Russell, Peter John, CPT

POW/MIA
 
 Photo In Uniform   Service Details
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Final Rank
Captain
Last Service Branch
Transportation Corps
Last MOS
1981-Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander
Last MOS Group
Transportation
Primary Unit
1968-1973, 1981, 240th Aviation Company (AHC), 214th Aviation Battalion
Service Years
1968 - 1973
Transportation Corps
Captain
Nine Overseas Service Bars

 Current Photo   Personal Details 

28 kb


Home State
New York
New York
Year of Birth
1946
 
The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is SFC Anthony Eugene Santa Maria, IV (Tony).

If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE

This Remembrance Profile was originally created by SSG Edward Inman (sgtsin)
 
Contact Info
Home Town
New York
Last Address
New York
MIA Date
Aug 01, 1968
 
Cause
Non Hostile- Died while Missing
Reason
Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location
Phuoc Long (Vietnam)
Conflict
Vietnam War
Memorial Coordinates
50W 045

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 




 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Vietnam Veterans MemorialThe National Gold Star Family RegistryNational League of POW/MIA Families
  2014, Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Assoc. Page
  2023, The National Gold Star Family Registry
  2023, National League of POW/MIA Families


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:


Then 1st Lt. Russell was the pilot of a UH-1C (#66-15154), call sign, "Mad Dog 36" out of Bearcat Airfield, RVN.. His aircraft disappeared in bad weather in former Song Be Province while returning from a mission. The aircraft was located in 1971, but only the remains of one crew member were found.  He remains MIA/BNR.


There is a possibility that the 3 missing crewmen were taken prisoner by the Viet Cong as their flight helmets were found, though no other evidence.

Crew:
WO1 William Fernan, AC (KIA)
CPT Peter Russell, AC (BNR)
SSG Steven M. Hastings, CE (BNR)
SP6 Donald R. Fowler, G (BNR)

In Memory Of marker at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, USA Plot: Section MA Site 91. Peter is also memorialize at the Courts of the Missing, Court B, Honolulu, Hawaii.

   
Other Comments:


Note: Trained with Flight Class 68-2

   
 Photo Album   (More...



Vietnam War/Tet 69 Counteroffensive Campaign
From Month/Year
February / 1969
To Month/Year
June / 1969

Description
This campaign was from  23 February to 8 June 1969. From Tet 1969 through the month of June, the enemy again tried to sustain an offensive. His inability to do so can be largely attributed to aggressive allied ground operations. Between 23 February and 8 June 1969, a total of 70 significant named ground operations were terminated resulting in heavy enemy loss of life and materiel. The main operations concluded during this period were:

(1). The 3d Marine Division's Operation KENTUCKY aimed at preventing enemy infiltration through the Demilitarized Zone in central Quang Tri Province. Throughout the early part of January 1969, Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army forces continued to avoid major contacts with Free World Forces. Their continual movement to avoid friendly forces or to search for food and supplies contributed to a decrease in the enemy-initiated ground attacks and attacks-by-fire in Quang Tri Province.

(2). Operation NEVADA EAGLE, initiated on 17 May 1968 in Thua Thien Province, continued in 1969 as the U.S. 101st Airborne Division continued to defeat enemy personnel, and capture rice caches, material, and installations within its large area of operations, where it undertook offensive sweeps along Route 547 and around Song Bo.

(3). Two battalions of the 4th Marine Regiment were engaged in Operation SCOTLAND II. Initiated on 15 April 1968, this multi-battalion search and clear operation was centered in and around Khe Sanh.

(4). The IV Corps Tactical Zone Dry Weather Campaign began on 1 December 1968 in support of the overall mission to prevent Viet Cong units from interfering with pacification efforts. This operation, "Speedy Express," interdicted lines of enemy communication and denied him the use of base areas. In 1969 the 1st Brigade, 9th U.S. Infantry Division continued the operation in Dinh Tuong Province, using its highly successful night ambush tactics while the 2d Brigade continued its mission with the Mobile Riverine Force. Although engagements in Operation SPEEDY EXPRESS were typically small, the 9th Infantry Division fought several sizeable engagements with impressive results.

On 23 February U.S. Navy units and installations at Da Nang, Tan An, Ben Luc, Go Dan Ha, and Tra Cu came under numerous and widespread attacks associated with a new enemy offensive, but since many units in these areas were poised to meet these attacks they caused only minimal damage. April saw the heaviest cumulative enemy activity in the barrier interdiction camapign to date.
   
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
February / 1969
To Month/Year
June / 1969
 
Last Updated:
Mar 16, 2020
   
Personal Memories
   
Units Participated in Operation

1st Cavalry Division

173rd Aviation Company (AHC)

29th Civil Affairs Company

1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment

630th Military Police Company

18th Military Police Brigade

16th Military Police Group

545th Military Police Company

300th Military Police Company

212th Military Police Company

66th Military Police Company

272nd Military Police Company

716th Military Police Battalion

504th Military Police Battalion

218th Military Police Company

22nd Military Police Battalion (CID), HQ, US Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC)

194th Military Police Company

1st Military Police Company, 1st Infantry Division

615th Military Police Company

720th Military Police Battalion

95th Military Police Battalion

127th Military Police Company

154th Transportation Company

552nd Military Police Company

23rd Military Police Company

4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery

557th Military Police Company

101st Military Police Company

93rd Military Police Battalion

44th Military Police Detachment, 22nd Military Police Battalion (CID)

4th Infantry Division

8th Military Police Brigade

1st Aviation Brigade

101st Airborne Division

92nd Military Police Battalion

16th Military Police Brigade

89th Military Police Brigade

90th Military Police Detachment

549th Maintenance Company (Light)

97th Military Police Battalion

46th Engineer Battalion

 
My Photos From This Battle or Operation
No Available Photos

  5455 Also There at This Battle:
  • Abate, Sam, SP4, (1968-1970)
  • Ables, Roger, SP5, (1968-1970)
  • Adams, James, SFC, (1968-1988)
  • Adams, Ralph, SP4, (1968-1974)
  • Alkek, James, 1LT, (1967-1974)
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