Larry Gene Bell
Petty Officer Third Class
H&S CO, 3RD BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Navy
Alloway, New Jersey
April 16, 1947 to August 28, 1969
LARRY G BELL is on the Wall at Panel W19, Line 127

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Larry G Bell
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The report from the Marines in Vietnam to the family states: "Killed in Action - 28 August 1969 approximately 7 miles S.W. of Danang in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam as a result of missile wounds from an enemy surprise firing device (SFD) while on squadron size combat patrol."

The 3rd Battlion, 1st Marines Command Chronology entry for the month of August states: "281030H. Marine from Lima tripped SFD resulting in four KIA and two (2) WIA. SFD believed to be 105 round three (3) feet high on mound."

Later, the 1st Marines Command Chronology entry for August 1969 contains the following information: On 28 August 1969 at 1030 hours, Marines from Lima Company, while on a combat patrol in vicinity of grid (AT956673) tripped SFD (105mm round set with release fuze) resulting in four KIA and two WIA. SFD believed to be 105mm round three feet high on mound.

The four men killed were

HM3 Larry Gene Bell, Alloway, NJ, Corpsman, H&S with L/3/1
Pfc Billy J. Caudill, Richmond, IN, L Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines
Pfc Kenneth R. Ford, Fairmont, WV, L Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines
Pfc Thomas E. Semans, Norwalk, CA, L Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines

Larry Gene Bell is buried in East View Cemetery, Salem New Jersey.

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Bell's name is listed on the Russell G Garrison Memorial Park monument in Woodstown, New Jersey. Below are the photos of Park sign and 2012 Re-dedicated Memorial Stone with new names added, to include Bell's.

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The Russell G. Garrison Memorial Park is located in Woodstown, New Jersey. It was originally dedicated to local Vietnam veterans from the community who passed away during the war. The memorial was small, unnoticeable, neglected, and looked uninviting.

According to Councilman Joe Hiles, the monument was installed in the late 1960s, along with a single flag pole. Since then, only two names, Garrison and Marvin L. Watson, were engraved on the monument.

The Girl Scouts thought the veterans deserved more respect and care than shown in photo at their website. See story, photos, and videos here.

The Girl Scouts needed a silver project to do and thought this was the perfect opportunity for expanding the memorial, and improving the landscaping to spice it up a bit.

On October 31, 2012, the Girl Scouts had completed the work on sprucing up the monument grounds and placing the new monument. Read full story and see photos here.

On November 12, 2012, a re-dedication ceremony was held for the recently beautified Russell G. Garrison Memorial Park. Local Girl Scouts Meagan Kirsch, Natalie Williams, and Gabby Scardino, revealed the newly added names to the Russell G. Garrison Memorial Park monument. Read full story and see photos here.

The names engraved on the monument now include:

-- The Virtual Wall


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