Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BELL, Donald Dewitt - Date of
birth
24 June 1912 -
Age
32 - Place of
birth
South Dakota -
Hometown
Watertown, Pennington County, South Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-121971 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
305th Squadron,
442nd Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Northwest of Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 16 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clement H. Bell (father)
Ora M. Bell (mother)
Roger Bell (brother)
Owen Bell (brother)
Richard Bell (brother)
Jean Bell (sister)
John Bell (brother)
Margaret Bell (sister)
John Hudson Bell (son)
More information
F/O Donald D. Bell enlisted at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 29 April 1941.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 29 April 1941 as a private. He completed 4 years of high school, worked as a truck driver in Watertown, South Dakota.
At the time of Donald’s landing by glider on drop zone N during Operation Varsity, his craft was under heavy small arms fire, and it was essential that he and his crew immediately left the glider to seek the nearest shelter. F/O Bell, however, was caught in German crossfire and was fatally wounded by a shot in the groin. Although immediately given blood plasma by combat medical men, F/O Bell never regained consciousness so he knew no pain or suffering. He passed away in a field hospital at approximately 17.30 hours, 24 March 1945.
Source of information: Richard Kunne, Herman Kunne, John T. Gerlosky, www.ancestry.com - 1920-1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Enlistment Records / 17th Airborne Division Historical Report of Operation Varsity
http://members.home.nl
Photo source: Richard Kunne, Herman Kunne, Arie-Jan van Hees