Michael Belis Page 14

Michael Belis Company C 1/22 Infantry 1970-1971

Tuy Hoa, 1971

Regulars of Co C about to move out into rice paddies to set up an ambush for the night.

Old farmer and his grandaughter move their ducks out of our way

Rodrigue

Webb

Mark Marshall

Gene McGray - note M65 Field Jacket - it could get chilly at night on the coast

Bill Crane (Crain?)
He would be seriously injured in a helicopter crash in April 1971. Crushed and pinned in the wreckage.
A Lieutenant from another Platoon would receive a Soldier's Medal for extracating him from the chopper
before it caught fire. That Lieutenant literally pulled that helicopter apart to get Crane out.
Crane was evacuated to Japan and then back to the US.

Left: Bill Crane - right: Gene McGray
Gene's rifle has a first generation night vision AN/PVS2-A "Starlight" scope mounted on it.
Also note Gene is wearing an M-65 field jacket. Gene is carrying his gear in two claymore bags slung
over his shoulders. Along Highway 1 south of Tuy Hoa 1971.

Hernandez & Platoon Sgt look over map prior to moving out. Kit Carson Scout "Binh" at top right with boonie hat.

Left to right: Crane, Lewis, Marshall, Utah
By this time Utah had become a truck driver for the Company, after humping the boonies for months.
Utah really knew guns and he was probably the best shot in our Platoon.

Patrol forms up. Gene is on far right with Starlight Scope mounted on his M-16 rifle.
3rd from left, Webb, has parachute flares stuck in his leg pocket.

Patrol takes a last smoke as daylight begins to fade.

5 man ambush patrol, M60 machine gunner in the middle. They will go about 500-1000 yards, then sit down
& wait for darkness. After dark they will move to the left or right & set up the ambush.
That way anyone watching them will not be certain of their exact location.