Dec. 8, 2011 | WMU News
Bell, age 28, died of injuries he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol area. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Bell joined the Marines in 2001 and was serving his fifth deployment. He was a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart, and also was awarded: two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, three Marine Corp Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, three Iraqi Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
A wake will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at United Memorial Funeral Home, 75 Dickinson St., in Mt. Clemens, Mich. The memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at the Renaissance Unity Church, 11200 E. Eleven Mile, in Warren, Mich.
Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation in 2003, requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.
