By the time Bell graduated from St. Thomas More High School in 1964, he had earned letters in basketball, football, baseball and track. He attended St. Joseph's College before entering the Army in August 1965. He shipped out to Vietnam in February 1966 and was assigned to Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. The private first class, a rifleman, died near Phuoc Vinh on March 16, 1966, 10 days before his 21st birthday. Bell bad been wounded earlier in the day, but continued to fight and pull wounded comrades to safety before being fatally wounded as he tried to neutralize a Viet Cong machinegun emplacement. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Bell was engaged to be married. He was survived by his mother, brother and two sisters.