Back row: Raymond, Chester Sr., Norman; middle: Russel, Elliott, Chester; Richard in front; Easter 1934.
Raymond, Russel, Chet, and Richard
Remington boys 1937 -- Raymond, Russel, Elliot, Chester, and Richard
Norman with bro Russel
A day of fun in Maine
Russel in North Africa, 1943
Uncle Russel and friend in North Africa, 27 Jan 1943. He died in March in Tunisia, killed in battle.
This is the message to Norman on the back of the above postcard photo, sent via their mother Laura. She added Russel's address for Norman. Probably by the time it reached Norman in Panama, Russel had already died.
Notes
The One Consolation of a Soldier
poem written by Pvt. Russel Philip Remington on January 2, 1943
sent to his mother, Laura Russel Remington, from North Africa, during World War II
he died in combat on March 31, 1943
Dear Mom as I sit looking up into the sky tonight
all lighted with millions of stars and the silvery moonlight
My thoughts are brought closer to home and you
Because this same sky over me is over you too.
The sky covers a great span
over thousands of miles of sea from land to land
On that side is glittering New York and home
and on this side the dark African sand and me sitting alone.
There's a bitter war to be fought over here
where many fellows like me are fighting
for loved ones at home who we love so dear.
But some day we're going to win this fight
And then we too will be looking at
the other side of the sky and the moonlight.
I believe Russel died, probably between 6 am and 12:45 pm, in an offensive commanded by General Patton and known as Benson Force. The took place in and around the El Guettar Valley, between Gafsa and Gabes, Tunisia.
1921 - 1943 (21 years)
