“Boots on the ground“ is a phrase used often in the political realm to describe the brave young men and women who serve selflessly in the armed forces of the United States, stationed in remote and sometimes hostile corners of the world. The feet that fill those boots have names and faces, parents, brothers and sisters, and family and friends. When those boots come home empty, the world changes forever.
Drew Russell had a fascination with the army from an early age. His father Jim Russell says, “Drew was playing with green plastic army soldiers when he was in diapers.” Patti Russell, Drew’s mom, adds, “Drew had a laundry basket full of army soldiers that he would dump out and set up all over the house in battlefield scenarios.” While many children play army as kids and lose interest to other pursuits, Drew stayed locked on the U.S. Army as a career. Jim Russell describes Drew as a “likeable, smart kid, with lots of friends.” Drew was also a bit of a rascal, or practical joker, once getting into a neighbor’s pantry while they were away and removing all the labels from the cans of food.
Drew graduated from Vicksburg High School in 2004. In the summer following graduation he joined the National Guard and headed to Fort Benning in Georgia for basic infantry training. When Jim and Patti went to Fort Benning for his graduation, Drew lobbied to stay and move directly into advanced infantry training. Jim says, “When we agreed to his going to Georgia, the deal was he would return to attend Western Michigan University (WMU), and we were holding him to it.” Drew returned and enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); where he earned his commission at the top of his class. Drew returned to Fort Benning during subsequent summers to complete advanced infantry and airborne training. Drew graduated from WMU in 2008.
Captain Drew Russell was serving as an armor officer and battle captain in the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado when he was deployed to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Drew made the ultimate sacrifice for his country on October 8, 2011, when a rogue Afghan Army soldier fired on a compound headquarters tent. For his service Drew was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal and the Purple Heart. The WMU ROTC program dedicated a drill hall for Russell and added his name to the WMU ROTC Fallen Comrades wall on the WMU campus. An endowed scholarship was also established in Drew Russell’s name and is funded by the annual Drew Russell Memorial Run, this year on April 18 at 8:30 a.m.
I interviewed Jim and Patti Russell recently, 14 years after the death of their beloved son. They still reside in the home Drew grew up in, a tidy home in a quiet neighborhood featuring service pictures of Drew and their older son Jimi who served in the U.S. Navy and now works in public affairs for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Their pride in Drew’s service is on full display, and the pain in his absence is still felt as evidenced by Jim’s removing himself for a moment to gain his composure.
Jim says, “Drew was always low key and probably wouldn’t want all the attention, but his mom and I are grateful for the continued support from friends and his military family.” This year’s Drew Russell Memorial Run will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026. The 5k run/walk kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at 1903 W. Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo, and there will be a virtual race option as well. Registration and information are available at this link.
Donations to the scholarship can be made at the same address.
Jim and Patti Russell will be at the run. Patti will walk the event, “if my hips allow,” and Jim will be “hanging around near the finish line enjoying the opportunity to talk to the participants.”
