About Russell and Lucille

"One of the finest men I have ever known" is how a man recently described Russell. This is how most people, who knew them, would describe both Russell and Lucille.

Russell Lee was born in 1917 and grew up in Lesterville, Missouri. Lucille Iona Thompson was born in 1920 and grew up in Centerville, Missouri. Both lived through The Great Depression and, therefore, understood the meaning of hardship early on, but even that could not have prepared them for what was to come. 

Russell and Lucille both attended school in their respective towns, which were very rural areas. Russell graduated from Lesterville in 1935. On a job application after the war, Russell listed "Farm Chores" and "Store Clerk" as his previous occupations. He was working as a store clerk when he was drafted. Lucille graduated from Centerville in 1938 and was an excellent volleyball player.

Their relationship, together, started in April 1939 and they were married on December 24, 1939. This part of their lives is also preserved in letters. Their son, Larry Dean, was born on May 29, 1941.

Coincidentally, these important and happy dates in their lives correspond with historical events that would lead to some of the most terrifying dates in their lives. In 1939, the year that they started dating and married, Hitler started implementing his plans to take over Europe. On September 3rd of that year, Britain declared war with Germany. What came next was a devastating two years for Europe, but, at this time, the United States was not involved in the conflict. That all changed in 1941, the same year that Larry was born. On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, which threw the United States rapidly into the conflict.

Almost a year after their marriage, in September 1940, the United States implemented the first peace time draft in American history. Russell registered for the draft, as was his duty, but after the bombing of Pear Harbor, he considered volunteering for service, as many did. He tested to be trained as a pilot in the Air Corps and passed. However, Russell and Lucille decided that he would not volunteer because of their newly formed family. Doing this meant that they were taking their chances with the draft lottery. Ultimately 50 million men registered for the draft and only 10 million of those served. One of those men was Russell Lee.

The events that came next are preserved in the letters that will be included in the blog section of this site. The blog will follow Russell and Lucille through their emotional and turbulent journey through World War II, using the letters that they wrote to each other during that time, as well as other documents and pictures. Most of the letters are written by Russell to Lucille, as he was unable to keep her letters during his time overseas. Starting in February 2021 through December 2022, letters will be posted corresponding with their dates written in 1944 and 1945.

The letters, when read in sequence, have the ability to paint a picture of what this period of life was like for them, as well as so many others. Many of the letters involve discussions regarding their normal lives (car, family, Larry), but they also include real time discussions of major historical events that are now in history books, such as D-Day, Hitler's suicide, the death of FDR, and the atomic bomb. Perhaps the most captivating part of the letters is the emotion that pours out of them. Theirs was a love that most of us can only hope to find and the events of this part of their lives  are something that most of us can't even imagine.