The Center is privileged to be the new home of a collection from Private John Russell of Elizabethton, TN, including a duffel bag from his time in the service. Private John Edward Russell was born on 18 April 1908 to James A. Russell and Sallie Katherine Webb. He was the brother of Walter Clyde Russell, Carl Worley Russell, Nellie Maude Russell, Robert Lee Russell, Mary G. Russell, Emma Lou Russell, Roscoe Franklin Russell and Paul William Russell. He married Ethel Lou Galliher on 27 December 1932 in Bristol, Virginia. Ethel died in 1938. Private Russell served in the Army Air Force with the 325th Glider Regiment in the 82nd Airborne during World War II. At 36, Private Russell entered the service in March 1942, receiving basic training at Camp Claiborne, LA & Fort Bragg, NC. He was wounded in Belgium by a burst of an enemy artillery shell while his unit was occupying a front line position. He received the Purple Heart for his service, though he died of his wounds on January 5th, 1945 in Belgium. He is buried in Elizabethton, TN. We thank the Russell family and Pascal Laurens for their donation!
