Frank J. Bell

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Bell, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Gesnes, France, October 6, 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 October 6, 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.