World War II Honoree

Russell J. 'Russ' Fisher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED, ALTHOUGH UNDERAGE, IN THE CALIFORNIA COAST ARTILLERY. SERVED WITH THE 3RD COAST ARTILLERY AT FORT MACARTHUR AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AND LATER AS A STAFF MEMBER AT THE RECEPTION CENTER AT FORT MACARTHUR. ENLISTED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE ON JUNE 18, 1941 AT AGE 17. AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER ASSIGNED TO FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. DUTIES INCLUDED ESCORTING MILITARY PERSONNEL TO VARIOUS DUTY STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ON THE STAFF OF THE IX CORPS. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FOLLOWING THE END OF HOSTILITIES, SERVED FOUR MONTHS WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. DURING A REENLISTMENT PHYSICAL, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE HAD CONTRACTED TUBERCULOSIS. FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF HOSPITALIZATION, HE WAS MEDICALLY DISCHARGED WITH 100% DISABILITY.