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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Dennis Bell

Private Dennis Bell, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 30, 1898 in Tayabacoa, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War June 30, 1898

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Dennis Bell received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 30, 1898 in Tayabacoa, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Troop H, 10th U.S. Cavalry. Bell was 31 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 23, 1899.

Bell was born on December 28, 1866 in Washington, District of Columbia. Bell died on September 25, 1953 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 86. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Bell is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

1898 · Spanish-American War

Battle of Tayacoba

Result: Spanish victory

3 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →

Timeline

  1. December 28, 1866
    Born in Washington, District of Columbia
  2. June 30, 1898
    Act of valor — Tayabacoa, Cuba
    Age 31. Troop H, 10th U.S. Cavalry
  3. June 23, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 25, 1953
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 86.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Dennis Bell (December 28, 1866 – September 25, 1953) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish–American War. Bell and three of his fellow Buffalo Soldiers were the last black servicemen to be presented the Medal of Honor for more than half a century.

From the Wikipedia article “Dennis Bell (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on June 30, 1898

Fitz Lee Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WT William H. Thompkins Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 GW George Henry Wanton Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from District of Columbia

James Robb Church Assistant Surgeon · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 PK Philip Bogan Keefer Coppersmith · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.