ccheese
Member In Perpetuity
Col. Van D. Bell Jr.
NETTLETON - Col. Van Daley Bell Jr.,
90, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at North Mississippi Medical Center in
Tupelo. Col. Bell was born Aug. 25, 1918, in Atlanta, Ga., to Van D.
Bell Sr. and Grace Hicks Bell. He grew up in Miami, Fla., and enlisted
in the Marine Corps in l936 at the age of 17. He honorably and bravely
served his country for 39 years, retiring with the rank of colonel from
the U.S. Marine Corps. After boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., Col. Bell
went to China and served with the 4th Marines during the Sino-Japanese
War. He spent several years in China and served throughout the Pacific
aboard the flagship of the Asiatic fleet, the USS Augusta, serving as an
orderly and bodyguard for Admiral Yarnell. During his China years, he
won the Asiatic Pacific and All Navy boxing championships. During World
War II, Mst. Sgt. Bell participated in the battles of Gaudalcanal,
Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa. After World War II, 1st Lt. Bell was
ordered back to China. He later served in the Korean War, where he
became company commander of A/1/7. Lt. Col. Bell served as the battalion
commander for the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, in Vietnam for two
consecutive tours. In l967, Col. Bell returned from Vietnam to serve as
inspector for the 2nd Marine Division at Camp LeJeune, N.C. He then went
to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was commanding officer of Marine
Barracks and Ground Forces Defense Commander for the U.S. Naval Base. He
later was Chief o f Staff for Landing Forces Training Command in
Coronado, Calif. In l973, he went to Okinawa as commanding officer of
Camp Butler. Upon returning to Camp LeJeune, he retired after 39 years
service in the Marine Corps, starting as private and retiring as
colonel.
His distinguished and highly decorated
service to his country made him among the most decorated and respected
Marines of all times. His decorations include two Navy Crosses (the
nation's second highest decoration), two Silver Stars, Legion of Merit
with Combat V, Bronze Star with Combat V, five Purple Hearts, Combat
Action Ribbon, four Presidential Unit Citations, four Navy Unit
Citations, Good Conduct Medal with two Stars, Yangtze Service Medal,
China Service Medal with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal
with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Vietnam
Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with
two Gold Palms and one Gold Star among others. He enjoyed attending
military reunions around the country. After retirement to Nettleton,
Col. Bell completely devoted himself to country living and raising his
two sons. He enjoyed fishing with them and gardening. He was a member of
the Nettleton United Methodist Church.
Marines all around the country are
diminished at Col. Bell's passing and he will be remembered for years to
come among America's great military leaders in the mold of the "Greatest
Generation."
Another hero gone....
Charles
NETTLETON - Col. Van Daley Bell Jr.,
90, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at North Mississippi Medical Center in
Tupelo. Col. Bell was born Aug. 25, 1918, in Atlanta, Ga., to Van D.
Bell Sr. and Grace Hicks Bell. He grew up in Miami, Fla., and enlisted
in the Marine Corps in l936 at the age of 17. He honorably and bravely
served his country for 39 years, retiring with the rank of colonel from
the U.S. Marine Corps. After boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., Col. Bell
went to China and served with the 4th Marines during the Sino-Japanese
War. He spent several years in China and served throughout the Pacific
aboard the flagship of the Asiatic fleet, the USS Augusta, serving as an
orderly and bodyguard for Admiral Yarnell. During his China years, he
won the Asiatic Pacific and All Navy boxing championships. During World
War II, Mst. Sgt. Bell participated in the battles of Gaudalcanal,
Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa. After World War II, 1st Lt. Bell was
ordered back to China. He later served in the Korean War, where he
became company commander of A/1/7. Lt. Col. Bell served as the battalion
commander for the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, in Vietnam for two
consecutive tours. In l967, Col. Bell returned from Vietnam to serve as
inspector for the 2nd Marine Division at Camp LeJeune, N.C. He then went
to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was commanding officer of Marine
Barracks and Ground Forces Defense Commander for the U.S. Naval Base. He
later was Chief o f Staff for Landing Forces Training Command in
Coronado, Calif. In l973, he went to Okinawa as commanding officer of
Camp Butler. Upon returning to Camp LeJeune, he retired after 39 years
service in the Marine Corps, starting as private and retiring as
colonel.
His distinguished and highly decorated
service to his country made him among the most decorated and respected
Marines of all times. His decorations include two Navy Crosses (the
nation's second highest decoration), two Silver Stars, Legion of Merit
with Combat V, Bronze Star with Combat V, five Purple Hearts, Combat
Action Ribbon, four Presidential Unit Citations, four Navy Unit
Citations, Good Conduct Medal with two Stars, Yangtze Service Medal,
China Service Medal with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal
with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Vietnam
Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with
two Gold Palms and one Gold Star among others. He enjoyed attending
military reunions around the country. After retirement to Nettleton,
Col. Bell completely devoted himself to country living and raising his
two sons. He enjoyed fishing with them and gardening. He was a member of
the Nettleton United Methodist Church.
Marines all around the country are
diminished at Col. Bell's passing and he will be remembered for years to
come among America's great military leaders in the mold of the "Greatest
Generation."
Another hero gone....
Charles
