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James solomon russell

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James Sargent Russell

United States Navy admiral (1903–1996)

James Sargent Russell (March 22, 1903 – April 14, 1996) was an admiral in the United States Navy.

Biography

Russell was born in Tacoma, Washington, the son of noted architect Ambrose J. Russell and Loella Janet (Sargent) Russell. He attended DeKoven Hall School and graduated from Stadium High School in 1918.[1] He joined the Merchant Marine as an ordinary seaman, before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1922.[2] He graduated, and was commissioned as ensign, on 3 June 1926.[1]

Russel served aboard the battleship West Virginia (BB-48). He entered the flight training program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1929.[2]

In the next decade he was assigned to tours of aviation duty both aboard ship and ashore, and also obtained a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.[2]

In July 1941 Russell joined Patrol Squadron 42 (VP-42), a PBY squadron based in

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James S. Russell grew up on American Lake in Pierce County, where he developed a love of sailing. After graduating from Stadium High School in Tacoma at age 15, he tried to join the navy but was turned down as too young and became a merchant seaman. He gained an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and served 40 years in the navy. His distinguished career included combat flying in World War II, important planning assignments, and service as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Russell earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit three times, and the Distinguished Service Medal twice. In retirement, living on his beloved American Lake, he worked to improve the lives of military personnel and to reconcile with former wartime enemies.

Sailing on American Lake

James Sargent Russell was born in Tacoma on March 22, 1903. His parents, Ambrose (1857-1938) and Loella (1864-1949) Russell, had come to Tacoma in 1892. Ambrose was a distinguished Tacoma architect whose works included the Rust Building (now Commerce Building), the Tacoma Armory, and distinctive homes. The famil

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Early Years

Russell was born into slavery in Mecklenburg County and was probably the only child of Solomon Russell and Araminta Russell. His father lived on a plantation across the border in neighboring Warren County, North Carolina, where the family reunited after the war. Late in 1867 they returned to Mecklenburg County, where Russell later worked for his tuition at a small private school. In 1873 he was appointed superintendent of a Sunday school for African Americans in the county. He enrolled in Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1874, but because he was needed on the family farm he withdrew in 1875. Russell received a teaching license in Warren County, where he taught school while continuing to work on the farm. He returned to Hampton in the fall of 1877 but was unable to complete the term because of financial difficulties and left again to teach in Warren County.

Russell attended the annual conferences of the Zion Union Apostolic Church (later Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Churches of America) in 1876 and 1878, serving as recording secretary for the former. He t

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