World War II Honoree

Russell R. 'Russ' O'Neil

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Wellsville, Kansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER, 1943. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AND THEN ASSIGNED TO MARINE AVIATION. SERVED AS A NAVIGATOR-BOMBARDIER AND GUNNER ABOARD TORPEDO BOMBER AIRCRAFT IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT PELELIU IN THE PALAU ISLANDS, AND OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE AND STATIONED IN MANCHURIA, CHINA. HIS UNIT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTING JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR (POW) BACK TO JAPAN. AWARDED THE COMBAT AIRCREW INSIGNIA, AIR MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MAY, 1946 WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.