{{Short description|United States Navy admiral (1903–1996)}} {{Infobox military person |name= James Sargent Russell |birth_date= {{birth date|1903|03|22}} |death_date= {{death date and age|1996|04|14|1903|03|22}} |birth_place= Tacoma, Washington, US |death_place= Lakewood, Washington, US |burial_place= |image= ADM James S. Russell.jpg |caption= James Sargent Russell |nickname= |allegiance=<!-- United States; too obvious to list --> |branch = United States Navy |service_years= 1922–1965 |rank= Admiral |commands= VP-42<br />{{USS|Bairoko|CVE-115}}<br />{{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43}} |unit= |battles=World War II<br />Korean War<br />Cold War |awards=Distinguished Flying Cross<br />Air Medal<br />Legion of Merit with 2 Gold Stars |other_work= }} '''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.<ref name="usstopekaclg8">{{Cite web |url= http://www.usstopekaclg8.org/History/Recom/JRussell.htm |title=Admiral James S. Russell |work=usstopekaclg8.org |access-date=2 November 2010 }}</ref> He joined the Merchant Marine as an ordinary seaman, before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1922.<ref name="decomship">{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/decomship/c/DDG2/com-book.pdf |title=Commissioning of USS ''Charles F. Adams'' (DDG-2) |work=navy.mil |access-date=2 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104155043/http://www.history.navy.mil/decomship/c/DDG2/com-book.pdf |archive-date= 4 November 2012 }}</ref> He graduated, and was commissioned as ensign, on 3 June 1926.<ref name="usstopekaclg8"/>
Russel served aboard the battleship {{USS|West Virginia|BB-48|3}}. He entered the flight training program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1929.<ref name="decomship"/>
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.<ref name="decomship"/>
In July 1941 Russell joined Patrol Squadron 42 (VP-42), a PBY squadron based in the Aleutians, and on August 16 of that same year, assumed command.<ref name="usstopekaclg8"/> When the United States entered World War II he led VP-42 into action against Japanese forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his actions in leading his squadron against the enemy in "extremely hazardous weather conditions". Later that same year he was awarded the Legion of Merit for his "exceptionally meritorious" services in establishing advanced bases in the area and operating his squadron from them. His squadron was itself also awarded a Navy Unit Commendation.<ref name="decomship"/> While in command of VP-42, Russell played a key role in the capture of the Akutan Zero.
Russell returned to Washington for duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Bureau of Aeronautics. He then returned to the Pacific as chief of staff to the commander of Carrier Division 2, part of the Fast Carrier Task Force. For his planning and coordination of the Striking Group in action against the Japanese he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit.<ref name="decomship"/>
After the war, he commanded the escort carrier {{USS|Bairoko|CVE-115|3}}. He then reported to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission for duty as commander of the commission's task group during the "Operation Sandstone" atomic bomb tests of 1948. For his contribution to the successful completion of these tests, he was awarded a second Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit.<ref name="decomship"/>
From 1951<ref name="decomship"/> until March 1952<ref name="usstopekaclg8"/> Russell commanded the aircraft carrier {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|3}} as a unit of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.<ref name="usstopekaclg8"/> He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 1953.<ref name="decomship"/> On 16 May 1954 he became commander of Carrier Division 17, and in October of that year transferred to command of Carrier Division 5.<ref name="usstopekaclg8"/>
On 4 March 1955, he assumed the duties of chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. In that position he was awarded the 1956 Collier Trophy, along with Mr. C. J. McCarthy of Chance Vought Aircraft, for their work in the development of the Vought F-8 Crusader supersonic fighter – the outstanding contribution to aviation in that year.<ref name="decomship"/>
From June 1957 Russell served as deputy commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet with the rank of vice admiral before being appointed Vice Chief of Naval Operations on 21 July 1958 with the four-star rank of admiral.<ref name="decomship"/> He served in that post until 1962, and then as Commander-in-Chief of NATO's Allied Forces Southern Europe (CinCAFSOUTH) before retiring in 1965.<ref name="SeattlePI">{{Cite web |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1996/9604170040.asp |title=Adm. Russell, State Hero, Dies at 93. He Retired in '65 with a Top Job in NATO |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=17 April 1996 |author=Ed Offley |access-date=2 November 2010 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He died in Lakewood, Washington on April 14, 1996 at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-28 |title=Russell Family Code of Service Continues |url=https://patch.com/washington/lakewood-jblm/russell-family-code-of-service-continues |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Lakewood-JBLM, WA Patch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congressional Record-Senate |url=https://www.congress.gov/104/crec/1996/04/19/142/51/CREC-1996-04-19-pt1-PgS3706.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624211729/https://www.congress.gov/104/crec/1996/04/19/142/51/CREC-1996-04-19-pt1-PgS3706.pdf |archive-date=2025-06-24 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>
==Decorations== Apart from his US military medals Russell was awarded French Legion of Honor; Greece's Order of George I; Italy's Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Peru's Great Cross of Naval Merit; and Brazil's Order of Naval Merit.<ref name="SeattlePI"/>
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Naval Aviator Badge.jpg|width=256|alt=}} |- |colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|other_device=sss|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Naval Merit - Knight (Brazil) - ribbon bar.png|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=GRE Order of George I - Member or Silver Cross BAR.png|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PER Orden al Mérito Naval.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber rib.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="15"|Naval Aviator insignia |- !1st Row |colspan="15"|Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ Gold Star |- !2nd Row |colspan="3"|Legion of Merit w/ two Gold Stars and "V" Device |colspan="3"|Distinguished Flying Cross |colspan="3"|Air Medal w/ "V" Device |- !3rd Row |colspan="3"|Navy Commendation Medal w/ "V" Device |colspan="3"|American Defense Service Medal w/ Atlantic Clasp |colspan="3"|American Campaign Medal |- !4th Row |colspan="3"|Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/ one silver and four bronze service stars |colspan="3"|World War II Victory Medal |colspan="3"|Navy Occupation Service Medal |- !5th Row |colspan="3"|National Defense Service Medal |colspan="3"|Korean Service Medal w/ two service stars |colspan="3"|Brazil's Order of Naval Merit |- !6th Row |colspan="3"|Commander of the Legion of Honor |colspan="3"|Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 1st Class |colspan="3"|Greek Order of George I |- !7th Row |colspan="3"|Peru's Great Cross of Naval Merit |colspan="3"|Philippine Liberation Medal w/ two stars |colspan="3"|United Nations Korea Medal |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/1996/1996_S04252.pdf Mention of his death in the US Congressional Record]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{Find a Grave}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, James Sargent}} Category:United States Navy admirals Category:1903 births Category:1996 deaths Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Recipients of the Order of George I Category:Recipients of the Order of Naval Merit (Brazil) Category:American recipients of the Legion of Honour Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Category:People from Lakewood, Washington Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Operations Category:Stadium High School alumni