Russell Maxwell

Born in Oakdale, Illinois,[1] and raised in Modesto, California,[2] Maxwell graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1912 where he was classmates with several men who later reached the rank of general officer, such as Walter M. Robertson, Walton Walker, Wade H. Haislip, John Shirley Wood, Robert McGowan Littlejohn, Gilbert R. Cook, Raymond O. Barton, Millard Harmon, Harry J. Malony, Stephen J. Chamberlin, Franklin C. Sibert, Albert E. Brown, Archibald Vincent Arnold and William H.

[3] Commissioned as a field artillery officer, Maxwell transferred to the Ordnance Department and became an expert on military explosives.

Shortly before United States entry into World War II, Maxwell was promoted to brigadier general and sent to North Africa as head of the US Military North African Mission.

On 4 November 1942, Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews replaced Maxwell as commander of USAFIME.

[6] Maxwell died at his home in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the West Point Cemetery on 27 November 1968.