“Some Gave All”
This is an article written by Charia Brott Murphy, sister of
SSG Russell J. Proctor (Brott)
His awards and decorations include: 2 Army Commendation
Medals, 2 Army Achievement Medals, 2 Meritorious Unit Citations,
2 Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi
Campaign Medal with 2 Combat Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development
Ribbon, Army Service Ribbons, 3 Overseas Service Ribbons and a Combat
Action Badge, and the Purple Hart. He was an E-6 at the age of 25.He
was born in Sacramento, Oct. 14, 1985 and raised in Rio Linda, CA
by Ken and Jayne Brott. He was extremely popular, very well-known
and very well liked all throughout his adolescent and adult life.
Everyone was always drawn to him. He was lovingly referred to as
"Bean" by his closest friends/brothers. He taught himself to play
guitar and how to skateboard at the age of 15. He always maintained
a high GPA in school.
Our father, Ken, once said that he pushed Russ a little bit harder
then the rest of us because he could see the "leader" in his son,
even at a young age. People have always been drawn to following
him. His fellow soldiers all describe him as being a "great man,
an outstanding NCO, a true warrior, an inspiration to all to reach
their true potential, a motivator, a true and unconditional leader
by example, a role model and will never be forgotten." Not only
was he a leader, he was caring, funny and excelled in anything he
wanted to. Anything he wanted to accomplish...he could do it. He
was the type of person who made you want to be something more, made
you want to be a good person. He spoke the truth, never sugar coated
anything. He was extremely protective over women and children, an
excellent marksman, and a wonderful husband and father. Anyone who
knew him loved him. His motto was "All Eyes On Me" and he lived
it. All his fellow soldiers now use his motto. A good quote from
him that he said shortly before leaving for his 3rd and final tour:
"Me... they'll remember me for what I am. I worked hard to be remembered.
If you're content with just sitting back in the darkness, not being
remembered, then fine. But I'm not. All eyes on me." - Russell Brott
(Proctor) Army, Staff Sergeant, Based: Ft. Hood, Texas, 4th Squadron,
9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division,
Outlaws, Supporting: Operation New Dawn, Died: Age 25, June 26,
2011 Diyala province, Iraq, Hometown: Rio Linda, CA but joined military
3 months after relocating to Oroville, CA
Oroville Mercury Register
June 13, 1946
Husband Of Local Woman Missing On B-29 Flight
1st Lt. Drew Smith, Husband of the former Miss Harriet
Hills, is reported missing from a routine flight from Guam in a
B-29 of which he was a pilot, according to word received late Wednesday
night by Mr. and Mrs. Harry S. Hills. The information was received
from the War Department by Lt. Smith’s mother, Mrs. Alfred W. Smith
of Reno. She telephoned Mr. and Mrs. Hills. The young couple were
married May 26 through a ceremony performed in Kansas City, Kan.
Mrs. Smith is in Cairo, not having been able to join her husband
on Guam. Mrs. Hills is leaving tonight for Washington to meet Mrs.
Smith when she arrives there on a routine flight of the Transcontinental
and Western Air transport on which Mrs. Smith is hostess. She does
not yet know her husband is missing. Lt. Smith was assigned to the
Third Photo Reconnaissance group at Guam. The flight from which
he failed to return was on June 11 Guam time.
Stu’s Notes: “Some Gave All” Staff Sgt. Russell Proctor was killed
in Iraq by an I.E.D. Bomb. His sister called me to let me know that
they were adopted at a very young age by Ken Brott and grew up in
Rio Linda. After her brother graduated from Rio Linda
High School he moved to Oroville for a short while and then
joined the Army. She told me that the Military was his life. I also
talked to Russell’s adoptive father and he said he was very proud
of his son’s achievements in the Army but as any parent would be
he was sadden by his son’s death. Ken now lives in the Bay Area.
A Young Hero of America and Rio Linda and Oroville, Russell was
married and his wife will make the decisions of where he will be
laid to rest.
I hope to find more about 1st
Lt. Drew Smith. My friend Jim Hill of Oroville knew about the listening
post, stay tuned for that story next week. Late breaking news, the
Oroville City Council just voted 7-0 to fund more work on the Veterans
Memorial Park.