By Deborah Larsen
Eber David Russell
Eber David Russell was born in Rochester, Michigan, on June 29, 1906, the son of Cordie and Maud Smith Russell. He attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1925. He then attended the Detroit College of Law and received his law degree in 1933.
In October 1936, Eber joined the Michigan National Guard and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant one year later. After the U.S. entered World War II, he was assigned to the 309th Field Artillery Battalion of the 78th Infantry Division, which participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied advance toward the Rhine River. Eber was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic action on March 8, 1945, when his unit was in the vicinity of Gelsdorf and Zulighoven, Germany. His citation read in part: “Lt. Col. Russell’s unit was providing support for operations in the Remagen bridgehead area, and he was able to move his battalion into position despite intense artillery fire and air activity.”
Eber remained a career Army officer in the field artillery and retired in 1961 at the rank of full colonel. In retirement, he was active in local government and politics in San Rafael, California.
Eber David Russell died at age 92 on March 7, 1999.