Russell M. Tower

Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Russell M. Tower, resident of Abilene, Texas, since 1968, passed away on Friday, January 26, 2007. He was born in Cary Maine, on September 26, 1925, and was a veteran of more than 29 years of military service. Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at Broadview Baptist Church, with Rev. David Cason officiating, assisted by Rev. Mike Woodard. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery in the Garden of Honor. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. He entered the military service through the United States Army and took his basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in 1943. After basic training, he was accepted for airborne parachute training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was injured in a training jump. The 45th Infantry Division was his next assignment. While serving in that unit, he was wounded in combat. He was later assigned to the 103rd Infantry Division. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action during the crossing of the Rhine River at the Remagen Bridgehead. He was wounded again in May 1945, in the capture of Innsbruck, Austria. Sergeant Tower participated in seven major campaigns in the European Theater. He was personally decorated by General Charles DeGaulle with the French Croix de Guerre for participating in the rescue of entrapped French troops. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in December 1945. He entered the United States Air Force in October 1947. He served in Korea from September 1950 until March 1952, with the 502nd Tactical Control Group. He joined the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron during April 1961. After tours at Perrin Air Force Base, Sherman, Texas, and Clark Air Force Base, Republic of the Philippines, he was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, where he was named Syracuse Air Defense Sector Outstanding Airman of the Year. He was selected by a board of officers over all other NCOs for the honor. He was selected as Griffiss Air Force Base NCO of the month in November 1961. Working with local physicians in Rome, New York, Sergeant Tower was instrumental in adapting surplus pressure suits to aid patient suffering from circulatory diseases. He was assigned to the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas, in 1968, until his retirement from the United States Air Force in June 1973. Among his awards and decorations are the Korean Service Medal with five bronze service stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, Air Force Commendation Medal for his outstanding achievements on his tour of duty in the Philippines, Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Korean Presidential Citation, the Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp and one loop, and the French Croix de Guerre for heroism involving combat with enemy forces. After his retirement from the Air Force, he was the contractor sales representative for Abilene Lumber, Inc. He obtained his State of Texas license as an insurance adjuster and worked as an insurance adjuster in Abilene and the surrounding area until his retirement in 2000. He was a member of Southwest Park Baptist Church for 29 years where he served as a department director and deacon. He currently was a member of Broadview Baptist Church. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Melissa, Texas, Scottish Rite Freemasonry, and a Shriner. Russell married Gwynell Roper Tower in Anna, Texas on July 10, 1953. Survivors include his wife Gwynell, daughter and son-in-law, Debra Ann and Wade Stevens, grandson and his wife, Bryan Lynn and Sonja Stevens, great-grand daughter, Josie Lynn Stevens, great-grandson Colten Russell Stevens, and sister-in-law, Rachel Roper, all of Abilene, Texas; sister Pauline Kervin of Winterport, Maine, and sister-in-law Janice Gartley of Ludlow, Maine.