21 Dec 2002 The following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The special supplement was issued in conjunction with the dedication of the Philadelphia Viet Nam Memorial. By the time Bell graduated from St. Thomas More High School in 1964, he had earned letters in basketball, football, baseball and track. He played on the St. Joseph's College freshman team before entering the Army in August 1965. He shipped out to Viet Nam in February 1966 and was assigned to Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. The private first class, a rifleman, died near Phuoc Vinh on March 16, 1966, 10 days before his 21st birthday. Bell had been wounded earlier in the day, but continued to fight before being fatally wounded as he tried to neutralize a Viet Cong machine-gun emplacement. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Bell was engaged to be married. He was survived by his mother, brother and two sisters. From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net A note from The Virtual Wall The 173rd Airborne Brigade was not a part of the 101st Airborne Division, but rather a separate brigade not assigned to any division. The "Sky Soldiers" of the 173rd were among the first American soldiers to arrive in Vietnam, and amongst the last to leave.

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