Dennis Bell (Medal of Honor)

Went ashore under fire to rescue wounded comrades

Dennis Bell earned the Medal of Honor at Tayabacoa, Cuba, on 30 June 1898. A private in Troop H, 10th United States Cavalry, he volunteered for a rescue after earlier attempts to reach wounded soldiers had failed.

Bell was born in Washington, D.C., on 28 December 1866. His award was accredited to his birthplace. He served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.

The official citation describes Bell going ashore in the face of the enemy and helping recover his wounded comrades. It emphasizes that the rescue followed several unsuccessful efforts. The surviving award account does not give a complete sequence of movements or specify the number of men he personally helped, so those details should not be assumed.

Bell received the Medal of Honor on 23 June 1899. He survived the Cuban campaign and died in Washington, D.C., on 25 September 1953. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His decoration commemorates a soldier who volunteered to return to danger for injured men who still needed help.

Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated.