INTHEVUE.COM | NOVEMBER 2023 7 B y J a m i e S e a r s R a w l i n g s P h o t o s b y L y d i a S c h n i t z e r & S u b m i t t e d b y W a d e K i n g s t o n THEY ARE WORDS LIKE MOST ANY other, but for some, those words produce a different feeling. It could be pride, honor, courage, bravery. But for those who have served their country and fought for our freedoms standing alongside brothers and sisters alike, those words can immediately trigger a well of emotions, feelings, and memories. It’s that way for Russell Kingston, who proudly served our country, lived through atrocities that many did not, and survived being held prisoner for 33 months by the enemy. For Veteran’s Day, as the country pauses to honor and celebrate people like Russell, VUE talked to him about his experiences and how he feels now about serving his country. We share his story, along with excerpts from tales that he has recorded for his family, and that have been recorded and saved by his son Wade, who has his own feelings about the word Veteran. Russell was 18 years old when he joined the Army. He was working hard with his family on their farm near the small town of Kuttawa, Kentucky. The U.S. was thick in the middle of a conflict in Korea, spurred by North Korea’s invasion of its southern neighbor and a United Nations effort to stop the global spread of communism. For Russell, weary from the day after day hard work of farming, joining the Army at least provided an escape. “I was basically just tired of farming, and there weren’t many opportunities for young men in a rural area at that time,” he recalls. “I knew guys who were in the Army and they liked it, so that was the way they described it to me,” he says. “It was a real adjustment getting up really early and doing KP duty and marching. That all took getting used to.” Joining the conflict already in progress in Korea proved treacherous, even from the beginning, when Russell landed in-country after training at Fort Knox. I asked them where was I going and they said, “You are going to the First Cavalry, Eight Regiment, K Company,” and I said, “Where is it?” And they said, “Somewhere between here and the 38th Parallel.” I said, “How will I get there?” And this officer said, “Well, soldier you have two feet don’t you?” I said, “Yes, sir.” And he said, “Well, use them.” Courage WAR. SERVICE. VETERAN.
