William Robert Bell

On November 25, 2014, William ‘Bill’ Bell of Fairfax, VA passed away peacefully surrounded by family. Bill was born on November 6, 1929 in Irvington, NJ. Beloved husband of Judith A. Bell for 36 years, he also leaves behind his daughters, Julia (Jon) Sweeney, Rebecca (Ryan) Link, and Samantha Mae Bell. He leaves 5 grandchildren, Alexa, Devon, James, Rachel, and Nick. He also leaves his nephews, Raymond Milefsky and Steve Milefsky. He is predeceased by his parents, William Bell and Ida Mae Bell, and his beloved son, Will. He is survived by many friends, former co-workers, and military comrades. Bill graduated from West Point in June 1953 and was commissioned into the infantry. He attended Ranger and Airborne training and was assigned to Infantry units as a young company grade officer. Bill then attended Princeton University and obtained an advanced degree in 1960 in preparation to teach cadets at West Point’s Social Sciences Department. While at West Point, LTC Bell was a parachutist and a Jump Master, completing at least 114 jumps. He was fondly known as ‘Wilber the Jump Master.’ Following mid-career schooling at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Bill next served a tour in Germany, at the height of the Cold War, as US and NATO forces readied to respond to any incursion from the Soviet Union. Bill also served in Vietnam in the late 60’s, again serving during the most intense period of that long war. In Vietnam, LTC Bell was assigned to serve under Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Jr. and Col. Donald S. Marshall as an integral member of the Long Range Planning Task Group, A Program for the Pacification and Long Term Development of South Vietnam (PROVN). Returning home, Bill finished his military career in Washington at the Pentagon, serving in both the Joint Staff and Secretary of Defense’s office. Bill retired in 1973 as a Lieutenant Colonel, and his awards include the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Upon retirement, Bill joined BDM, later owned by Northrop Grumman Corporation. Bill worked for 30 years, displaying exemplary service and receiving a Balkan Service Medallion from then acting Director of the CIA, George Tenant. His contributions were quoted as being “an essential element of our understanding of the military situation in the Balkans.” Mr. Bell personally devised and maintained data files of the order of battle holdings of up to eight different armies. Mr. Bell’s contributions to the security of our nation were the cornerstone of his long and dedicated career. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 7:30 PM at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Rd., Burke, Virginia. A reception at the church will follow immediately. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in LTC William R. Bell’s name be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or online at woundedwarriorproject.org.