B.B. Bell, General, United States Army (Retired) and UTC Distinguished Alumnus in 2003, was recently honored by the Chief John Ross Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The event was co-sponsored by UTC and the National Medal of Honor Museum.
Bell ’69 was presented the DAR Medal of Honor for his service to the United States and his community.
The DAR Medal of Honor is the “most prestigious honor awarded by the DAR.” United States citizens who have shown extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service and patriotism are eligible. “The recipient must have made unusual and lasting contributions to our American Heritage by truly giving of himself or herself to his or her community, state, country and fellowman.”
Bell, a native Tennessean, retired in 2008 following 39 years of military service. He graduated from the University of Chattanooga in 1969 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Bell was commissioned in the Army as a participant in the University’s ROTC program and designated a Distinguished Military Graduate. He served fifteen years deployed overseas during both peace and war times.
As a two star general, he commanded the Army’s Armor Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and later, as a three star general, he commanded the Army’s Third Corps, headquartered at Fort Hood, Texas. As a four star general, General Bell commanded the United States Army in Europe, as well as NATO’s Land Component Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Subsequently he served as the Commander of United States Forces in Korea, as well as commander of all Allied Forces in Korea.
Bell is a veteran of the Balkans Campaigns in southern Europe as well as the Iraq Desert Storm Campaign where he served as General Norman Schwarzkopf’s Executive Officer. He is a lifetime member of the New York based Council on Foreign Relations.
He has a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, and holds honorary degrees.
