Sgt 1st Class Michael Russell of Fredericksburg, Va., joined the Army in October of 1991 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., his first duty station was Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he remained until April 1995. In May 1996, he was assigned to the 158th Aviation Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo. In August 1996, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, where he served as a flight engineer with the 3rd Batallion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga. Sgt. 1st Class Russell's military schools include the Primary Leadership Development Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level-C Course and the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with "V" Device, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Service Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Senior Army Crew Member Badge, the Army Superior Unit Award and the Oversees Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, a second Bronze Star Medal, a second Air Medal with "V" Device, the Meritorious Service Medal, Master Army Crew Member Badge and the Combat Action Badge. Sgt. 1st Class Russell was predeceased by his mother, Linda Kay Luehrs Russell. He was among 16 United States service members killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province. The Taliban claims it shot down the aircraft with a rocket-propelled grenade. He was a flight engineer serving his sixth tour in Afghanistan since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He is survived by his wife, Annette, and two daughters. He was 31.
Sgt 1st Class Michael Russell of Fredericksburg, Va., joined the Army in October of 1991 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., his first duty station was Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he remained until April 1995. In May 1996, he was assigned to the 158th Aviation Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo. In August 1996, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, where he served as a flight engineer with the 3rd Batallion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga. Sgt. 1st Class Russell's military schools include the Primary Leadership Development Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level-C Course and the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with "V" Device, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Service Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Senior Army Crew Member Badge, the Army Superior Unit Award and the Oversees Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, a second Bronze Star Medal, a second Air Medal with "V" Device, the Meritorious Service Medal, Master Army Crew Member Badge and the Combat Action Badge. Sgt. 1st Class Russell was predeceased by his mother, Linda Kay Luehrs Russell. He was among 16 United States service members killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province. The Taliban claims it shot down the aircraft with a rocket-propelled grenade. He was a flight engineer serving his sixth tour in Afghanistan since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He is survived by his wife, Annette, and two daughters. He was 31.
