Dennis Bell (Medal of Honor)

Dennis Bell

Private Dennis Bell
Born December 28, 1866
Washington, D.C.
Died September 25, 1953 (aged 86)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1898-1906
Rank Corporal
Unit Troop H, 10th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars Spanish-American War
*Battle of Tayacoba
Awards Medal of Honor

Dennis Bell (December 28, 1866 – September 25, 1953) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish-American War.

Biography

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.

Dennis Bell reached the rank of Corporal before leaving the Army. He died at age 86 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Private Bell's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.

See also

References