James Franklin Bell

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel (Infantry) James Franklin Bell, United States Army, for most distinguished gallantry on 9 September 1899, while serving with 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, in action at Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands. While in advance of his regiment, Colonel Bell charged seven insurgents with his pistol and compelled the surrender of the captain and two privates under a close fire from the remaining insurgents concealed in a bamboo thicket.

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 Major (Corps of Engineers) James Franklin Bell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Engineering Officer, U.S. Volunteers, in action against Spanish forces at Manila, Philippine Islands, 10 August 1898. Major Bell, with utter disregard for his personal safety, conducted a bold and daring reconnaissance of the creek in front of Fort San Antonio de Abad held by Spanish forces, and ascertained not only that it was fordable, but the exact width of the ford at the beach, and swimming in the bay to a point from which he could examine the Spanish line from the rear, secured information which facilitated the planning of the successful attack of 13 August 1898, on Manila, Philippine Islands.