By Jean Schlegel 

World War II veteran Les Russell of Valley City expressed a desire to his  wife, Julee, to take a trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the veterans’ memorial at the National Mall.She thought it would be just another tourist trip, but it turned out to be much more.“It was much more significant than a tourist trip,” she said. She didn’t realize exactly how much the trip meant to her husband until they got there.The Russells visited Washington, D.C., from July 18 through July 22.Les, who served in the World War II Army Corps, 101st Airborne Division, spent three years in Europe — from October 1943 to January 1946.
Les was just 18 when he was drafted into the Army, and he was the youngest one in his company. He was 20 when he was discharged.
“I was a paratrooper,” he says. His job was as a parachute packer and repairman. He and other paratroopers readied all parachutes for his division, which included 14,000 men. Not all of those were parachutists, though, he said.
His division had three parachute infantry regiments, two field artillery units and two glider infantry units.
“We operated across battle lines, and didn’t have the support the normal infantry has,” Les said.
He served with two divisions, and was with the 101st Airborne Division until the end of the war. His division demobilized over seas. The men who had points were discharged, and the rest of them (including Les) came home with the 82nd Division.
Les saw plenty of action, but prefers not to get into the nitty-gritty  of his war experiences. “I don’t remember it with any pleasure,” he said.
He saw action in England, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany.  The most memorable battle was the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, Belgium, which lasted from Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 16, 1945.
Les noted that his whole unit was awarded a citation for their part in the Battle of the Bulge.
He said he didn’t starve as some soldiers  did in this battle, but the main problem was the bad weather. They were surrounded and didn’t get air drops or food and supplies when they needed them.
Les vividly remembers when he and the others came home with the 82nd Airborne Division in January of 1946. They landed in the New York harbor. Then there was a large parade for this first large unit to go home.
Les says they came home on the Queen Mary, which had been converted into a troop ship during World War II. The ship was later converted back into a luxury cruise ship, and is now permanently docked at Long Beach, Calif.
Julee says her husband really wanted to see the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I because his father was in that war.  And, he wanted to see the World War II tomb of the unknown solder because he served in that war. There is also the tomb of the unknown solder from the Korean War, but not the Vietnam War anymore because that soldier was identified.
“The location of the memorial is beautiful, and we were just amazed. You can stand in one line and see everything from World War II,” Julee said. 
The Russells were also impressed by the changing of the guard. The old guard is responsible for the protection of the unknown soldiers.


Remembrance cap
Les bought a cap in Washington, D.C., which he proudly wears. Julee says the cap has a story behind it.
 It has written on the front: “101st Airborne Division.” When Les wore the hat, he received VIP treatment at Arlington.
“It was powerful how people responded,” Julee said.
The Russells visted the graves of second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-star generals, as well as that of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (later the 34th president of the U.S.), at Arlington, and many others.
“You can feel the aura in that area,” Les said.
Julee and Les met in 1982 at Bemidji State where Les was an English professor, and Julee was a student. Now retired, Les taught for 34 years. He has an emeritus professorship from Bemidji State.
They have more than one thing in common. One is English. Julee has been a professor of English at Valley City State University for the past 13 years.
The Russells are glad they were able to see the World War II Memorial, a powerful symbol of the sacrifice the veterans made for the safety and freedom of the United States and the world.
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 Les Russell poses at the Battle of the Bulge memorial in Washington, D.C. He was eager to tour the veteran’s memorial at the National Mall because he is a WWII veteran.  (Submitted photo)