No One Forgotten – No One Un-recognized – No One With-out a Marker

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Lt. Darrell A Russel

FLORENCE-Military honors services for Lieutenant Darrell Arlen Russel, a WW II and Prisoner of War (POW) camp survivor will be held at his unmarked grave site on 22 November 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenview Memorial Gardens Cemetery located at 3658 Old Chisholm Road in the Garden of Memories section opposite the cemetery’s mausoleum in Florence.

 

The American Legion Post 31 Color Guard of Tuscumbia, The Patriot Riders and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8640 of Sheffield will be co-participants.

Lt. Russel was a World War II U.S. Army officer whose unit came under fire by German troops during an operation in the European Theatre in France and having severe losses his unit were taken prisoner by German forces resulting in Lt. Russel’s confinement in three Prisoner of War (POW) camps:  Oflag 64 or 21B Schubin (Moved to Usedom) Poland, Altburgund 53-17 until Russian forces liberated the camps and returned U.S. soldiers to American lines.

The following written testimony written by the Veteran being celebrated describes the eventful day of military engagement and thus, his celebratory program is being conducted on the anniversary of that mission.

“On the morning of Nov 22, 1944, a closely coordinated divisional attack was begun. Co. G was one of the forward companies with Co. L on the left and Co. B on the right.

My platoon, the first, was initially in support. The initial objective, a low knoll, was taken by noon, but when the advance  on the Regimental objective was continued; only a short and highly ineffectual gain was made to reach the objective – a hill with the top forested – an open field had to be crossed.

Co. B on the right and the two forward platoons of Co. G started across the field but as they reached the center of the field the Germans opened fire.

The four platoons could move neither forward nor backwards without heavy casualties.

Capt. Anderson (of Co. G) therefor sent my platoon to the left flank in an effort to reach the hilltop. Attached to my platoon were two LMG’s with full crews and portions of the other two platoons so that there were 45 men in the flanking element.

My reinforced platoon approached to within 15 yards of the woods before the Germans opened fire with automatic weapons. Approximately 15 men, including the platoon sergeant, of the attached platoon immediately ran for the bottom of the hill while a few of the remainder of us returned the fire of the Germans.

My radioman was killed and the radio damaged beyond use; a wire line to the mortar sections also proved useless.

As a result of the failure of communications, no heavy weapons support could be obtained.

The two light machine guns (LMG’s) were burned out by the gunners when the Germans counter attacked.

As there was little concealment and even less cover the fire of the Germans was quite effective.

Approximately 15 men –including two first-aid- men—were killed or seriously wounded. A voice count indicated that only five of us remained; therefore, the order was given to surrender.

Continued resistance would have led only to the death or serious injury of the remainder of my men. When we actually stood up to surrender, a total of fourteen men were taken.

On April 21, 1945, I was liberated from the Germans by the Russian Army in its sweep toward Berlin. As this time I was in Stalag 3A, Luckenwalde, Germany.

Although the American Forces attempted to evacuate us from the camp it was not until May 20th that the Russians returned us to the control of the United States.

Although we watched for a chance to escape from our guards, at no times did the chances appear favorable. We were never intensely interrogated although we were given several opportunities to answer questions.

At no times previous to the day I was separated from the enlisted men and sent to the officers’ camp were we physically mistreated.”

Lt. Russel also known as Dr. Darrel A. Russel, noted local historian of northwest Alabama and founder of the Natchez Trace Genealogical Society was also a mentor and friend when I arrived in Alabama fifteen years ago to research my family heritage and links to the area.

The added connection as a Veteran and discovering that his final resting place since his demise in 2010 does not bear a military marker of his existence, and service to the nation calls upon us all to be aware of the need to ensure that those who have served receive permanent recognition of national service to this nation, and proof of presence on this earth with a marker or headstone.

There are many similar cases of Veterans resting in unmarked graves through northwest Alabama whose families may have been impacted by financial constraints; a Veteran’s not sharing much about their service life, or a family’s lack of awareness, briefing and procedural guidance of how to secure military entitlements that are free of charge for service rendered to the Nation; and easily resolved through Veterans Administration Service Officer assistance in Florence; hence, the heading “No One Forgotten – No One Un-recognized – No One Without a Marker.”

Media Release/Thomas McKnight

 

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1 comment

Tony Russel November 21, 2019 - 9:59 am

Mr Mcknight as most veterans are sadly aware few things are simple when it comes to the VA. Multiple attempts were made by two family members to apply for this marker to go along with the beautiful headstone already placed at my grandfather’s grave. Your procedural guidance would have been appreciated anytime in the past ten years…if you had actually offered it. I appreciate you wanting to celebrate and honor my grandfather, but the misinformation to promote your worthy cause is beyond tactless. My grandfather has a headstone with Russel clearly inscribed and a vase with a decorative R. My family would have been glad to discuss this situation with you if you had made any attempt to contact us before slandering us through multiple news outlets. Beyond that unpleasantness thank you for acquiring the marker we were unable to acquire. And thank you for continuing to support causes that my grandfather Dr. Russel was so passionate about.

Sincerely,
Financially constrained imbeciles

P.s. I would have loved to have attended the ceremony, but unfortunately reading about it the day before is too short notice.

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