Hanging in repose on the wall of my father’s residence in a glass display case is the now retired Navy uniform. I first remember seeing it in my mother’s hope chest when I was 6 or 7 years old. Also in the chest were a Navy flat hat filled with colorful certificates, including the Shellback and the Order of the Golden Dragon, a military ID card and a set of dog tags. All were inscribed with my father’s name, Thomas V. Russell. My brother and I spent many hours as kids sorting through photo albums and listening to stories of …