John Russell Oswald

Brigadier General J. Russell Osward, US Army, Ret., 93, of Drums, Luzerne County, PA, formerly of Kutztown, died Saturday, April 4, 2009 in Providence Place, where he resided for one year. He was the husband of Wilma L. (Sten) Oswald whom he married May 12, 1943.

Born in Kutztown, PA, he was a son of the late Milton and Lena (Bock) Oswald. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham, PA. He was a 1932 graduate of Kutztown Area High School, Kutztown and served as president of his class in both his junior and senior years. Brigadier General John Russell Oswald retired from the PA National Guard on June 30, 1975. This concluded a military career of thirty four years.

He began his military career by being inducted into the U. S. Army on October 14, 1941. He received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas and after completion was assigned to the 3 ^rd Field Artillery Battalion, a horse drawn field artillery unit. In November 1942, he attended the Artillery Officer’s Training School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and received his 2 ^nd Lieutenant commission in February 1943. His assignment to the 160 ^th Field Artillery Battalion, 45 ^th Infantry Division took him through five campaigns and two amphibious operations in Sicily and Italy in July and September 1943. He was released from active duty in January 1946 and was assigned to the Officer Reserve Corps of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He served in the 213 ^th Air Defense Group as adjutant and as adjutant in the 51 ^st Air Defense Brigade. General Oswald is a graduate of the U. S. Army Air Defense School, Fort Bliss, Texas and graduated from Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1963 he was assigned to the Headquarters, Pennsylvania National Guard as Air Defense Officer for two air defense artillery units in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia armed with the Nike Hercules air defense missiles. He was a member of Huguenot Lodge #377, F.&A.M., Kutztown; Kutztown Lions Club; Brookside Country Club of Allentown, and Valley Country Club of Conyngham, Luzerne County.

He is survived by Wife; Son, Sten T., husband of Mary Ellen (Scavnicky) Oswald, Conyngham, PA; Sister, Catherine (Oswald) widow of Robert Madiera, Kutztown. In addition, there are 2 Grandchildren, Paul J. husband of Mary Joan (Fiore) Oswald and Jennifer E. (Oswald) wife of Mark G. Washko; 5 Great Grandchildren, Benjamin T., Jack G. and Ella G. Oswald, Kathleen E. and Georgia M. Washko. His Sister, Mildred J. (Oswald) Adam died shortly after J. Russell on the same day.

Funeral Services are Thursday, April 9, 2009, at 10:30 AM from Ludwick Funeral Home, 333 Greenwich Street, Kutztown. Interment with military honors in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County. Friends may call Thursday, 9:30 to 10:30 AM Masonic services by Huguenot Lodge # 377 F.&A.M. will be held Thursday at 10:15 AM.

The family requests contributions be made to the memorial fund of Christ Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 494, Conyngham, PA 18219. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, PA.