Michael Belis Page 2

Michael Belis Company C 1/22 Infantry 1970-1971

Sections of the orders for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. My name is underlined in blue ink.
The orders are dated December 2, 1970 with an effective date of November 18, 1970. The CIB was the only
decoration I cared about as it told the world that I had been a "grunt" in a war zone.

An Khe, 1970 - Base Camp at Camp Radcliff. Wayne "Andy" Anderson under the sign at entrance to 1/22 Infantry area.

An Khe, 1970
Base Camp at Camp Radcliff. 3rd Platoon barracks, Company C 1/22 Inf.
In foreground center sitting up on cot is Dodd "Utah" Owens
That's me, 2nd from right, laying on cot with my feet hanging over.

An Khe, 1970 - Coming in to Base Camp by helicopter.

An Khe, 1970
Coming in to Base Camp by helicopter. My knees in foreground, as my legs are hanging out the aircraft.

An Khe, 1970
Me on the right with captured SKS rifle, Bo on the left, wearing black scarf
which was officially sanctioned for wear in 1/22 Inf.

7.62 x 39mm AK-47 cartridge, headstamp indicates year of manufacture as 1966. From a cache found at NVA
bunker complex at grid reference BR596304, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Binh Khe, Binh Dinh Province,
September 1970. This is the same complex where Chuck Reed and Joseph Jackson from my squad were killed.
One of the guys in 3rd platoon carved holes in the casing and inserted a dog tag chain through it. He made several
of these for guys in the platoon. I wore it around my neck in Vietnam, 1970-1971. This cartridge is a green tracer round,
though the green painted tip can no longer be seen, having been worn off by sweat and dirt.

An Khe, 1970 - OH-58 Scout Helicopter with XM-27 minigun.

An Khe, 1970
Business end of an AH-1 Cobra Helicopter Gunship. With minigun, grenade launcher & rocket pods,
the "Snakes" were our air support out in the boonies.

Another view of the above Cobra

An Khe, 1970
Me in the middle. Goose & Ski on my left, both machine gunners from 3rd Platoon.
Mike Lopez, company armorer on my right. Mike has a 22nd Inf DI above his right pocket.

An Khe, 1970
Standing, left to right, Lewis, Ski, Goose, Andy & Spanky. Down in front Utah on left, Shillings on right.
"We band of brothers"

An Khe, 1970
Shillings on left with captured SKS rifle, me on right with captured AK-47rifle.

Firebase somewhere Northwest of An Khe, 1970

Doc Sorrento - Medic for 3rd Platoon, Co C. His rucksack has cans of plasma taped to it, & medic bag on top.
Ron was our doctor, shrink, spiritual advisor & big brother out in the jungle.

One of the best men I'll ever know.

Somewhere northwest of An Khe, 1970
Ponchos snapped together to make tents for sleeping positions at an NDP (Night Defensive Perimeter).
3rd Platoon, Co C 1/22 Infantry.

Somewhere Northwest of An Khe, 1970
"Pop Smoke" - Marking the landing zone with violet smoke grenade so helicopters can come in & bring our re-supply.

Somewhere northwest of An Khe, 1970 - Our home for what seemed like forever.
This is the thin part of the jungle.

Cobra landing at An Khe

Area near An Khe

Monkey Mountain as seen from the Battalion area at An Khe

Battalion area at An Khe

Hooch maids at An Khe

Unknown on left, Mike Hernandez on right
Swinging bridge at Battalion area at An Khe