World War II Honoree

Russell Lewis Mosher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Warners, New York

Honored By

Larry Brinkerhoff

Relationship

Grandson

HE BEGAN HIS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE ON MARCH 4, 1943 AFTER BEING DRAFTED WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. IN AUGUST 1943, HE ARRIVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AFTER LANDING AT CASABLANCA, NORTH AFRICA. HE WAS QUICKLY MOVED FARTHER SOUTH BY TRAIN ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT AND JOINED THE 5TH ARMY, 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION 'RED BULLS', 168TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE FOUGHT VALIANTLY AGAINST THE GERMANS IN NUMEROUS BATTLES ON THE MEDITERRANEAN FRONT IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN (NORTH APENNINE MOUNTAINS, PO VALLEY, ROME-ARNO, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO AND CISTERNA). IN JANUARY 1944, AFTER A NERVE-RACKING AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT ANZIO DURING WINSTON CHURCHILL'S 'OPERATION SHINGLE' AND NUMEROUS INTENSE BATTLES WITH THE ENEMY, HE EARNED HIS PURPLE HEART AS A RESULT OF SCHRAPNEL WOUNDS. AFTER 984 DAYS OF ACTIVE DUTY, AND WITH OVER 27 MONTHS SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1945. HIS FINAL RANK WAS CORPORAL TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE.