Medal of Honor: Bernard P. Bell – World War II – December 18, 1944

Name: Bernard P. Bell
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company I, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Place and Date: Mittelwihr, France – 18 December 1944
Entered Service At: New York, New York
Born: Grantsville, West Virginia
Departed: Survived
Accredited To: New York

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Summary of Action

On the morning of December 18, 1944, near Mittelwihr, France, Technical Sergeant Bernard P. Bell led an eight-man squad against a schoolhouse occupied by German forces. While his men provided covering fire, Bell dashed toward the building, surprised two enemy guards at the entrance, and captured them without firing a shot. Discovering additional enemy soldiers in the cellar, he threatened them with hand grenades, forcing a total of 26 Germans to surrender.

Bell’s squad occupied the schoolhouse and prepared to defend it. Over the next two days, the enemy subjected the position to relentless artillery and mortar fire, severing communications repeatedly. Each time, Bell crossed exposed ground under heavy small-arms fire to repair the lines and keep his company commander informed.

Enemy forces were repeatedly drawn to the schoolhouse and were either killed or captured as Bell’s squad used captured German weapons to lure them in. At dawn on the following day, the Germans launched a major assault supported by a tank that fired repeatedly into the building, partially demolishing its upper floors.

Despite the bombardment, Bell climbed to the second floor and directed artillery fire that forced the tank to withdraw. He then adjusted mortar fire onto large enemy infantry formations and, when they broke and attempted to retreat, directed devastating machine-gun and rifle fire into their ranks. Later, he exposed himself to heavy fire to guide a friendly tank into position, directing its fire to breach walls shielding enemy approaches. Bell then placed machine guns to cover the gaps, cutting down every enemy soldier who attempted to advance.

Through bold leadership and relentless aggression, Bell and his eight-man squad repelled approximately 150 enemy soldiers, killing at least 87 and capturing 42. Bell personally killed more than 20 enemy troops and captured 33 prisoners, holding the position against overwhelming odds.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For fighting gallantly at Mittelwihr, France. On the morning of 18 December 1944, he led a squad against a schoolhouse held by enemy troops. While his men covered him, he dashed toward the building, surprised 2 guards at the door and took them prisoner without firing a shot. He found that other Germans were in the cellar. These he threatened with hand grenades, forcing 26 in all to emerge and surrender. His squad then occupied the building and prepared to defend it against powerful enemy action. The next day, the enemy poured artillery and mortar barrages into the position, disrupting communications which T/Sgt. Bell repeatedly repaired under heavy small-arms fire as he crossed dangerous terrain to keep his company commander informed of the squad’s situation. During the day, several prisoners were taken and other Germans killed when hostile forces were attracted to the schoolhouse by the sound of captured German weapons fired by the Americans. At dawn the next day the enemy prepared to assault the building. A German tank fired round after round into the structure, partially demolishing the upper stories. Despite this heavy fire, T/Sgt. Bell climbed to the second floor and directed artillery fire which forced the hostile tank to withdraw. He then adjusted mortar fire on large forces of enemy foot soldiers attempting to reach the American position and, when this force broke and attempted to retire, he directed deadly machinegun and rifle fire into their disorganized ranks. Calling for armored support to blast out the German troops hidden behind a wall, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to heavy small-arms fire to stand beside a friendly tank and tell its occupants where to rip holes in walls protecting approaches to the school building. He then trained machineguns on the gaps and mowed down all hostile troops attempting to cross the openings to get closer to the school building. By his intrepidity and bold, aggressive leadership, T/Sgt. Bell enabled his 8-man squad to drive back approximately 150 of the enemy, killing at least 87 and capturing 42. Personally, he killed more than 20 and captured 33 prisoners.