Bell, Russell Ryan
Male
Verified U.S. Army First Sergeant Russell Ryan Bell, 37, of Tyler, Texas, was killed in a hostile incident in Zharay, Afghanistan, on August 2, 2012.
Their Story
First Sergeant Russell Ryan Bell was a 37-year-old soldier from Tyler, Texas. He served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bell was a senior non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army's active duty component.
On August 2, 2012, Bell was killed in Zharay District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, his death was the result of a direct fire engagement with enemy forces. The incident occurred during a period of intense fighting in the district, a known Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
Bell's death took place during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2012, the conflict was in its eleventh year, with U.S. and NATO forces heavily engaged in counterinsurgency operations, particularly in the southern provinces like Kandahar.
Following his death, Bell was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried in his home state of Texas. Local media in Tyler reported on memorial services held in his honor.
First Sergeant Bell is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists maintained by the Department of Defense and on several veterans' memorial websites. His unit, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, is part of the 82nd Airborne Division's long history.
Explore Further
First Sergeant 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.
