Dateline: Batchtown
Kermit Wayne Bell lived a full life for 96 years and passed away on Friday November 1, 2024.
He was born on March 20, 1928, in Batchtown, IL, the son of Elbie and Minnie Bell, the youngest of 5 brothers. He graduated from high school in Hardin, IL and enlisted in the Army soon after. In late June of 1948, he was accepted as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point after spending 7 months at the prep school at Stewart Field. He initially earned this appointment under the allotment given to Regular Army enlisted men on a competitive basis as opposed to congressional appointment. He is the first on only Calhoun native to graduate from West Point. Just before leaving the Academy, he married Marianne Burgin in June of 1952 at a ceremony at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel at West Point. Together they lived in Japan and Germany and traveled extensively. He is a three-war veteran: WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He retired in Nov 1970 as a highly d

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kermit-bell-obituary?id=56718213