I flew in a helicopter to all the dinning rooms on the front line."
Henry
U.S. ARMY, 1962 - 65, Vietnam
Supply Sergeant, Delivery Guns man
"Hiding from Viet Cong in the jungle."
"I was also delivering food, emission, and mail."
U.S ARMY , 1945 - 46
ARMY, 1972 - 81, VEITNAM
Infantry - Veitnam ERA
Army WW2 PFC (95yrs)
Assigned to 8th Infantry Division, 9th Army . Warren was in a fox hole in The Battle of The Herken Forest. He prayed to God while he was there, God was listening. He survived. He was reassigned to a dental laboratory as a technician. Where he drove a mobil dental truck that went across England, France, Holland and Germany , assisting wounded soldiers.
ARMY, 1945-46 WW2
Leroy trained for the infantry. Then he was sent overseas to the Philippine and Japan.
"Spread the love of Humanity," "Make peace and enjoy it."
NAVY, WW2, March 1943-73
Samuel became assistant to a Navy admiral in the Pacific. Then rising in the ranks he became a specialty personnel administrator. After becoming a commissioned officer, Samuel established a Night School for Sailors needing a high school diploma. He went on to establish two schools, one in Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, and one in the USS Essex (cvs33) .
His advice to the younger the generation "Get an education. "
U.S.A.F- 1955, 1958 and U.S Army-1966-1969
What about your service makes you the most proud ? "Serving in two military branches of the service, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. The privilege of defending the greatest country in the world ".
U.S. ARMY, 1940 - 45, WW2
Airborne, South Pacific
Honored with a Bronze Star
Transportation Core of Army, 1964 - 67 , Veitnam
"I was in the Armys Navy."
U.S. ARMY, 1989 - present
Assistant administrator CAL-VET
ARMY , 1962-69,
Cook, Medic, Mail Clerk
NAVY Rank E-4, 1969 - 1971, Vietnam
Guantanamo Bay Navy Base, Cuba
Most memorable memory. " I enjoyed running the Chefs Club, I had to stay inside the base, because it was surrounded by mine fields"
U.S.N, (Armed Guard) ,WW2, 1942-45
Eight War Zones
"An exciting , but dangerous time for an 18 year old kid on merchant ships."
ARMY , 1969-70
40th Armor Berlin Brigade. Now Mike works as a General Patton impersonator
"Keep moving one grenade will get you all."
ARMY, 1962, Infantry
"I volunteered to be in the army. I am very proud of it , I would do it again if I could. "
Navy, 1942-1945 WW2
Nurse
ARMY, 1955-57
David worked as a guided missile crewman during The Cold War.
"Proud to serve the United States soil."
U.S ARMY, 1940-45, Sergeant 1st class
"I worked 5 years at the Treasury office as a legal attorney."
"I'm most thankful for the GI Bill."
U.S NAVY C.B.S. , 1944 - 47 1950 - 53 , WW2
U.S. Air force 1960 - 64. John worked with NASA and initiated the first black astronaut into that program
U.S AIRFORCE, 1954 - 56 , KOREAN WAR
Maintnence , generated electricity, emergency power.
Most memorable experience - Giving Neco wafers (candy) to kids on the street in Korea.
WW2
U.S. ARMY , 1960 - 63 , WGA
ARMY 1953-56,
100 23rd Infantry regiment Fort Lewis Washington.
"Jesus is the way my life depends on him."
U.S. ARMY AIRCORP 1942 - 45, WW2
ARMY , 1963-65 , Army Medic
" Young men and women should go into service to better themselves."
Mike is working in this painting as a Franklin D. Roosevelt impersonator.
U.S. MARINES, 1970, Vietnam War
Infantry, administrative assistant in casualty company.
"Most impactful thing for me, that I learned, in the marines is Leave no man behind."
Army 1967 - 69
Stock supplies in Germany
Army, infantry, Korean War 1952-54
"Have faith in God."
NAVY 1967-69 , Vietnam
One of the few women in the role 'engineer Yoman' of mechanics. She was in service during the Vietnam war. She repaired valves on a ship that was shot at off the coast.
Elizabeth is presently a director of LA Societe Des, 40 Hommes Et 8 Chevax.
NAVY, 1960 - 62
Borler, Dental assistant
"Was on a big old ship, with eight decks."
U.S.A.F, 1962-67, Captain , Air Commando C.I.A.
