MANSFIELD – Bruce Phipps, Commander of the Richland County Joint Veterans Counsel announced an American Flag will be raised at the first Honored Flag ceremony for 2019 on April 25 in front of the Richland County courthouse at 6:00 p.m. to honor deceased Richland County US Army Air Corps Veteran Russell Clarence Patterson.
Russell enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 31, 1942, and served with the Eighth Air Force, 401st Bomb Group, 612th Squadron, based in Deenethorpe, England. He served as a radio operator aboard B-17 aircraft on 35 missions in the European theater. Russell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and three theater ribbons with bronze stars. Following his missions in Europe, Russell continued to serve his country by flying over fifty supply missions through the Himalayan Mountains from India into China.
Russell was born in Cardington, Ohio on June 25, 1920, to Frank and Lucy (Hickson) Patterson.
Russell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1949 and his Master’s of Education degree from Bowling Green University in 1963. Russell taught and coached for several school districts, and was hired at Madison School district in 1953. He retired from education in 1979 and worked part time for Charles Mill Marina, He also volunteered at Mid-Ohio Race Car Course.
Russell passed away Jan 19, 2015 at the age of 94 and is buried in Lexington Ohio Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his parents. His wife Marion passed away April 2, 2018.
Russell is survived by his son, Mark Patterson; daughter, Jodi (Bob) Schraedly; son, Jon (Terri) Patterson; 6 grandchildren
The Honored Veteran’s Flag will be flown for 21 days at the Richland County Administration Building after which the Veteran’s name will be engraved on a brass name plate and added to a plaque listing those veteran’s honored in the same manner already displayed on the wall in the foyer of the Richland County Administration Building.
The Joint Veterans Council of Richland County operates the flag program. To seek this special honor for a deceased family veteran, contact Bruce Phipps at 419-524-5844.
