Bell named veteran of month
THOMPSON — John L. Bell Sr. of Pompeo Road was selected as the Town of Thompson Veteran of the month for September.
Iran Hostage War Era Veteran, Petty Officer John Bell, Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1976 and received his honorable discharge in 1982.  After basic training, he received   advanced weapons direction and equipment training and went to the “USS Barney Guided Missile Destroyer DDG6”, to begin a four-and a half year deployment. Bell was in Bander Abbas, Iran when the Shah was in power and during the Iran Hostage Crisis. Also: the Mediterranean/Indian Ocean, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, Gitmo, Cuba, Greece, Djibouti, the Sudan, Kenya, Naples Italy and more. Bell trained for the nuclear weapons security force, which included application of deadly force, and overview on the operation and instruction in the use of the FZ alarm and Duress System. 
The Senior Officer W. L. Mcdow, LCDR, of the U.S. Navy, said “Petty Officer Bell was a highly capable and conscientious technician. His stamina, technical expertise and leadership capabilities were thoroughly tested in the high- pressure atmosphere of the Persian Gulf, where maintaining maximum weapons systems readiness was essential. It is to his great credit that his equipment did not suffer a single mission degrading casualty during his entire deployment.”
Bell was awarded The Battle “E” Efficiency Ribbon, The Navy Expeditionary Medal, The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and The First Good Conduct Award. 
John Bell was born in Texas, but has lived most of his life in Webster  and N. Grosvenordale. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1969, and went on to study at Quinsigamound Community College in Worcester and at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Most of his professional life has been devoted to being a lieutenant for the State of Connecticut Prison System. 
He has also been extremely active in Veterans Programs as a long- time member and 2 term Past Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10088 in Quinebaug, and a member of the American Legion Post 67 in Grosvenordale. Other memberships:  the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 10  and the Polish American Veterans. Community service includes: Thompson Board of Selectman serving on its Board from 2009 to 2011;  Zoning Board of Appeals, and is a state-certified Justice of the Peace. He has organized the annual Thompson Memorial Day Parade. He is also the head mechanic in Thompson for all voting machines John has also recently passed the State of Connecticut Moderator Examination, as a certified Moderator. John is also a proud owner of a lime green 2017 Dodge Challenger Sport Car.
John is married to his long-time wife Kathy (Molinaro) Bell, and together they have two sons, John, Jr. and Louis Bell and his wife Erica; and four grandchildren, Brendan, Brooke, Cali and Ashley.

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