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Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Rincon, Ga., died Tuesday, June 28, 2005, in eastern Afghanistan when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire during combat operations.
A resident of Rincon, Ga., he was born Sept. 28, 1973, in Virginia. Sgt. 1st Class Russell joined the Army in October of 1991 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., his first duty station was Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he remained until April 1995. In May 1996, he was assigned to the 158th Aviation Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo. In August 1996, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, where he served as a flight engineer with the 3rd Batallion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, airborne, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.
Sgt. 1st Class Russell's military schools include the Primary Leadership Development Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level-C Course and the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course.
His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with "V" Device, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Service Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Senior Army Crew Member Badge, the Army Superior Unit Award and the Oversees Service Ribbon.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, a second Bronze Star Medal, a second Air Medal with "V" Device, the Meritorious Service Medal, Master Army Crew Member Badge and the Combat Action Badge.
Sgt. 1st Class Russell was predeceased by his mother, Linda Kay Luehrs Russell, and is survived by his wife, Annette, and two daughters, Lauren and Megan, all of Georgia; his father, Lee Russell of Stafford; a brother, Lee Russell Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; a sister, Melissa Ann Yahnert of Southern Virginia; and his paternal grandfather, Harry L. Russell of Falls Church.
A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Russell will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Stafford, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Stafford Memorial Park.
Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, Stafford Chapel, is handling the arrangements.
