Russell C. Warren was born in Casey Co., Kentucky on 7-Oct-1923. He left Tompkinsville Kentucky where he was raised and went to Great Lakes Illinois and entered into the Navy on 28-Jan-1941 and his commanding officer was C.H. Purdue. And he separated from the Navy in Jacksonville Florida on 15-Jan.-1948. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve for 4 years after WWII. He served in many battles, Guam, Guadalcanal, Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Japan and a few others that he said was not listed in his records he has. He served on USS Lowndes (APA-154), USS Denver (CL-58), USS Washington (BB-56) and the USS Benewah (APB-35). He was issued the following lapels, buttons, and emblems: USN Honorable Service Button, Honorable Service Lapel, Honorable Emblem, Asian-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with 3 bronze stars, European/Africa/Middle East Campaign Ribbon, American Campaign Ribbon with 1 bronze star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 bronze star, and the WWII Victory Ribbon.  On the uniform on the left sleeve he wore the Amphibious Forces Patch, Gun Pointer 1st class and 1 red stripe on his right sleeve meaning he said was a 4 year enlistment (4 year active service).

I remember him telling me that when the Jap’s were dive bombing them, it was like bees that had been stirred up and mad. He told about when he was yelling at his shipmates, first they would answer him and the next second they were laying on deck dead. This was one of the bad stories that he said he would like to forget, but it was hard. (Webmaster Note:  This was not on the USS Washington.  The USS Washington never lost a man to the enemy.) One minute your friend and shipmate were there and the next minute they were gone. He was also wounded 3 times, once he was shell shocked from a bomb exploding next to him, 2nd he was hit by shrapnel, and the 3rd he was shot in the leg. One thing I remember him saying is that they didn’t go to the hospital below deck when they got injured because the Commanding Officer told them to get back up and keep on fighting.

He was a Gun Pointer 1st Class and also a gunner. The description of the type of gun was an anti-aircraft gun that went back and forth like a piston. But one of the good stories he had to tell was that he had friend’s onboard ship that he didn’t know were there. He tried a few times to get in touch with some of them, but was unsuccessful.

After he was separated from the Navy he went to Philadelphia, PA where he met my mother June Henderson. He was a maintenance man at Quaker Lace and she was an inspector of the products. After they married he worked in King of Prussia, PA. for George Robotham Co. and after while they asked if he wanted to be a foreman at a plant in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at Molecular Research. This is where he lived the rest of his life and where he past away from cancer in 26-July-1993 at the age of 69. He raised 6 children: June, Russell C. Jr., George, Dorothy, John and Mark.

Submitted by Mark Warren (Son)

Notice of Seperation
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Statement of Service
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