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Soldier Picks Up WhereHe Left Off
Army Reserve Sergeant Returns to School, Work After Serving in Kuwait, Iraq
By Linda McCarty
The Winchester Star
John Russell was studying music before his Army Reserve unit was activated and sent to Kuwait in 2003.
John Russell’s life is on track again now that he is back from an overseas stint in the Army Reserve. He will be returning to school to complete his music degree in the fall. Meanwhile he is teaching band as a substitute instructor at James Wood Middle School.
(Photo by Scott Mason)
Now he’s back home teaching music and adjusting to civilian life again.
“I’ve pretty much fallen back into the routine at home,” said Russell, who arrived back in Winchester on Feb. 25.
Since the spring, Russell has been substitute teaching at James Wood Middle School.
“I’m teaching an overflow band class of sixth-graders for a teacher who was injured in a car accident on Interstate 81,” Russell said.
He’s also playing an E-flat alto horn with the Winchester area-based Tuscarora Brass Band, a re-creation of the 26th North Carolina Regimental Band.
Once the county’s schools are on summer break, Russell will work in his uncle’s landscaping business and start college again in the fall.
Russell was studying music at West Virginia University, when he was called into active duty.
“I will graduate in two years, and then I want to teach,” Russell said.
“He would be graduating right now, if he hadn’t joined the Army Reserve,” said Russell’s girlfriend, Cindy Settle.
Russell, a 2001 James Wood High School graduate, arrived in Kuwait with other members of the 301st Signal Co. on Feb. 17, 2004.
“The company’s main body was stationed in Kuwait, with assignments to Iraq,” said Russell, a sergeant.
Russell’s job in Iraq included running phone and Internet lines of fiber optics and copper at military bases, including one in Balad, a city in northern Iraq.
This photo provided by John Russell shows the Army Reserve sergeant on the job in Iraq, where he installed lines of copper and fiber optics for phone and Internet access.
When he was working in Balad, Russell said he had the opportunity to go outside the perimeter and visit an Iraqi school that had been renovated by U.S. soldiers and had 160 students and six classrooms.
“We took the kids care packages with hygiene products and food,” Russell said. “To see the smiles on their faces made it the best time I had over there.”
Russell said he was never greeted with hostility by the Iraqis or local nationals.
“I don’t think people here see any of the good things going on in Iraq,” Russell said, “and I don’t know why because there are a lot of good things going on.”
Russell said, though, that he did experience some scary times.
“I was scared when we traveled in convoys or when attacks came close to the base, but you learn to just move on and put it behind you,” he said.
The toughest part of being in Iraq was missing his family — including Settle, his parents, John and Melinda Russell, and his sister and brother, Elizabeth and Charlie.
“But I enjoyed my job over there, so that helped keep my mind off my family for a good part of the day,” Russell said. “It also helped that I was able to stay in touch on the Internet and through phone calls.”
Russell got a two-week leave last June and came home.
This photo provided by John Russell shows him visiting Iraqi children in a school renovated by U.S. soldiers. Russell took care packages to the children while on assignment in the country.
“It was good to be home, but it was hard saying goodbye again at the airport,” he said.
Russell said his primary focus since coming home has been adjusting to civilian life.
“When I got here, I just took a step back to watch and see how they did things without me and that let me know what I should do,” Russell said. “It’s worked.”
He also had to catch up on his relationship with Settle.
“It was definitely rough being apart,” Settle said. “It took a whole year out of our relationship, but I believe it’s made it stronger.”
Settle said it’s still hard for her to believe that Russell is actually home.
“It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” she said, “you’re really here.”
“I’m absolutely glad to be home,” Russell said. “Compared to over there, I feel safe in all aspects of my life here.”
Soldier Picks Up WhereHe Left Off
Army Reserve Sergeant Returns to School, Work After Serving in Kuwait, Iraq
By Linda McCarty
The Winchester Star
John Russell was studying music before his Army Reserve unit was activated and sent to Kuwait in 2003.
John Russell’s life is on track again now that he is back from an overseas stint in the Army Reserve. He will be returning to school to complete his music degree in the fall. Meanwhile he is teaching band as a substitute instructor at James Wood Middle School.
(Photo by Scott Mason)
Now he’s back home teaching music and adjusting to civilian life again.
“I’ve pretty much fallen back into the routine at home,” said Russell, who arrived back in Winchester on Feb. 25.
Since the spring, Russell has been substitute teaching at James Wood Middle School.
“I’m teaching an overflow band class of sixth-graders for a teacher who was injured in a car accident on Interstate 81,” Russell said.
He’s also playing an E-flat alto horn with the Winchester area-based Tuscarora Brass Band, a re-creation of the 26th North Carolina Regimental Band.
Once the county’s schools are on summer break, Russell will work in his uncle’s landscaping business and start college again in the fall.
Russell was studying music at West Virginia University, when he was called into active duty.
“I will graduate in two years, and then I want to teach,” Russell said.
“He would be graduating right now, if he hadn’t joined the Army Reserve,” said Russell’s girlfriend, Cindy Settle.
Russell, a 2001 James Wood High School graduate, arrived in Kuwait with other members of the 301st Signal Co. on Feb. 17, 2004.
“The company’s main body was stationed in Kuwait, with assignments to Iraq,” said Russell, a sergeant.
Russell’s job in Iraq included running phone and Internet lines of fiber optics and copper at military bases, including one in Balad, a city in northern Iraq.
This photo provided by John Russell shows the Army Reserve sergeant on the job in Iraq, where he installed lines of copper and fiber optics for phone and Internet access.
When he was working in Balad, Russell said he had the opportunity to go outside the perimeter and visit an Iraqi school that had been renovated by U.S. soldiers and had 160 students and six classrooms.
“We took the kids care packages with hygiene products and food,” Russell said. “To see the smiles on their faces made it the best time I had over there.”
Russell said he was never greeted with hostility by the Iraqis or local nationals.
“I don’t think people here see any of the good things going on in Iraq,” Russell said, “and I don’t know why because there are a lot of good things going on.”
Russell said, though, that he did experience some scary times.
“I was scared when we traveled in convoys or when attacks came close to the base, but you learn to just move on and put it behind you,” he said.
The toughest part of being in Iraq was missing his family — including Settle, his parents, John and Melinda Russell, and his sister and brother, Elizabeth and Charlie.
“But I enjoyed my job over there, so that helped keep my mind off my family for a good part of the day,” Russell said. “It also helped that I was able to stay in touch on the Internet and through phone calls.”
Russell got a two-week leave last June and came home.
This photo provided by John Russell shows him visiting Iraqi children in a school renovated by U.S. soldiers. Russell took care packages to the children while on assignment in the country.
“It was good to be home, but it was hard saying goodbye again at the airport,” he said.
Russell said his primary focus since coming home has been adjusting to civilian life.
“When I got here, I just took a step back to watch and see how they did things without me and that let me know what I should do,” Russell said. “It’s worked.”
He also had to catch up on his relationship with Settle.
“It was definitely rough being apart,” Settle said. “It took a whole year out of our relationship, but I believe it’s made it stronger.”
Settle said it’s still hard for her to believe that Russell is actually home.
“It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” she said, “you’re really here.”
“I’m absolutely glad to be home,” Russell said. “Compared to over there, I feel safe in all aspects of my life here.”
