John Edward Russell was born on 18 April 1908 to James A. Russell and Sallie Katherine Webb. He was married to Ethel Lou Galliher. 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.
The son of his sister Mary, S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman was killed in Vietnam.
Pvt. Russell Died of wounds 5 January 1945 in Belgium.
Buried at Fitzsimmons Cemetery, Elizabethton, TN.
Private
325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Headquarters 2
The Elizabethton Star, April 10, 1945:
Five sons of Mrs. James (Sally) K. Russell of 412 Mill Street have joined the armed services. One was killed January 5, another received a medical discharge, another one is in camp in the states, another somewhere in France, and the other one in the hospital at Daytona Beach recuperating after thirty-four months service in the South Pacific. The sons are Pvt. Carl Worley Russell, Pvt. Robert Russell, Pvt. Roscoe Russell, Pvt. Paul Russell, and Pvt. John E. Russell.
Pvt. John E. Russell, 36, entered service March 1942 and received his basic training at Camp Claiborne, La., and Ft. Bragg, N.C. Before entering service he was employed in Virginia. He died January 5 , 1945 in Belgium from wounds received in action. He was a member of the 325 Glider Infantry, 82nd “All American” Airborne Division. He was wounded in Belgium by the burst of an enemy artillery shell while his organization was occupying a front line position. He was buried in Belgium.
See picture below of the Director of the University of Tennessee’s Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War Chris Magra with the duffel bag of Pvt. Russell. The bag was given to the UT Archives by Pascal LAURENS of Troyes, France.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 18 April 1908
- Date of death: 5 January 1945
- County: Carter
- Hometown: Elizabethton
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Fitzsimmons Cemetery, Elizabethton, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor John E. Russell
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
