FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Army Sgt. John M. Russell, the soldier charged in the deaths of five soldiers at a stress clinic in Baghdad is on his third tour of duty in Iraq, according to his service record.
Excerpts of the record, obtained by The Associated Press, show that Russell previously did two one-year tours of duty in Iraq, one starting in April 2003 and another beginning November 2005.
When he enlisted, Russell listed his hometown as Sherman.
The stress of repeat and extended tours is considered a main contributor to mental health problems among troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John Russell's father, Wilburn Russell of Sherman, spoke about his son and the tragedy at Camp Liberty in Iraq. "All I know is that John faxed his wife over in Bamberg (Germany) and said ... officers threatened him. It was the worst two days of his life. ... He had six weeks to go to finish up (his tour of duty)."
The elder Russell said his son was scheduled for a stress test, "possibly by officers he had a rhubarb with," and that it was at this stress test that the military "broke him." Wilburn Russell said his son's "whole life was the military" and that Sgt. Russell was in an electronics field where he "fixed robots used to set off roadside bombs."
Wilburn Russell said that he believed the military was going to let his son go, "and I guess he thought his life was over. He had no place to go, they broke him." Wilburn Russell said his daughter-in-law in Germany received a call telling her "that (Sgt. Russell) had gone crazy and killed five people."
Wilburn Russell said the home he and his wife, and John Russell's son, also named John Russell, live in is being purchased by Sgt. Russell. "We thought he was well grounded ... thought he had his feet on the ground," Wilburn Russell said, breaking down in tears. "I'm sick. I'm so sorry, not just for my son, but for everyone involved. ... We all are devastated. We didn't expect this. We would expect that he would be killed (in action in Iraq), but not that he'd do something like this."
Sgt. Russell is the son of Wilburn and Beth Russell. His family moved to Plano in 1972 from Oklahoma City as Wilburn Russell worked in the defense industry. The family moved to a home near Luella, southeast of Sherman, with Sgt. Russell and his three sisters (who all still live in this area, as well as his ex-wife. Sgt. Russell attended Tom Bean High School.
Sgt. Russell entered the Army National Guard in 1988 and served in the Guard until 1994, Russell became an active duty soldier in 1994, the record shows.
The military record also states that Russell served in Serbia through the last half of 1996 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last half of 1998.
Russell received several medals and commendations, which the official described as typical for Russell's rank and time in the military. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak on the record.