VFW honors veteran John Russo on Veterans Day

CASTANEA TOWNSHIP – All across America today citizens recognized and thanked veterans for their service to the county. Veterans Day ceremonies included a special one at the Bland J. Rossman Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1630.

The VFW dedicated its new Hall of Honor in memory of the late local veteran John Russo. Post Junior Vice-Commander Dave Harger offered a touching look at the late soldier’s contributions to the United States. Harger detailed Russo’s service as part of Patton’s Third Army: “John found himself in France on the 6th of August 1944, landing on Utah Beach in Normandy…headed for action all through France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany.”

“John was assigned as a messenger; his daily duties would be handling communications between companies or higher headquarters, but also doing the basic infantry tasks as anyone else. This job would have been very dangerous and it would require John to expose himself to the enemy to carry out his missions. He did so until fate would have it, John was wounded near Morville Sur Seille, France, including six others wounded and one killed in action. After months of being in the hospital John was reassigned back to I Company on 10 February 1944. From there he went through Germany and into Austria.”

Harger said it was fitting “we honor a man like John, he was an everyday soldier, doing his job for the country he loved.” Recognition he received included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Courage Medal, the European Africa Campaign Medal with three battle stars and the World War Two Victory Medal. He was also awarded the Combat Infantrymen Badge and his unit was awarded six presidential unit citations.

As Harger told a rapt audience, at war’s end Russo returned to Clinton County and raised his family. Harger said he never met today’s Hall of Honor recipient but “all you need to do is meet John’s sons, Jim and Mike and their family members here with us today. They are some of the best people I know, and I am blessed everyday by their kindness and passion for Veterans.”

Jim Russo, his wife Sheila and daughters Courtney and Christine then unveiled the John Russo Wall of Honor tribute.

The local VFW post also unveiled its new Wall of Honor featuring Clinton County veterans.