Samuel Russell entered the military service in California. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Private in Company A, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. In the Meuse-Argonne offensive on October 11, 1918, while going forward alone to attack a machine gun nest which had cut off his retreat, Russell and his companions had launched an attack of the nest, which was holding up the advance of Company A. Russell's companions were all killed or wounded, and the fire from the guns had cut off all retreat. Russell made the charge alone, using a French Chauchat automatic rifle as his weapon. He succedded in silencing two of the guns, but was killed by one of the enemy before he could take them prisoners. He is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. His name is commemorated on the First Infantry Division monument in Saint-Juvin, France and ranked as a Private First Class.