First Lieutenant Russell was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 702nd Ordnance Maintenance Company, 2nd Infantry Division. He died of other causes on 25 February 1953 at the officers' quarters near Kwan-dong, North Korea.

Russell was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.