" Enjoyed the work, got out safe and sane, back to my quarters to rest."
U.S NAVY, 1943 , WW2
Corseman, pharmacist, mat 2/class
"Jack is deaf, he and Pepe are constant companions."
U.S ARMY, 1971 - 1973 ,
In charge of missle systems.
He was in Germany , during the Summer Olympics in 1972 , that stood out most during his service.
Army Corporal , WW2
442 Regiment Combat Team
Awarded The Congressional Gold Metal in 2011
NAVY, 1959-62 USS Hornet , Lieutenant
"The greatest mistake of my life is that I did not withdraw my letter of resignation, after the captain begged me to do so!"
Navy 1947-1968, Chief Petty Officer, ship USS Toledo CA133 (88yr)
Korean and Vietnam War, South China Sea,
Clayborn has been around the world 4 times with the Navy .
Memorable experience; " All the Ports of Call I went through were educational."
Claiborn was part of USS England.The last ship in the 12th division that selected 12 black sailors, all 12 were became part of the Chief Nuclear Crew .
U.S. AIRFORCE, Special Weapons command , 1950 - 54
Thomas work for a general for a period. He was
20, yrs old when he entered the service.
"The service was an important part of my life."
AIR FORCE, 1954-58
U.S AIRFORCE ,Crew Chief, AirForce Wingnut, Vietnam 1972-76
B-52 Bomber
Was involved in the evacuation of Saigon , earned a VN Service Medal.
“I grew up in the airfare.” Flying in Vietnam War was very exciting, it was a good experience.”
U.S. ARMY, AIR CORP, 1942 - 45
ARMY 1956-58
Gunner 30 calliber machine
US. MARINES, 1970 , VIETNAM WAR, Infantry, Admintry assistant in casualty company
The Most impactful " Leave no man behind."
U.S. AIRFORCE, 1952 - 56, Korean war era
Administrative work
"Those four years that I put in the airforce gave me the good things I have today."
U.S. ARMY , WW2, 1942 - 45
U.S. AIR FORCE, KOREAN WAR
NAVY, AirForce , 1945-47,
Medals-1,DFC, 2-Air Medals
Distinguish Flying cross 52 Combat missions.
"Be healthy and happy. "
AIR FORCE, 1966 - 1970
Marine Core, 1951-55 , Staff Sergeant, Korean War
Tony, earned a purple heart . While picking up wounded soldiers the helicopter he was in, was shoot at and crashed, resulting in him suffering a broken back .
It was a Long recovery in Tokyo , Japan hospital . Then 21 days on hospital ship returning to Treasure Island , CA
Most Memorable; "Many people that I served with never came back".
U.S. ARMY
ARMY, 1956 - 1958, Cold War
PET 82nd Airborne Division Artillery Special Forces, Fort Bragg N.C.
"During the Cold War, President Eisenhower was using American airborne troops to enforce integration in our University's."
U.S. ARMY, 1945 - 47
Tokyo, Kyoto
U.S. ARMY, 1953 - 54
Grounds Keeper for the California Veterans' home.
U.S. ARMY, AIR FORCE- CAPTAIN, 1940 - 45, WW2
Bombedar/Navigator
Awarded- Distingished Flying Cross and 2 Air Medal's
ARMY, Korean War , 1950-55, Mobile surgical hospital.
"We knew we we're saving lives that wouldn't be saved if we weren't there."
NAVY, Technician, 1960
"Be thankful for all the opportunities that are presented or come your way."
U.S. ARMY, 1969 - 71
U.S. ARMY, 1942 - 45, WW2
U.S. NAVY, 1969-79
Electronic technician
“A conscience is not a luxury it’s mandatory.”
ARMY, 1962, Infantry
"I volunteered to be in the army. I am very proud of it , I would do it again if I could. "
U.S. ARMY, NOV 1957 - 59,
Combat Medic
"Life begins when you believe in Christ."
US AIRFORCE , 1950 , Korean War
Security for AEC
Air Force 1956-1959
USAF 1958-1962
Army , AIR CORP, Message Center Chief
1941-1944
NAVY, 1956-1960
USN SEABEES , 1968-1971
AIR FORCE, AIRMAN 1ST CLASS, 1972-1973
USMC, 1952-1955
WW2 , U.S NAVY, 3rd Class , 1949-1953