Bell, Bryan Richard
Male
Verified Senior Airman Bryan Richard Bell, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was a U.S. Air Force civil engineer. He died from hostile action at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on January 5, 2012.
Their Story
Bryan Richard Bell was a Senior Airman assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. The unit provides engineering, construction, and emergency services support for military operations. According to his service record, his deployments included Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On January 5, 2012, Bell died at Camp Bastion, a major British-run airfield adjacent to Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province. The U.S. Department of Defense stated his death was the result of hostile action. No further details regarding the specific incident were publicly released by the military.
Bell's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By early 2012, a surge of U.S. forces had peaked and a drawdown was underway, though combat operations and insurgent attacks continued, particularly in Helmand Province.
Bell's body was returned to the United States. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart medal. A memorial service was held at Barksdale Air Force Base, and he was buried with full military honors in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Erie County Courthouse and on online veterans' memorials. His name is inscribed on Panel 2W, Line 127 of the Afghanistan Conflict Memorial Wall at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio.
Explore Further
Bell was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
