January Firefighter of the Month
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell
Fire Station: Fairfield Hose Company
Rank: Senior Fireman
Nominated By: Multiple fellow firefighters
Taken From Obituary published in the Erie Times-News on January 11th, 2012
Sr. Airman Bryan R. Bell, age 23, of Barksdale AFB, La. and formerly of Harborcreek Twp., gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on Thursday, January 5, 2012 in Shir Ghazi in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province. Bryan was born February 10, 1988 in Erie, the son of Richard W. Bell and Donna Peters Aldrich, both of Harborcreek Twp. He had resided in Harborcreek Twp. until his enlistment in the U.S.A.F. He was a 2006 graduate of Harbor Creek High School where he had lettered in football and was a member of the baseball and track teams. As a young man, Bryan had participated in the Harbor Creek Little League baseball program. He had also been an active volunteer member of Fairfield Hose Co. since the age of 14. Over his years of service with Fairfield, he eventually attained the rank of a senior fireman.
In 2007 Bryan joined the United States Air Force where he became an explosive-ordinance disposal technician. He received his EOD training at Eglin AFB in Florida. Bryan served his first tour of duty in Iraq. Since October of 2011 he was serving a second tour of duty. Bryan was a member of the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron assigned to Delta Company, 466th Explosive Ordinance Disposal. In 2010, Bryan received national news media attention as photos of him at work circulated in conjunction with the release of the film, "Hurt Locker".
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Bryan was a motorcycle enthusiast as well as a Playstation gamer. He was an avid Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Red Wings and Bobby LaBonte racing fan. He enjoyed camping, grilling and was especially proud of his truck. He loved animals and dearly loved his pet dog, "Daisy" and his pet cat, "Terry".
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his beloved wife of three years, Alaina C. Hart Bell, whom he married on August 9, 2008; his sister, A1C Candice Bell, USAF stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio; his step-father, David Aldrich of Harborcreek; his step-mother, Kim Bell of Harborcreek; his step-sister, Stephanie Battista (Christopher) of North East; his step-brother, Matthew Aldrich of Erie; maternal grandparents, Ross and Gertrude Peters of Harborcreek; paternal grandmother, Carmen Bell of Harborcreek; his mother and father-in-law, Mike and Brenda Hart of Wesleyville; his sister and brother-in-law, Mariel and Patrick Wilcox of Belleville, N.J.; several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, William Bell.
