Russell William Kayser was born November 14, 1949, to William
and Gertrude Kayser in Mitchell, South Dakota. He had four
siblings: Gary, Steve, Julie, and Joanne. After Russell was
born, he and his family moved to Spencer, South Dakota. Russell
grew up in the Spencer area, where he attended elementary
school. He liked being outdoors and working on his uncle and
aunt’s farm, as well as on the Nofziger’s farm, where he also
enjoyed playing cards and talking. In fact, his own family
referred to the Nofzigers as his “second family.” Then Russell
and his family moved again, this time to Salem, South Dakota,
where Russell enrolled for his senior year of high school at St.
Mary’s. Because he was 6’7”, Russell was on the basketball team,
although the sport wasn’t his passion. After graduation in 1968,
Russell volunteered for the Army on January 6, 1969, hoping to
get advanced training opportunities as a linesman that he
thought he wouldn’t get if he waited to be drafted.
After his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, on June
9, 1969, Private Kayser, nicknamed ‘Tree’ by his fellow
soldiers, was sent overseas to Vietnam, where he was stationed
as part of 6th B.N., 11th Artillery, 11th Lib., Americal
Division. Exactly one year after volunteering for service, on
January 6, 1970, Private Russell Kayser perished at a fire base
in Vietnam when, according to the official letter, Russell was
trying to de-activate an enemy grenade when it detonated. On
January 13, 1970, the Kayser family received a letter from
General W. C. Westmoreland, in which he stated, “It was with
sadness that I learned of the passing of your son, Private First
Class Russell W. Kayser, on 6 January, in Vietnam.” He went on
to say:
The memory of his service will be
treasured by a grateful Nation because he has joined the
long line of American soldiers who in times of national
peril have given their lives for freedom and for peace. In
Vietnam today, as on other fields in earlier days, we are
defending the right of men to choose their own destiny, the
right of men to live in dignity and freedom.
The body of Private Russell Kayser was returned to the United
States and buried with military honors at St. Mary’s Catholic
Cemetery. In addition to being posthumously promoted to Corporal
E-4, Russell Kayser received National Defense Service Medal with
one Bronze Star and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He is currently survived by his mother Gertrude Kayser of
Salem; Gary Kayser of Sioux Falls; Steve Kayser of Crooks, South
Dakota; Julie Hahler of Mansfield, South Dakota; and Joanne
Wheeler of Madison, South Dakota.
In closing Gary, Russell’s little brother, had this to say
about him:
Russell was my big brother. The one I
looked up to for guidance and friendship. He did not
disappoint. One cherished memory is when we were on a winter
camping outing for the Boy Scouts. We were tenting it and it
was very cold. Russell gave me his sleeping bag to use as
well as my own. He sat by the fire all night to stay warm.
He was that way with everyone.
Gary wrote to us on January 6, 2005, 35 years to the day of
his brother’s death, although his comment was that “It seems
like only yesterday.” His final thoughts were these: “We, his
family, still have feelings of hurt and longing. We still talk
about him at our family gatherings. Partly to just remember him
and partly to pass on to the next generation, his nephews and
nieces, his memory so that he will not be forgotten.”
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Dedication Promotional Video
