World War II Honoree

James Cole Bell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

M. Carol Darnell & Richard Gaboury

Relationship

Relatives

ENLISTED IN TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD; JANUARY 22, 1941 IN DALLAS, TEXAS. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP BOWIE, BROWNWOOD, TEXAS AND LATER ASSIGNED TO I COMPANY, 142ND INFANTRY, 36TH TEXAS DIVISION. TROOPED TO THE LOUISIANA MANEUVERS AREA, AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 1941. SENT TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA; FEBRUARY 15, 1942 AND WITH THE DIVISION, STAGED AT CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS. AUGUST 17, 1942 FOR OVERSEAS PORT CALL. PARTICIPATED IN CAROLINA MANEUVERS BETWEEN JULY 9 AND AUGUST 15, 1942. DEPARTED U.S. PORT OF EMBARKATION FROM NEW YORK ON APRIL 2, 1943 FOR NORTH AFRICA. DISEMBARKED NORTH AFRICA; APRIL 13, 1943 FOR REFITTING, SUPPLY AND COMBAT TRAINING AT ARZEW AND RABAT. DURING OPERATION AVALANCHE, BOARDED U.S. BATTLE GROUP; SEPTEMBER 5, 1943 AND AMPHIBIOUSLY LANDED AT SALERNO, ITALY; SEPTEMBER 9, AGAINST INTENSE GERMAN OPPOSITION. CONTINUED ATTACK INTO THE ALTAVILLA HILLS WITH HILL 424 AS OBJECTIVE. SEPTEMBER 14, 1943, RECEIVED WOUNDS TO HIS BACK. WAS EVACUATED AND HAD SHRAPNEL NEAR HIS KIDNEY SURGICALLY REMOVED. AFTER REST AND RECUPERATION, WAS REASSIGNED TO 142ND INFANTRY AND BIVOUACKED SOUTH OF CASSINO. RECEIVED CONCUSSION FROM SHELL EXPLOSION; FEBRUARY 25, 1944 IN THE PUSH AGAINST THE SLOPES OF MOUNT CAIRO WITH EVACUATION TO THE 70TH GENERAL HOSPITAL. RETURNED STATESIDE WITH MEDICAL CONDITION, DETERMINED PHYSICALLY DISABLED FOR MILITARY DUTY AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. MEDICALLY SEPARATED OCTOBER 19, 1944 WITH HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 1 CAMPAIGN STAR FOR NAPLES-FOGGIA, AND 2 GOLD OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS.