SSG Leonard A. Russ

13 February 1991, Saudi Arabia

Special Forces

Staff Sergeant Leonard A. Russ of Pleasantville, New Jersey, died on 13 February 1991 while supporting Operation DESERT STORM.

Russ enlisted in the Army in 1983 as a 36K Tactical Wire Operator Specialist. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Following an assignment with the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Russ served in the Signal Company, 5th Special Forces Group, as both a Wire Team Chief and a Combat Signal Wireman.

SSG Russ was killed by small arms fire near Ad-Dammam, Saudi Arabia. He serving as a Tactical Telecommunications Center Operator in Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at the time of his death. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.