[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9024]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF THE FALLEN SOLDIER ARMY SERGEANT (SGT) 
                         CHRISTOPHER ROGER BELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
fallen soldier Army Sergeant (SGT) Christopher Roger Bell who paid the 
ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation on June 4, 2011, during 
Operation Enduring Freedom. SGT Bell was killed when an improvised 
explosive device hit his convoy in Laghman Province, Afghanistan. Also 
killed were Sergeant (SGT) Joshua David Powell, Sergeant (SGT) Devin 
Arielle Snyder, and Specialist (SPC) Robert Lee Voakes, Jr.
  SGT Bell was assigned to the 164th Military Police Company, 793rd 
Military Police Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of Joint 
Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
  SGT Bell, a Golden, Mississippi native, was 21 years old at the time 
of death. He joined the Army in July 2008 after graduating from Tremont 
High School in Tremont, Mississippi, and served at Fort Leonard Wood, 
Missouri, before being stationed in Alaska in January 2009.
  ``If he saw that someone needed help, he did not hesitate to step in 
and lend a hand,'' said Robert Worthington. ``He always put others 
before himself. SGT Bell strived for perfection in every aspect of 
life, and knowing that perfection was out of reach, he still never 
stopped trying.''
  He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Good Conduct 
Medal, NATO Medal, and Combat Action Badge. He was also awarded the 
National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze 
Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service 
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat and Special Skill Badge, Basic 
Marksmanship Qualification Badge, and Overseas Service Bar.
  On June 17, 2011, SGT Bell was buried with full military honors at 
the Living Faith Tabernacle Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi.
  SGT Bell is survived by his wife, Samantha Lucas Bell; daughter, Lana 
Nicole Bell; his parents, Timothy and Barbara Bell; and brothers, 
Zachary and Timothy Bell. He is also survived by his maternal 
grandparents, James and Mary Wooten; his paternal grandmother, Judith 
Pitcher; his mother and father-in-law, Vera and Roger Lucas; and his 
brother-in-law, Roger Lucas.
  SGT Bell's service and sacrifice will always be remembered.

                          ____________________