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Walter B. Russell Jr.

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Walter B. Russell Jr.
Member of the
Georgia House of Representatives
from the 77th (Post 1) district
In office
1971–1972
Member of the
Georgia House of Representatives
from the 53rd (Post 1) district
In office
1973–1976
Chairman of the
Board of County Commissioners
DeKalb County, Georgia
In office
1977–1980
Personal details
Born(1929-07-24)July 24, 1929
Greensboro, North Carolina
DiedMay 17, 2016(2016-05-17) (aged 86)
Resting placeRussell Family Cemetery, Winder, Georgia
CitizenshipUSA
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseNancy Hinton Russell
Relatives
Education
  • Duke University
  • U.S. Military Academy
  • Emory University School of Law
FamilyRussell Family
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceU.S. Army
Years of service1951–1966
RankLieutenant colonel
CommandsG Company, 17th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
  • Korean War
  • Pork Chop Hill
  • Vietnam War
Awards
  • Legion of Merit
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Silver Star
  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart with one OLC

Walter B. Russell Jr. (July 24, 1929 – May 17, 2016)[1] was an American soldier, state legislator, county commissioner, and lawyer. He served in Korea and Vietnam. After being retired from the U.S. Army because of a wound to his head, Russell graduated from law school, was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and later to the chair of the Dekalb County commissioners. He practiced law after leaving public office.

Early life

Russell was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on July 24, 1929 to Walter B. and Dorothea Elberta (Bealer) Russell.[2][3] In 1930 Russell was living in Mecklenburg, North Carolina.[4] Russell attended high school in Durham, North Carolina and attended Duke University from 1946-1947, before enrolling in United States Military Academy, West Point, New York where he graduated as a member of the class of 1951; his Cullum number is 18198.[2][5]

Military career

During the Korean War Russell, then a first lieutenant, commanded G Company, 17th Infantry Regiment in the 7th Infantry Division.[6] He was assigned to reinforce the counterattack against Pork Chop Hill being waged by K Company, commanded by his brother-in-law Joseph G. Clemons, and L Company, both of the 31st Infantry Regiment. The U.S. attack was successful and the units held their positions, preventing a Chinese Communist breakthrough in the 7th Infantry Division section of the line.[6] Russell was awarded the Silver Star "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" for his actions during the battle.[7]

After the war, he served a number of roles. In 1956, he commanded an infantry company in the 82nd Airborne Division.[5] In 1959 he was an Aviation Company Commander in the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1963 he was an Aviation Battalion Commander in the 11th Air Assault Division.[5]

On October 10, 1965, Russell, then serving as operations officer of the 1st Cavalry Division was wounded in the head while flying a helicopter in the Republic of Vietnam; his wound was considered to be serious but he was expected to recover.[8] In November 1965, Russell was awarded the Legion of Merit for his "exceptionally meritorious conduct" in Vietnam while he was hospitalized at Walter Reed General Hospital; Senator Richard B. Russell of Georgia presented the medal.[9] He was retired wounded as a lieutenant colonel in 1966.[3]

He was highly decorated for his service. His awards included Legion of Merit, Silver & Bronze Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, Air & Commendation Medals, Korean & Vietnam Campaign Ribbons, Master Parachutist and Combat Infantry Badges, Senior Army Aviation Wings, and Ranger Tab.[5]

Civilian career

After retiring from the U.S. Army, Russell graduated from the Emory University School of Law and became a member of the Georgia Bar in 1970.[5][10] That same year, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives where he served three terms.[11][1] In 1971-1972 he was a representative of District 77 serving post 1. In 1973-1974 and 1975-1976 he was serving District 53, in all three terms representing DeKalb County, Georgia.[5] During his service in the House, he opposed a resolution in favor of leniency for Lieutenant William Calley.[12] In 1970, Russell joined with fellow state legislator, Max Cleland, to condemn using raids into North Vietnam to rescue prisoners of war, advocating for negotiated solutions.[13] In 1971, he led an effort by the Georgia House to pass a resolution calling for an end to the war.[14] He was later elected chairman of the DeKalb County, Georgia, board of commissioners.[15][16]

Personal life

He married Nancy Hinton on October 30, 1954, in Boone County, Missouri. Nancy was born October 25, 1930 in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. She was the daughter of Col. John Hinton (b. 1895) and Betty Peabody (Fitts) Hinton (b1905). They had five children: Walter B. Russell III (b 1955), Emily Russell (b 1957), Betty Hinton Russell (b 1959), Stuart Brevard Russell (b 1962), and Anne Minetree Russell Eiswirth (b 1967). Russell was the son of Walter B. Russell (b June 18, 1903 in Walton County, Georgia) and Dorothea Elberta (Bealer) Russell (b 1906 in Fulton County, Georgia). He was the grandson of Richard Brevard Russell (b 1861 in Cobb County, Georgia), who was a chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.[5][1]

He was an Episcopalian and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Delta Phi.[5]

Later life and death

After leaving public office, Russell continued to practice law then later retired.[1] He died on May 17, 2016.[1]

In media

Russell was portrayed by actor Rip Torn in the 1959 film Pork Chop Hill about the battle in Korea.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e >"Walter B. Russell Jr". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 22, 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "LTC Walter B. Russell Jr USA(Retired)". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b Edited by Edna S. Lackey, "Georgia Official and Statistical Register. 1973-1974", Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia,
  4. ^ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW35-Q1Z : accessed 13 December 2017), Walter Russell in household of Walter B Russell, Township 4 Sharon, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-84B, sheet 11A, line 7, family 205, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2944.(registration required)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Edited by Edna S. Lackey, "Georgia Official and Statistical Register. 1975-1976", Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia,
  6. ^ a b "THE BLOODIEST YEAR—1953" (PDF). 31stinfantry.org. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Walter B. Russell". Hall of Valor. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Shot in Vietnam War". The Kansas City Times. 13 Oct 1965. p. 4. Retrieved July 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  9. ^ "Medal For Senator's Nephew". Jim Thorpe Times News. 19 November 1965. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  10. ^ "In Memoriam" (PDF). Georgia Bar Journal. 22 (1): 80. August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  11. ^ Edited by Edna S. Lackey, "Georgia Official and Statistical Register. 1973-1974", Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia,
  12. ^ "1971 10 06 Statesville Record and Landmark NC "Resolution Adopted"". Statesville Record And Landmark. 6 October 1971. p. 9. Retrieved July 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. ^ Viet Veteran Opposes Raids, Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) Dec 21, 1970, page 5, accessed December 18, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15857412/viet_veteran_opposes_raids_tallahassee/
  14. ^ Cease-Fire Vote by Georgia House, The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) 18, Feb 1971, page 2, accessed December 18, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15857445/ceasefire_vote_by_georgia_house_the/
  15. ^ "County Miscellany". Georgia Official and Statistical Register (PDF) (Report). Edited by Marian B. Holmes. Atlanta, Georgia: State of Georgia Department of Archives and History. 1977–1978. pp. 1113–1114. Retrieved December 19, 2017.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ^ "Georgia County Officers & Miscellany 1979-80". Georgia Official and Statistical Register (PDF) (Report). Edited by Marian B. Holmes. Atlanta, Georgia: State of Georgia Department of Archives and History. 1979–1980. pp. 127–128. Retrieved December 19, 2017.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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