Lt. Col. Joseph S. Bell was 45 years of age when he was reported dead following the sinking of the Japanese prisoner of war ship Oryoku Maru 300 miles off the coast of China in Subic Bay, Philippines on Dec. 15, 1944. The Oryoku Maru was transporting prisoners to mainland Japan and Col. Bell was one of over 1,600 POWs on board departing from The Philippines. Over 1,200 prisoners died when the ship was sunk.
He attended DePauw University and was graduated from Indiana University law school. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Col. Bell practiced law in Lebanon, Indiana. He was a World War I veteran and sent to Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1935 on CCC duty. He married Mary Thomas on June 24, 1936 at Fort Douglas. Col. Bell was a member of the Masonic Order, Argenta Blue Lodge, the Shriners and Sojourners, and the Salt Lake City Elks Club.
He was called to active duty in February 1941 from the Army Reserve Corp. On October 21, 1941, he left Salt Lake City and was sent to the Philippines. He was stationed on Mindanao Island until taken prisoner by the Japanese on May 4, 1943 when Bataan fell. He remained in Japanese prisoner of war camps in the Philippines until Dec. 13, 1944.
At the time of his death, Col. Bell was survived by his wife Mary, a five year old son, and his parents-in-law, all of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Lt. Col. Joseph S. Bell was 45 years of age when he was reported dead following the sinking of the Japanese prisoner of war ship Oryoku Maru 300 miles off the coast of China in Subic Bay, Philippines on Dec. 15, 1944. The Oryoku Maru was transporting prisoners to mainland Japan and Col. Bell was one of over 1,600 POWs on board departing from The Philippines. Over 1,200 prisoners died when the ship was sunk.
He attended DePauw University and was graduated from Indiana University law school. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Col. Bell practiced law in Lebanon, Indiana. He was a World War I veteran and sent to Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1935 on CCC duty. He married Mary Thomas on June 24, 1936 at Fort Douglas. Col. Bell was a member of the Masonic Order, Argenta Blue Lodge, the Shriners and Sojourners, and the Salt Lake City Elks Club.
He was called to active duty in February 1941 from the Army Reserve Corp. On October 21, 1941, he left Salt Lake City and was sent to the Philippines. He was stationed on Mindanao Island until taken prisoner by the Japanese on May 4, 1943 when Bataan fell. He remained in Japanese prisoner of war camps in the Philippines until Dec. 13, 1944.
At the time of his death, Col. Bell was survived by his wife Mary, a five year old son, and his parents-in-law, all of Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Entered the service from Utah.
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