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Lyle Lyle Russell

Hastings High School, Class of 1913; Carleton College and Mankota Business College

336 Infantry, 47th Infantry to death

Camp Custer, Michigan; Ft Snelling, Minnesota; Camp Mills, New York and Bois-de-Brieulles, France

1st Lieutenant, Infantry, November 11, 1917

Narrative

Post Named After Lyle Russell Who Died In World War One

The Lyle Russell Post is named after U.S. soldier, LT Thomas Lyle Russell who was killed in action on 4 October 1918 during World War I in De Brieulles, France at the age of 23.

Thomas Lyle Russell was born March 27, 1895 in Minneapolis, MN to Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Russell. After his mother died he lived with his cousins Agnes, Stella and Elizabeth Teleford of Hastings, MN.

Russell was a 1913 graduate of the Hastings High School and attended Carlton College for one year. He then attended Mankato Business College.

He married Elsie Featherstone at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Featherstone in Hastings on June 10, 1918.

Russell was a member of the National Guard and was called into active duty with the 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th infantry Division in November 1917. He served overseas from July 22, 1918 to October 4, 1918.

In a letter received by his widow, dated January 20, 1919 from William T. Teachout, First Lieutenant of the 47th Infantry, Commanding Co L, indicated that on October 4, the allied line in France advanced to the woods called the Bois de Septsarges. The enemy offered very strong machine gun resistance and artillery fire. Later, the line was pushed forward to a distance of about 1,000 yards from the edge of the woods near an old German shack that had been damaged by previous shell fire. Here, the line was halted to await the morning's light.

Russell and the Company First Sergeant were in the shack to plan the next day's work and fell asleep on some cots located there. About midnight, the artillery fire became heavier, increasing to a barrage at about 4 AM. One of the shells hit the shack, demolishing it and instantly killing Russell and the First Sergeant. Russell was buried there. Memorial services were held in Hastings. Russell was later reinterred to Plot F Row 3 Grave 29, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. The first VFW Post in Hastings was organized on June 1924 with the name selection of the Lyle Russell VFW Post 1210. However, it was officially not chartered until 1929.

Fifteen World War I Veterans of Hastings, who served on foreign soil were initiated into the Post at this meeting conducted by the state and department leaders in the National Guard Armory. A VFW Drum and Bugle Corps from the Twin Cities presented a program before the ceremony.

The first officers of the post were: J. M. Leach, Commander; Louis Siebel, Vice Commander; M. T. LaBuy, Adjutant; and George Goskopf, Quartermaster.