He was just over six feet tall with a friendly demeanor, similar to his father. He attended Amity (Knox County, Ohio) schools, lacking one credit from graduating when he enlisted in the Army Air Force at Ft. Thomas, Newport, Kentucky on January 6, 1941 (he did obtain his GED in the Air Force). After basic training, he was stationed in Panama for a period of two years.
He was then sent to the European Theater of Operation in April 1944. There, he flew thirty-one missions in B-17 aircraft over Germany and occupied Europe. For this meritorious service, he received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters in June 1944 (lower right medal). In August 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "For extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner of a B-17 airplane ...... over Germany and German occupied countries" (lower left medal).
He was deployed to the Phillippines in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from May 1945 through November 7, 1945. The extent of his involvement in this campaign is not known, but he received several citations and medals for service in this area.
He was discharged December 7, 1945 and returned to Mount Vernon. His initial enlistment was for a period of three years, but was extended to almost five years because of World War II.
Russell left home in the summer of 1947 to travel to California supposedly "to see Uncle Bob" (Pop's brother, Robert). In a few days, the family received a postcard dated June 20, 1947 with the following news : "Dear mother, Am near Yellowstone park waiting to go through a tunnel which is under repair. Was married the 9th in Newport. Love, Russ and Nita". At some time, they had met on a bus trip, but he had never told family of his interest in this lady prior to the postcard.
He re-enlisted in the US Air Force in March 1949 and was assigned to Chatham AFB and then Hunter AFB, both in Georgia, where he received Top Secret government clearance. In December 1952, he was assigned to Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico in the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Second Air Force until January 1955. He again re-enlisted in February 1955 and was promoted to Master Sergeant. During September 1956 through June 1957 he was in Homestead AFB, Florida, at Non-Commissioned Officers school and subsequently was responsible for aircraft scheduling and maintenance.
He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and built a new house in Hayesville, North Carolina. Juanita joined him after her retirement from teaching in Homestead, Florida.
He was then sent to the European Theater of Operation in April 1944. There, he flew thirty-one missions in B-17 aircraft over Germany and occupied Europe. For this meritorious service, he received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters in June 1944 (lower right medal). In August 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "For extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner of a B-17 airplane ...... over Germany and German occupied countries" (lower left medal).
He was deployed to the Phillippines in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from May 1945 through November 7, 1945. The extent of his involvement in this campaign is not known, but he received several citations and medals for service in this area.
He was discharged December 7, 1945 and returned to Mount Vernon. His initial enlistment was for a period of three years, but was extended to almost five years because of World War II.
Russell left home in the summer of 1947 to travel to California supposedly "to see Uncle Bob" (Pop's brother, Robert). In a few days, the family received a postcard dated June 20, 1947 with the following news : "Dear mother, Am near Yellowstone park waiting to go through a tunnel which is under repair. Was married the 9th in Newport. Love, Russ and Nita". At some time, they had met on a bus trip, but he had never told family of his interest in this lady prior to the postcard.
He re-enlisted in the US Air Force in March 1949 and was assigned to Chatham AFB and then Hunter AFB, both in Georgia, where he received Top Secret government clearance. In December 1952, he was assigned to Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico in the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Second Air Force until January 1955. He again re-enlisted in February 1955 and was promoted to Master Sergeant. During September 1956 through June 1957 he was in Homestead AFB, Florida, at Non-Commissioned Officers school and subsequently was responsible for aircraft scheduling and maintenance.
He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and built a new house in Hayesville, North Carolina. Juanita joined him after her retirement from teaching in Homestead, Florida.
He was just over six feet tall with a friendly demeanor, similar to his father. He attended Amity (Knox County, Ohio) schools, lacking one credit from graduating when he enlisted in the Army Air Force at Ft. Thomas, Newport, Kentucky on January 6, 1941 (he did obtain his GED in the Air Force). After basic training, he was stationed in Panama for a period of two years.
He was then sent to the European Theater of Operation in April 1944. There, he flew thirty-one missions in B-17 aircraft over Germany and occupied Europe. For this meritorious service, he received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters in June 1944 (lower right medal). In August 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "For extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner of a B-17 airplane ...... over Germany and German occupied countries" (lower left medal).
He was deployed to the Phillippines in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from May 1945 through November 7, 1945. The extent of his involvement in this campaign is not known, but he received several citations and medals for service in this area.
He was discharged December 7, 1945 and returned to Mount Vernon. His initial enlistment was for a period of three years, but was extended to almost five years because of World War II.
Russell left home in the summer of 1947 to travel to California supposedly "to see Uncle Bob" (Pop's brother, Robert). In a few days, the family received a postcard dated June 20, 1947 with the following news : "Dear mother, Am near Yellowstone park waiting to go through a tunnel which is under repair. Was married the 9th in Newport. Love, Russ and Nita". At some time, they had met on a bus trip, but he had never told family of his interest in this lady prior to the postcard.
He re-enlisted in the US Air Force in March 1949 and was assigned to Chatham AFB and then Hunter AFB, both in Georgia, where he received Top Secret government clearance. In December 1952, he was assigned to Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico in the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Second Air Force until January 1955. He again re-enlisted in February 1955 and was promoted to Master Sergeant. During September 1956 through June 1957 he was in Homestead AFB, Florida, at Non-Commissioned Officers school and subsequently was responsible for aircraft scheduling and maintenance.
He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and built a new house in Hayesville, North Carolina. Juanita joined him after her retirement from teaching in Homestead, Florida.
He was then sent to the European Theater of Operation in April 1944. There, he flew thirty-one missions in B-17 aircraft over Germany and occupied Europe. For this meritorious service, he received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters in June 1944 (lower right medal). In August 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "For extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner of a B-17 airplane ...... over Germany and German occupied countries" (lower left medal).
He was deployed to the Phillippines in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from May 1945 through November 7, 1945. The extent of his involvement in this campaign is not known, but he received several citations and medals for service in this area.
He was discharged December 7, 1945 and returned to Mount Vernon. His initial enlistment was for a period of three years, but was extended to almost five years because of World War II.
Russell left home in the summer of 1947 to travel to California supposedly "to see Uncle Bob" (Pop's brother, Robert). In a few days, the family received a postcard dated June 20, 1947 with the following news : "Dear mother, Am near Yellowstone park waiting to go through a tunnel which is under repair. Was married the 9th in Newport. Love, Russ and Nita". At some time, they had met on a bus trip, but he had never told family of his interest in this lady prior to the postcard.
He re-enlisted in the US Air Force in March 1949 and was assigned to Chatham AFB and then Hunter AFB, both in Georgia, where he received Top Secret government clearance. In December 1952, he was assigned to Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico in the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Second Air Force until January 1955. He again re-enlisted in February 1955 and was promoted to Master Sergeant. During September 1956 through June 1957 he was in Homestead AFB, Florida, at Non-Commissioned Officers school and subsequently was responsible for aircraft scheduling and maintenance.
He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and built a new house in Hayesville, North Carolina. Juanita joined him after her retirement from teaching in Homestead, Florida.
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