ETV airing story of decorated WWII veteran Bell

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Educational Television is airing the story of World War II veteran Ted Bell, who led a daring attack in 1945 to secure a Japanese ridge. The documentary “Ted Bell and the Ridge” airs at 8 p.m. Thursday. Col. Bell led 200 men on a near-suicide mission on Okinawa’s heavily fortified Ishimi Ridge. Only 22 men survived the three-day assault. His efforts earned him the second-highest award for valor in combat, the Distinguished Service Cross. He is The Citadel’s most-decorated WWII veteran. Bell returned to the battle site earlier this year with a film crew. The show marks the third installment of ETV’s Man and Moment series. It’s part of the documentary project South Carolinians in World War II, a partnership between ETV and The State newspaper.