World War II Honoree

Maurice Bell

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Corinth, Mississippi

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a SEAMAN 1ST CLASS, ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) which SAW ACTION IN 1944 in THE PACIFIC THEATER AT THE GILBERT, MARSHALL, MARIANNAS, PELELIU AND IWO JIMA ISLANDS. It also participated in the invasion of Tarawa. IN JULY 1945 IT DELIVERED URANIUM 235 TO TINIAN ISLAND FOR THE ATOMIC BOMBS and was sunk ON JULY 30, 1945, while returning from that highly secret mission. HE WAS ONE OF 316 MEN TO SURVIVE OUT OF A CREW OF 1,196 SAILORS. He received the ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON with 6 STARS, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, AND PURPLE HEART MEDAL.