b. 28/12/1866 Washington DC. d. 25/09/1953 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
DATE OF MOH ACTION; 30/06/1898 Trinidad, Cuba.
Dennis Bell MOH
Bell was born December 28, 1866 and joined the Army from his birth city, Washington, D.C.. By June 30, 1898 he was serving as a Private in Troop H of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. On that day, American forces aboard the Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area. The party was discovered by Spanish scouts and came under heavy fire; their boats were sunk by enemy cannon fire, leaving them stranded on shore.
The men aboard the Florida launched several rescue attempts; the first four were forced to retreat under heavy fire. The fifth attempt, manned by Bell and three other Privates of the 10th Cavalry (Fitz Lee, William H. Thompkins, and George H. Wanton) under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, launched at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party. One year later, on June 23, 1899, four of the rescuers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in what had come to be known as the Battle of Tayacoba. The other four were Sergeant Major Edward L. Baker Jr., Private Fitz Lee, Private William H. Thompkins, and Private George H. Wanton.
Dennis Bell reached the rank of Corporal before leaving the Army.
MOH CITATION;
Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON ,VIRGINIA.
SECTION 31, GRAVE 349
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
