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Personal info

Full name
BELL, Robert Joseph
Date of birth
16 September 1914
Age
30
Place of birth
Gardner Town, Orange County, New York
Hometown
Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Military service

Service number
42072242
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Squad Leader
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
318th Infantry Regiment,
80th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Died of Wounds
Date of death
26 December 1944
Place of death
unknown

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
D 12 2

Immediate family

Members
Elias K. Bell (father)
Carolyn (Leary) Bell (mother)
Elizabeth Bell (stepmother)
Charles A. Lambert (adoption father)
Mary Lambert (adoption mother)
Rose Bell (half-sister)
Elinor Bell (half-sister)
Valerie (Gasking) Bell (wife)
Robert Bell (son)
Patricia Bell (daughter)

More information

Sgt Robert J. Bell was a mechanic, employed by the American Bohrett Company.

He enlisted in New York City, New York on 24 February 1944.

Sgt Bell was awarded the Silver Star medal posthumously for his actions on 23 December 1944 when, as a squad leader, he took over the command of the platoon when the platoon leader became a casualty during an attack on a strongly hold enemy position. Flanking the position under heavy enemy machine gun, mortar and tank fire, Sgt Bell led his men successfully attain the assigned position on the high ground northwest of Ettelbruck, Belgium. It was while he was establishing defensive positions he was wounded by sniper fire.

He was hit in the abdomen, buttock and hip.

Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1915 States Census / 1930/1940 Census U.S. / U.S. Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files / U.S. Draft Cards Young Men, www.80thdivision.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - LuxAmCem