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Duane Elliott Russell passed away in North Richland Hills on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Presbyterian Church. Burial in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park following the service. Duane was born in 1923. He served in the United States Army and United States Air Force, starting in World War II until retirement in 1974. While in the Army and the early Air Force, he served as a master sergeant, then as an officer, with rank of flight officer through full colonel. Duane served as an infantryman, pilot and a special intelligence officer. He earned several decorations and awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (Vietnam), several air medals, two presidential citations, four Air Force Outstanding awards, a V for valor during Vietnam, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, and several others. After retiring from the Air Force, he then served as and retired as a certified Texas high school teacher of history, government, economics, and the Russian language. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland and a master's of arts from Ball State University, and several professional diplomas from the Air University and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Duane served as a professor at Ball State University, as well as the University of Alaska. Duane became a member of the United States Air Force Security Service Hall of Honor, inducted in 1991. His name is inscribed on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington, D.C. He was affectionately known by his Air Force troops as "Colonel DER." DER was the 6985 SS and 6994 SS Commander and the HQ USAFSS DCS/Operations. He was a great mentor to NCOs and officers alike and a steady rock in many crises.
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-- Col Bob