Russell J. Fee, Jr., aged 89, of Sugarmill Woods, FL, died March 6, 2012 at his residence of natural causes. He and his family retried to >Citrus County from northern Virginia in 1978. He was an Outdoor Writer for the Citrus County Chronicle, contributor to the Cedar Key Beacon, regional editor of National Fisherman magazine, and contributor of Florida Sportsman and Southern Saltwater magazines. He also held offices in the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and was a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
His Citrus County activities included offices held in the Sugarmill Woods Civic Association, the Cypress Village Home Owners Association and the Crystal River Anthology Guild.
He was a Journalism and Russian language graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL, where he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, and Pi Gamma Mu social science honorary fraternity. He worked briefly as a reporter for the Lakeland Ledger. He also was a 26-year careerist with the federal Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), member of the Central Intelligence Retirees Association and National Association for Retired Federal Employees.
Born in Chicago, IL, Russ served with the Army Air Corps in World War II as a 1st Lt. B-29 aircraft and squadron flight engineer. As a member of the 5th Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force he participated in 22 bombing and mine-laying missions against the Empire of Japan, including the first night firebombing of Tokyo. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal and with tow Oak Leaf Clusters, and three Bronze Service Stars on the Asiatic-Pacific theater-ribbon for the Ryukus Islands, the Japan Air Offensive and the Western Pacific campaigns. His squadron also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.
Russ joined the CIA in 1952. He served as American liaison officer with British intelligence in London, England, and with Australian intelligence in Canberra Australia. He also was an intelligence advisor to the U.S. Nuclear Test Ban Delegation in Geneva, Switzerland and, under Senator John Stennis (D/MS), served on the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee as lead investigator of the military consequences of an atmospheric nuclear test ban.
His is survived by his wife of 66 years, Evelyn and by sons, Russell J. Fee III, of Oak Park, IL; Brett Fee of Key West, FL; and by daughter, Dawn C. Goldbach of Chatham, NJ. The couple was blessed with nine grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 am Mon., Mar. 12, 2012 at Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs. Friends will be received Mon. from 10 am until the service hour. Burial with military honors will follow in Florida National Cemetery.
Condolences may be offered at www.wilderruneral.com.
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