World War II Honoree

Everett Ward Bell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Charlotte, North Carolina

Honored By

Douglas E. Nash

Relationship

Grandson

CORPORAL. SERVED AS A 60-MM MORTAR TEAM LEADER IN WEAPONS PLATOON, COMPANY A, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION FROM 1943 TO 1945. HE JUMPED INTO NORMANDY ON 6 JUNE 1944 AND WAS CAPTURED BY GERMAN PARATROOPERS NEAR SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE ON 11 JUNE 1944. HE SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR AT THE POW CAMP STALAG IV-A NEAR NEUBRANDENBURG, GERMANY. HE NEARLY DIED OF PNEUMONIA IN FEBRUARY 1945, BUT WAS NURSED BACK TO HEALTH THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF SEVERAL FRENCH PRISONERS OF WAR WITH WHOM HE WAS HELD PRISONER. HE SURVIVED THE WAR AND RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN JULY 1945, WHERE HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTISTS BADGE WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.