The Orlando Sentinel published the obituary of Christian Fighter Pilot and US Air Force Brigadier General John P. Russell, also known as “Deacon.”  General Russell flew the F-86 Sabre in 54 combat missions during the Korean War, as well as the F-84F, F-100, F-107. and A-7D later.  While the wing commander at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, he participated in the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon.

Recalling some of his life, his brother recounts a tale that may fall under “the good old days:”

The future general and a fellow fighter pilot were flying side-by-side from South Carolina to Washington, D.C., in the 1950s when they received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to pass over Mill Creek, W.Va., at 2,000 feet.

Russell didn’t mention it was in a mountain valley at 1,900 feet above sea level.

“He buzzed the town twice and did a spiral and a roll-over,” his 89-year-old brother said. “The cows wouldn’t milk and the chickens stopped laying eggs…You can imagine the discussions at the post office.”

While the fighter pilot in him loved flying, that wasn’t all there was to his life:

The general never really retired, devoting himself to public service and serving as a Presbyterian elder…

“The best gift he gave to all of his children was Christianity,” [daughter] Anne Bailey said, noting he never discussed what he did for others. “Probably a lot of things will come to light I’m not aware of now.”

General Russell retired in 1980.  He died last week at 84.

What kind of legacy are you going to leave?

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