RUSSELL W. TRIPP KIA IN GERMANY WHILE IN PATTON'S 3rd TANK BATTALION

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

RUSSELL W. TRIPP KILLED IN ACTION IN GERMANY

WHILE WITH PATTON’S 3RD TANK BATTALION

By Bob Lessard, Post 64 Historian American Legion

(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleborough’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and those who gave their lives to our country. A slogan which reflects thoughts about our veterans states: “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”)...........................

Residents of Middleboro learned of the death of United States Army Sergeant Russell W. Tripp through a front page story in the March 16, 1945 edition of the Middleboro Gazette. The article informed the readers that Russell was reported Killed In Action on March 1, 1945 in Germany, while serving with General Patton’s 3rd Tank Battalion, 10th Armored Division, Third Army.........

Sergeant Tripp had volunteered for military service on May 26, 1941 through the Selective Service Board Number 8 out of Hyannis. ........

Following basic training, he was posted to the cavalry school at Fort Riley, Kansas. Later, he was assigned to Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia; Fort Oglethorpe and Fort Benning, both in Georgia, before shipping out for overseas duty.............

According to news accounts, Sgt. Tripp participated in the Battle of the Bulge in the fighting around Bastogne, Belgium. His unit crossed the Rhine and he survived the actions unscathed. In fact, his outfit Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division was cited for the “Historic Defense of Bastogne” on January 17, 1945. ...............

He was killed on March 1, 1945 eight days before he would have observed his 27th birthday. At the time of his death, Patton’s army was making a swift advance in the Rhine-Moselle area................

Russell was the husband of the former Cecilia Johnson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who had received the military telegram from Washington informing her of his death. The couple were the parents of a son, Bruce Allen Tripp, who was born on December 31, 1944. Sergeant Tripp never saw his son...................

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Tripp of Benson Street, South Middleborough. In addition to his wife, son and parents, he was survived by four sisters: Mrs. Irma Bigelow, Ms. Madeline Tripp, Mrs. Margaret Bent, all of Middleborough; and Mrs. Edith Ouellette of New Bedford.................

He is buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City: Plot H, Row 5, Grave 89. He was awarded the Purple Heart...............

A special memorial service was held in the South Middleborough Methodist church for Sgt. Tripp with the Reverend Glen W. Lamb officiating. A musical program was led by Henry Burkland. Members of the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64, American Legion attended with “Taps” sounded by a Post member...............

The service was arranged by the church’s Service People’s Committee: Mrs. Katharina Woodward, Miss Annie Wilbur, Mrs. Agnes Buckman and the pastor. Ushers were Dura Higgins and Kenneth Wilbur who represented the Air Scouts of South Middleborough’s Boy Scout Troop 15 of which Russell was one of its first members, according to a report in the Gazette...............

Russell W. Tripp is remembered by his name engraved on the World War 2 section of the Central Casualty stone in the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park.  Also, the bridge over 495 at Pine Street is dedicated as the Russell W. Tripp Memorial Bridge.............

Readers of the Gazette are reminded that tribute bricks are still available for placement in the Memorial Park. Brick applications are available at the office of the Veterans Service Officer, third floor the bank building; at the brick locator in the Veterans Memorial Park; and or by calling Paul Kreitzberg at 508-965-9549. (Published December 14, 2017)