More detail on this person: LTC David E.
Russell, August 31st, 1940 - January 11th, 2009,
Spur Commander, Spur 6, 26 Dec 70 - 17 Jun 71
Obituary courtesy of Fellows, Helfenbein and
Newnam Cremation and Funeral Care, Jan 09:
http://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/
David Earl Russell, LTC, USA, Ret., of Annapolis,
MD, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2009, at
Anne Arundel Medical Center, surrounded by his
loving family and friends. Col. Russell was born
in Los Angeles, CA on August 31, 1940 and was
the son of the late John J. Russell and Oneida Lee
(Favinger) Russell of Redding, CT.
LTC Russell was commissioned in 1963 as a
Regular Army Second Lieutenant from Providence
College where he was a Distinguished Military
Graduate. LTC Russell's long and distinguished
career included assignments as an Armor Company
Commander in Germany, Senior Advisor to a
Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, the Commander of A
Troop, 3/17th Air Cavalry ("Silver Spurs"), and
Secretary of the General Staff, 1st Aviation
Brigade, Republic of Vietnam.
From 1973-1975, LTC Russell and his family were
posted to the American Embassy in Vientiane,
Laos where he was the Assistant Army Attaché, a
diplomatic position. Following his return from
Laos, LTC Russell served in a myriad of positions
including: Commander, United States Army Special
Research Detachment at the National Security
Agency (NSA); Director, Department of Joint and
Combined Operations, and Professor of Middle
Eastern Studies - both at the US Army Command
and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
LTC Russell's military honors included the
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Combat
"V" (22 awards), Bronze Star (4 awards),
Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Master Army
Aviator Wings, Parachute Badge, the Ranger Tab,
and numerous other awards and decorations.
After retiring from the Army in 1984, LTC Russell
co-founded American Flight Group, Inc., in
Annapolis, Maryland, an executive aircraft charter
airline. He later became the company's President
and CEO as well as a chief pilot for the company,
which operated through 2006. LTC Russell was
qualified to fly aircraft ranging from attack
helicopters to executive jets. During his 51-year
military and civilian career, he logged over
20,000 flight hours.
LTC Russell earned his B.A. in Political Science
from Providence College, his M.A. in Political
Science (Arab World Studies) from the University
of Rhode Island, and his M.S., in Naval Arts and
Sciences, from the U.S. Naval War College in
Newport, RI. He also attended the Defense
Language Institute, Monterey, CA, where he studied
Modern Standard Arabic and French.
LTC Russell had a great love and passion for
aviation, opera, classical music, Broadway show
tunes, sailing, the City of Annapolis, the Naval
Academy Midshipman to whom he opened his heart
and home, and most importantly, for his four
children and the many people who called "the
Colonel" their friend.
LTC Russell is survived by his daughter, Kimberlee
Russell Fleming of Marathon, FL; his three sons,
John D. Russell of St. Petersburg, FL, Colin F.
Russell and Dennis C. Russell of Annapolis, MD;
his sister, Jacqueline L. Russell of Redding CT;
his aunt, Nancy Russell of Queens, NY; his
sister-in-law, Marti Russell of Sterling Heights,
MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was
preceded in death by his brother Linwood Russell
and his sisters, Deborah Russell and Teresa
Russell Cavoretto.
Friends will be received at Fellows, Helfenbein
and Newnam Cremation and Funeral Care, P.A.,
814 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 on
Thursday, January 15, 2009, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 North
Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 on Friday,
January 16, 2009, at 1:00 p.m.
A graveside service, with full military honors,
will be held at Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, VA, on Monday, April 13, 2009, at 11:00
a.m. Those wishing to attend are asked to
assemble at the Cemetery Administration Building
by 10:30 a.m. for transportation to the grave
site.
Memorials: Contributions be made in memory of
LTC Russell to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO
Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
David Russell attended our Spur reunions at Ft.
Rucker & San Antonio and represented the Spurs
with Trapper at the 3-17th Cavalry "Casing of the
Colors" ceremony at Ft. Drum, NY on 31 Oct 08. A
picture is available at
http://northwestvets.com/spurs/russell.htm
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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