Frank Joseph Bell

Frank Joseph Bell’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Frank J. Bell (ASN: 283221), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Gesnes, France, 6 October 1918. Private Bell, while acting as a runner, repeatedly volunteered to take the place of other runners who had become exhausted, and delivered messages under severe enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. On the night of 6 October while on an important mission, he received a painful wound in the hand. He, nevertheless, continued on and delivered his message. On his return to battalion headquarters, he refused to be evacuated, dressed the wound himself, and continued in the capacity of runner.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 2 April 1891, White Earth, MN, United States
  • Place of Residence: IL, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Native American
  • Death: 3 July 1930 Napa, CA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [A]
  • Infantry Regiment: 128th
  • Division: 32nd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Frank Joseph Bell was born on 2 April 1891 in White Earth, Mahnomen, Minnesota, to unknown parents. He was a member of the White Earth Chippewa (White Earth Nation).

Bell worked as a coal heaver in the late 1910s, living in Illinois.

At some point before 1918, Bell married Minnie (maiden name unknown, ?-?)

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Bell’s enlistment date is unknown; he was assigned, as a Private, to Co. A, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division. Private Bell and Co. A left Hoboken, New Jersey aboard an unnamed U.S. Army Transport Ship on 18 February 1918. Pvt Bell received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 6 October 1918 near Gesnes, France;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Frank J. Bell (ASN: 283221), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Gesnes, France, 6 October 1918. Private Bell, while acting as a runner, repeatedly volunteered to take the place of other runners who had become exhausted, and delivered messages under severe enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. On the night of 6 October while on an important mission, he received a painful wound in the hand. He, nevertheless, continued on and delivered his message. On his return to battalion headquarters, he refused to be evacuated, dressed the wound himself, and continued in the capacity of runner”.

The extent of Bell’s wounds is currently unknown. He may have also received the French Croix de Guerre, level unknown.

Pvt Bell and Co. A left Brest, France on 27 April 1919 aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship George Washington, arriving at Hoboken, New Jersey on 5 May.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Details surrounding much of Bell’s life are unknown; in the 1930s, he was a resident at the Veterans Home of California, Yountville, in Napa Valley. Bell presumably died there on 2 or 3 July 1930, and was buried in the Sacramento City Cemetery, Sacramento, California.