Robert Ellis Bell

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Lieutenant Commander Robert Ellis Bell, (19 August, 1889 – 3 July, 1925) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Bell was born in South Carolina and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1910. He was commissioned Ensign on 7 March, 1912, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 7 March, 1915.[1][2]

During World War I, Bell served aboard battleship Oklahoma and at the naval base in Brest, France. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, temporarily on 1 July, 1917 and permanently on 7 March, 1918, and to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, temporarily on 1 July, 1918 and permanently on 3 June, 1921.[3][4][5]

In 1923 he was appointed to his first command, destroyer Kennedy, holding command until early 1925, at which time he transferred to command destroyer Hazelwood, which had been recommissioned to train reservists out of San Francisco. On 3 July, 1925, as the ship was preparing to leave the Mare Island Navy Yard, Bell was found dead in his shower, having died, apparently by suicide, some time during the previous night.[6][7][8][9][10]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles J. Parrish
Captain of U.S.S. Kennedy
before 1 Jul, 1923[11] – after 1 Jan, 1925[12]
Succeeded by
Thalbert N. Alford
Preceded by
Arie A. Corwin
Captain of U.S.S. Hazelwood
1 Apr, 1925[13] – 3 Jul, 1925[14]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1913. pp. 54-55.
  2. Register of Officers, 1916. pp. 50-51.
  3. Register of Officers, 1918. p. 46.
  4. Register of Officers, 1919. p. 48.
  5. Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 40-41.
  6. Navy Directory 1 July, 1923 pp. 6, 143.
  7. Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 40-41.
  8. Navy Directory 1 May, 1925 pp. 6, 152.
  9. Sacramento Bee 3 July, 1925 p. 7.
  10. Register of Officers, 1926. p. 409.
  11. Navy Directory 1 July, 1923 pp. 6, 143.
  12. Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 40-41.
  13. Navy Directory 1 May, 1925 pp. 6, 152.
  14. Sacramento Bee 3 July, 1925 p. 7.