[2] He served with the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet at the end of World War I.

[7] Willson commanded destroyers at Greenland in connection with the United States Army's around-the-world flight in 1924.

[7] Rear Admiral Willson was the last commander of Battleship Division 1 in peacetime prior to the start of World War II.

Harvard's athletic director ordered the player home and the game was played on 4 April, as scheduled, which Navy won 12–0.

[1] The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Russell Willson, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in connection with the preparation, handling, and distribution of war codes and for devising a new and very efficient system of such communications during World War I.