BELL, Richard Dean 1926 - 1945

BELL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:27

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, January 18, 1945
Front Page, Column 5

Dick BELL Is Missing

Richard BELL, 18, seaman 1/C, a member of a mine sweeper crew, is missing in action somewhere in the South Pacific, his mother, Mrs. Rosa BELL, 902 West Jefferson St., was notified this morning by an official telegram. The message did not give the date he was reported as missing.

Mrs. BELL's last letter from her son, received last Friday, was written Dec. 30. Richard enlisted in the navy at Ottumwa, Jan. 20, 1944, while a junior in the local high school, and received his call to duty at once. Upon completion of his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, he was assigned aboard the same mine sweeper from which he is reported missing. Although his whereabouts were not known, he had been continuously on ship since October 31.

Mrs. BELL received the information this morning at her school, Center No. 7, where she had been a teacher the past three years. Her other son, Charles Edward, is a junior in the local high school.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, February 24, 1945
Front Page, Column 3

Killed By Jap Bomb

Seaman 1/C Richard BELL, 18, reported missing in action by the war department in a telegram to his mother, Mrs. Rosa BELL, 902 W. Jefferson St. January 18, was killed by a torpedo from a Jap plane on the morning of January 7 in the Lingayen Gulf off Luzon.

Although the word is not official, a buddy of Richard's, Seaman 1/C Earl Ogden who was on the mine sweeper when BELL was hit, visited Mrs. BELL yesterday and told her the story of the bombing. Ogden, a former resident of Farson, attended Parsons college, 1940-41 and is home on a 30-day rest leave with his wife in Ottumwa and his parents.

Ogden stated he had talked to Richard at 3 a.m. before the bombardment started at 5 a.m. and he told him he felt he "wouldn't make it today if we are hit, so be sure to stop and see my mother when you get home." Ogden said he saw the Jap torpedo hit the spot where BELL was standing but was not sure BELL had been struck. As they were being picked up, by the rescue ship, Ogden stated he began looking around for the "Bell boys" as Richard and Keith BELL, from Utah, were called by members of the crew.

He found Keith who had been wounded in the leg. Keith, however, stated he had seen Richard killed and added "he never knew what hit him." Ogden said Keith and Richard, although no relation and had not known each other before they shipped out, had been almost inseparable. Mrs. BELL has Keith's address in Utah and is writing him for further information.

Seaman BELL was born in Fairfield, April 4, 1926 and attended the grades and high school. He was a junior when he enlisted in the navy at Ottumwa, January 20, 1944. Upon completion of his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, he was assigned immediately aboard the mine sweeper on which he met his death.

He is survived by his mother, and a younger brother, Charles, a junior in the local high school; two grandfathers, Charles HILDING and J. F. BELL both of this city; and an uncle Ed HILDING who has always made his home with the BELLs. His father passed away August 23, 1927, when Richard was 16 months old, and seven months before the birth of Charles.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, March 15, 1945
Front Page, Column 2

Memorial For BELL

Seaman 1-c Richard D. BELL, 18, has been officially declared killed in action, according to an official war department telegram received last evening by his mother, Mrs. Rosa BELL, 902 W. Jefferson St.

The telegram confirmed the information brought to Mrs. BELL, February 23, by Seaman 1-c Earl Ogden, buddy of Richard, who said that he saw a Jap torpedo hit the spot where BELL was standing on their minesweeper, about 5 a.m. during the bombardment January 7 in the Lingayen Gulf off Luzon.

Memorial services will be held for Seaman BELL at the St. Mary's Catholic church at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 17 in charge of Rev. Fr. H. M. Thoman. A mass of requiem will be said.

Seaman BELL was born in Fairfield, April 4, 1926 and attended the grades and high school. He was a junior when he enlisted in Ottumwa, January 20, 1944. Upon completion of his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, he was assigned immediately aboard the mine sweeper on which he met his death.

Surviving are his mother, instructor at Center No. 7 school; a brother, Charles, local high school junior; two grandfathers Charles HILDING and J. F. BELL both of this city; and an uncle Ed HILDING who has always made his home with the BELLs. His father passed away August 23, 1927.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, March 17, 1945
Front Page, Column 7

8 Names, 4 Gold Stars Added To Honor Roll

Eight more names have been added to the Honor Roll recently and this brings the total number to 1712.

Ralph Roberts, Jr.
Harry W. Baldwin
Ernest R. Heston
Robert D. Ecklund
Paul V. Drish
Floyd F. Gonterman
R. L. Richardson
Raymond A. Watts

Four additional Gold Stars have been added also

GOLD STARS
Richard D. BELL
Riley P. Jones
Jasper L. Cook
Wm. Billingsley

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 3rd.061. It is not clear from the above articles whether remains were recovered and sent back to Iowa for interment; the stone on the above lot may be a memorial marker.

Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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