Walter Brown Russell Jr.[1][2] (July 24, 1929 – May 17, 2016)[3] 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.
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.[10] 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.[11] He was retired wounded as a lieutenant colonel in 1966.[5]
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.[7]
Civilian career
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Russell graduated from the Emory University School of Law with an LL.D. degree and became a member of the Georgia Bar in 1970.[2][7][12] That same year, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives where he served three terms.[3][13] 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.[7]
During his service in the House, he opposed a resolution in favor of leniency for Lieutenant William Calley.[14] 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.[15] In 1971, he led an effort by the Georgia House to pass a resolution calling for an end to the war.[16] He was later elected chairman of the DeKalb County, Georgia, board of commissioners.[17][18]
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.[7][3]
^ abcd"Class of 1951—Register of Graduates". Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy. The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. 1971. p. 621. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
^"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)
^"County Miscellany"(PDF). Georgia Official and Statistical Register (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)
^"Georgia County Officers & Miscellany 1979-80"(PDF). Georgia Official and Statistical Register (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)
