2003.71.6

The black and white pencil drawing is a self-portrait of Mike Kelley, sitting with his helmet on, and shirt off, with a belt of ammo over one shoulder, and leading to a large gun. In the title it says this was in the Spring on 1970, in Hue, Vietnam.

About the author: Michael "M-60" Kelley served as a rifleman and machine gunner with D Company, 1st/502d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division from Nov69, until badly wounded, Sep70. Drafted immediately upon graduation from Sacramento State College (BA Art), Mike has since established himself as one of the better-known artists whose focus has been the Vietnam experience. His artwork hangs in numerous museums and private collections around the world, including the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. Between 1984 91, Mike was one of two associate members of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission (the $2.5 million memorial now sits in Sacramentoﾐs Capitol Park). A focus of his art and writing has been to dispel the myths surrounding the Vietnam veteran. During the 1990ﾐs, his art took a back seat to writing, and his articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Sun Times and Vietnam Magazine, among others. His military awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal.