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 Col.
Van Daley Bell, Jr. , 90, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at North Miss.
Medical Center in Tupelo.
Col. Bell was born in Atlanta, Ga. on Aug. 25, 1918 to the late 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 sea duty
throughout the Pacific aboard the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, the USS
Augusta, serving as an Orderly and Body Guard for Admiral Yarnell.
During his China years, he won the Asiatic Pacific and All Navy Boxing
Championships. During World War II, MSGT Bell participated in the
battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa. After WW 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, California. 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 2 Navy Crosses (the nation's second highest
decoration), 2 Silver Stars, Legion of Merit with Combat V, Bronze Star
with Combat V., 5 Purple Hearts, Combat Action Ribbon, 4 Presidential
Unit Citations, 4 Navy Unit Citations, Good Conduct Medal with 2 Stars,
Yangtze Service Medal, China Service Medal with Bronze Star, National
Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with 4
Bronze Stars, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Vietnam Cross
of Gallantry with 2 Gold Palms and 1 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 PM Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the
Tupelo Chapel of Holland-Harris Funeral Directors with 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, to whom he
married Jan. 7, l967. two sons: Lt. Col. Doug Bell (Patricia) of Camp
LeJeune, North Carolina and Sgt. Sam Bell (Lane) of Tupelo. 5 grandchildren:
Cayman Bell, Ryan Bell, Riley Bell, Carson Bell and Garrett Bell. a sister:
Wilma Grace (Don) of Tampa, Fla. and a brother in law: Eugene Pettigrew
(Pat) of Nettleton. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary
Brownlee and 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 PM-service time on Sunday only. Memorials may be
made to the Tupelo Veteran's Memorial Park, P. O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS.
38803.
The burial was
at Arlington National Cemetery on August 18, 2009 at 1100 hours with full
military honors.
Leatherneck Magazine article about Colonel Bell
Colonel Bell on a 1/1 Operation
Funeral at Arlington
Colonel Van "Ding Dong" Bell,
Jr. was loved and respected by all who served with him. He will be missed
and remembered. |
1st Battalion, 1st Marines