GyBill
06-12-2009, 10:34 AM
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 1936 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 of 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."
Services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the
Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with the Rev. David Brooks
officiating. Col. Bell will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in
Washington D.C. among the nations' military heroes.
Survivors include his wife, Hilda Shumpert Bell of Nettleton, whom he
married Jan. 7, l967; two sons, Lt. Col. Doug Bell (Patricia) of Camp
LeJeune, N.C., and Sgt. Sam Bell (Lane) of Tupelo; five grandchildren,
Cayman Bell, Ryan Bell, Riley Bell, Carson Bell and Garrett Bell; a sister,
Wilma Grace (Don) of Tampa, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Eugene Pettigrew (Pat)
of Nettleton. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary
Brownlee; three brothers, Murray, Jimmy and Eugene Bell; his in-laws, Lester
and Bessie Riley Shumpert; and a sister-in-law, Kay S. Busenlehner.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to service time Sunday only.
Memorials may be made to the Tupelo Veteran's Memorial Park, P.O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS. 38803.
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 1936 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 of 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."
Services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the
Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with the Rev. David Brooks
officiating. Col. Bell will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in
Washington D.C. among the nations' military heroes.
Survivors include his wife, Hilda Shumpert Bell of Nettleton, whom he
married Jan. 7, l967; two sons, Lt. Col. Doug Bell (Patricia) of Camp
LeJeune, N.C., and Sgt. Sam Bell (Lane) of Tupelo; five grandchildren,
Cayman Bell, Ryan Bell, Riley Bell, Carson Bell and Garrett Bell; a sister,
Wilma Grace (Don) of Tampa, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Eugene Pettigrew (Pat)
of Nettleton. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary
Brownlee; three brothers, Murray, Jimmy and Eugene Bell; his in-laws, Lester
and Bessie Riley Shumpert; and a sister-in-law, Kay S. Busenlehner.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to service time Sunday only.
Memorials may be made to the Tupelo Veteran's Memorial Park, P.O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS. 38803.