When Russell Kellogg Bourn was born on May 27, 1894, in West Hartford, Connecticut, his father, Howard, was 27 and his mother, Charlotte, was 23. He entered the military service in Rhode Island and served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Corporal in the 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, 26th Infantry Division. He died on October 24, 1918 in France at the age of 24 and is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. He also has a marker in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield, CT. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 103d Field Artillery, 26th Division, A.E.F., near Samogneux, France, October, 24, 1918. After his place had received two direct hits, Corporal Bourne refused to seek safety and helped to carry a wounded comrade across a terrifically shelled area. While in the performance of this task he was instantly killed. General Orders No. 21, War Department, 1919.