b. 29/12/1911 Henrietta, near Grantsville, Virginia. d. 11/01/1971 Delano, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION; 18/12/1944 Mittelwihr, France.
Bernard P Bell MOH
Bernard Pious Bell was born at Henrietta, Calhoun County in 1911, son of Perry Pius and Lora Roberts Bell. He entered the Army from New York in August 1942. He earned the Medal of Honor while serving with Company I, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division at Mittelwihr, France on December 18, 1944. He left the Army on June 19, 1945, with the rank of warrant officer. He was presented with his Medal of Honor on 23 August 1945 at The White House from President Harry S Truman. Speaking of all the valiant men who fought through World War II, Bell simply said “They did just as much as I out there on the battlefield.”
In addition to the Congressional Medal of Honor, he was awarded almost every Army medal including the Distinguished Service Cross to the French Croix de Guerre. Bernard never married but was in a relationship with an English girl for over 25 years. He worked in his later years for the Veterans Administration. Tragically, Bernard died when he choked on a piece of meat whilst eating a meal in his home on 11th January 1971. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honours.
MOH CITATION:
For fighting gallantly at Mittelwihr, France. On the morning of December 18, 1944, he led a squad against a schoolhouse held by enemy troops. While his men covered him, he dashed toward the building, surprised two guards at the door and took them prisoner without firing a shot. He found that other Germans were in the cellar. These he threatened with hand grenades, forcing 26 in all to emerge and surrender. His squad then occupied the building and prepared to defend it against powerful enemy action. The next day, the enemy poured artillery and mortar barrages into the position, disrupting communications which T/Sgt. Bell repeatedly repaired under heavy small-arms fire as he crossed dangerous terrain to keep his company commander informed of the squad’s situation. During the day, several prisoners were taken and other Germans killed when hostile forces were attracted to the schoolhouse by the sound of captured German weapons fired by the Americans. At dawn the next day the enemy prepared to assault the building. A German tank fired round after round into the structure, partially demolishing the upper stories. Despite this heavy fire, T/Sgt. Bell climbed to the second floor and directed artillery fire which forced the hostile tank to withdraw. He then adjusted mortar fire on large forces of enemy foot soldiers attempting to reach the American position and, when this force broke and attempted to retire, he directed deadly machine gun and rifle fire into their disorganized ranks. Calling for armored support to blast out the German troops hidden behind a wall, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to heavy small-arms fire to stand beside a friendly tank and tell its occupants where to rip holes in walls protecting approaches to the school building. He then trained machine guns on the gaps and mowed down all hostile troops attempting to cross the openings to get closer to the school building.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 25 GRAVE 3840
LOCATION OF MEDAL: MASON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, MASON CITY, WEST VIRGINIA.
