Roger BELL, the eldest son of Pauline (LONG) BELL WHEELEN, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February of 1959. He served his country on several ships in the Norfolk, Virginia area, then was commissioned to the U.S.S. Achenar AK A53 during the Berlin Crisis. Roger was honorably discharged in January of 1963 with the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class (E-5).

NOTE: The Berlin Crisis: In November of 1958, Soviet Premier KHRUSHCHEV issued an ultimatum, giving the Western powers 6 months to agree to withdraw from Berlin, thus making it a free, demilitarized city. At the end of six months, the Soviet Union would turn over to East Germany complete control of all lines of communication with West Berlin and the Western powers would only have access to West Berlin by permission of the Eastern German government. In response, the United States, Great Britain, and France firmly asserted their intent to remain in Berlin and maintain their legal right of free access to the city. The Soviet Union withdrew the deadline in 1959, met wit the Western powers in a Big Four foreing ministers' conference. The sessions, which lasted three months, failed to produce any significant results or agreements. Premier Khrushchev did ultimately visit the United States in September of 1959 and did visit Iowa.

SOURCE:
Maloy Centennial book, p. 79

Submission and note by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010

Roger Allen Bell obituary