“My uncle”?!
Jim Price’s comment on one of my blogs a couple of years ago grabbed my attention. Chester Russel, an icon for historians of the Alaska Highway, had turned up repeatedly in our research for our book, We Fought the Road. We Fought the Road on Amazon
In early 1942 The United States, suddenly at war with the Empire of Japan, its Alaska outpost in dire danger, needed a land route from the railhead at Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Alaska through some of the most rugged wilderness in North America. When the 35th Engineers rushed north to British Columbia to start building it, “my uncle”, a young ex-rodeo rider named Chester Russel rushed with them.
In 1999 a much older and wiser “my uncle” published Tales of a Catskinner to share his memories.
I messaged Jim with my contact information, and the next day he called me to talk about “Uncle Chet.” Chester and the 35th went from the Highway Project to the European Theater and after the War civilian Chester took up farming for a while and then became a commercial fisherman in Oregon.
In his seventies Uncle Chet retired from fishing and in Tales of a Catskinner documented the memories of a private soldier on the Highway Project. He described the long march from the railhead at Dawson Creek across the rotting ice of the Peace River and on up the winding winter trail to Fort Nelson. Recalling that the trail behind them disappeared with the spring thaw, he remembered that if they hadn’t brought it with them, they wouldn’t get it for a while. The men got by on rations barely fit to eat.
Private Russell learned to operate a bulldozer. He learned that young lieutenants often need, in addition to formal Army training, serious training from their enlisted subordinates. He remembered an episode of bit and brace brain surgery. And he remembered that nearly all the soldiers in the regiment came down with what he called yellow jaundice.
Ninety-eight years old in 2018, Chet still lived in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Great story. Remember when he was writing the book and getting excited with the response he was getting wanting him to travel. He was afraid of flying. I said I couldn’t believe that anyone who risked there life commercial fishing would be afraid to fly. Loved his laugh and joy for life. Wonderful person. We got to know him through commercial fishing we owned Basin tackle and he spent lots of time telling stories. Sandy Warner
I so envy the fact that you new him.
He is my Uncle. We call him Uncle Bud. He was best friends with Slim Pickins when he was a rodeo clown. He is my Grandma’s Brother and my Dads first Uncle.
Chester Russel is my Uncle too. We call him Uncle Bud. His sister is my Dads Mother. I love my Uncle Bud and have not spoken to him for quite some time. He can’t hear on the telephone. I was just searching to find him when I found this article. Uncle Bud was best friends with Slim Pickens in the rodeo. They were both rodeo clowns.
I hope you saw the exchange I had with Sandy back in 2020. Chester is one of my heroes. If you search for his name on the site, you will find him all over it. Thank you so much for your comment.
I am not sure if you were directing your comment to me or not. If so, I don’t know what your speaking of and I am curious as to who you are and how your related. Besides being a nephew, who is your direct relatives? I am really curious and I love the way you speak about Uncle Bud. My name is Shelly Hazeleur. My Dad was Richard Hazeleur. His Mother was Louise Robinson, born Loise Russell and was Chet’s sister. He had three siblings. Pauline, Clark and my Grandma Louise who adores Uncle Bud. She was the greatest woman I ever knew. Uncle Bud used to visit and I would cook him extravagant meals. He loved my cooking which made me happy!
Shelly, you entered a comment on a story about Chester Russel that appeared on my blog site. I am Dennis McClure and I write these blogs. The comment you referred to was my answer to your comment on that post.
I’m sorry I was so confused. I would love to see the conversation you had with Sandy. Do you have a link. I have always thought my Uncle was a great man, but it was the little things…(haha) which are the big things. He was always a man of integrity and was tough as nails! Thank you for the kind words you have spoken about my Uncle who I love very much.
The actual communication was by telephone. It was an exciting opportunity for me. The blog post you read came from that conversation.
If you search the blog for his name, you will soon realize that he is one of my heroes. And I have all but memorized his book.
Uncle Bud is what America was all about back in the day. Men got up early and worked till dark. They believed in America and Bud helped build it. I love his book and am proud to be his great nephew. Thanks for all the interest in his History as it is American History. God Bless America.