Kay Russell was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program at Rice University. He was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on May 19, 1967, and was held until his release on March 4, 1973. He died in 1979 while still on active duty.
Sponsored by:
Kay
Russell
POW (RVN)
1934-09-19
–
1979-02-02
Born:
Stephenville
,
Texas
Home:
Corsicana
,
Texas
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he served as an educator to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Russell is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 19, 1967 – March 4, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Under the most adverse of conditions, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, her performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 19, 1967 – March 4, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 19 May 1967 to 4 March 1973. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 19, 1967 – March 4, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. He never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, he performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211)Division:
U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31Action Date:
May 19, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Kay Russell, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 19 May 1967 as a pilot serving with Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VF-211), embarked in U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA_31). Flying as section leader while protecting a flight of A-4 strike aircraft during a mission against a very special and important target in North Vietnam, Commander Russell skillfully maneuvered his section to engage MiG-17 aircraft which posed a threat to the strike group. Although still under fire from surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft batteries, he succeeded in repelling the MiG-17 aircraft, causing them to retire from battle before they could engage the vulnerable A-4 strike aircraft. During this successful counterattack, Commander Russell’s aircraft was observed to disappear in a cloud of smoke and falling debris. His heroic, resolute, and timely actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 19, 1967 – March 4, 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Prisoner of War Medal to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 19, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 19 – 23, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Kay Russell, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 19 to 23 May 1967. His captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.