This was LtCol. Bell's last operation, one day, with his replacement Lt.Col. Pietro. It was a joint ARVN, and Marine (1/1) effort centered on the islands. 1/1 moved out before light that morning to set up a blocking force while the ARVNs were to sweep the island.
This picture was given to Ron Davenport (Stix) by Tom Stokes (S-3 actual at the time) at the first 1/1 reunion. It was taken by Brian Howard, another 1/1er, acting as a Bn. Photographer. There was also a Division Combat Photographer assigned to 1/1 that day. The time frame had to be end of May, beginning of June, 1967.
I got this photo off the 1/1 web site where it was posted along with the information re the 2007 Reunion.
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Col. Van Daley Bell Jr., 90, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.