Born – July 8, 1983
Died – November 30, 2011, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan (28 years old)
SSgt Bell graduated from Crockett Technical High School in Detroit in 2001. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on July 9, 2001, and subsequently began Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.
After completing boot camp and subsequent training, SSgt Bell served four tours of duty in Iraq and was serving his first tour of duty in Afghanistan as an artilleryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division. SSgt Bell was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while conducting a foot patrol.
His awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
SSgt Bell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. SSgt Bell is survived by his mother, Pamela; father, James; and two sisters, London and Andrea.