Russ "Top" McDonald
CSM USA Retired   
1SGT. C/1/327 65 - 66 
VN Rangers 63 - 64
1SGT. 3/506 67 - 68

Russ "Top" McDonald CSM USA Retired,
succombed to his long battle with cancer.
September 3, 2009
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Went into service in 1949. In 1956 I was Advisor/Instructor to the German 1st Mountain Division. 
Had 2 tours in Korea in 1950-51 & 1953-54.  
1st tour VN in 63-64 as advisor to VN 32 BDQ (Vietnamese Rangers). The 32nd was the first Ranger BN that went through school at Trung Lap as a BN.  We operated mostly out of Ben Cat but pulled operations all over III Corps.  
In 65-66 as 1SGT of C Company of 1/327(1/327th was the best Unit that I served in Combat with). My last tour was with the 3/506 in 67-68. 

From 68-70 I was in Waco as SGM with the 71st ABN BDE Texas National Guard as an advisor.  
In 70 I went to Texas A&M as SGM of the ROTC detachment until 1973.  While at TAMU I sent 175 Cadets through jump school at Ft Benning, 13 through Ranger School, 16 through Jump Master school.  I started the Rudders Rangers while at TAMU named after General Earl Rudder who led the 2nd Ranger BN during the Normandy Invasion, he also was a former President of TAMU. 

In 1973 I was stationed at Ft Richardson, Alaska as CSM still on jump status, this is where I retired in 1975. 

Medals received were:  

Vietnamese Service Medal w/6 Campaign Stars
Bronze Star for Valor plus 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal for Valor with 1 Oak Leaf
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leafs
Korean Service Medal with 6 Campaign Stars
Master Parachutist Wings
VN Parachutist Wings
VN Ranger Badge
CIB with Star (2nd Award)
Presidential Unit Citation
Valorious Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Citation
Korean Presidential Citation (Several)
VN Gallantry Cross with Palms (Several)
Civic Action Honor Medal from VN Government;Civic Actions Honor Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Member of the 327th Infantry Regiment.