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Russell K. McMillan submitted by nephew Dallas F. McMillan

This story started when Dallas contacted me via the USS Scorpion SS-278 facebook page asking about he uncle Russell, who was lost with the Scorpion and her crew on the final patrol. Dallas and I chatted for a while about the USS Scorpion and details about the 52 subs lost during WWII. Dallas mentioned a few stories that his Dad had told him:
He said" Two stories for your group if you want.
First from my dad, Uncle Russell was at Pearl during the attack. When he witnessed what the Japanese did to the surface fleet, he wrote his family that he was volunteering for sub duty, thinking it would be safer than getting bombed by the Japanese that destroyed the fleet. Of course he had no way of knowing the sub fleet would have a 25% casualty rate, worst of any unit in the war."(1)

The second story was actually from a stranger that had contacted Dallas:
"A stranger found me on facebook this past weekend, which tingled my desire to search some more...the strangers name is Russ.
He told me that my uncle Russell and his dad Val, were best pals at Pearl.
In Dec '43, they had been out drinking having a good time and when they got back to the dock where the Scorpion was tied up, my uncle said "Val ol' buddy, I don't think I'm gonna make it back from this next patrol. If I don't and you ever have a son, would you name him after me, please?"
The Scorpion disappeared and after the war, Mr. Crawley named his son Russell Kenneth Crawley.
Nobody in our family, NOBODY, knew this story until Saturday morning, the day before yesterday." Dallas told me that story on November 14th, 2021.
I was amazed by the fact that Russell Kenneth Crawley had taken the time to search out a relative of his namesake, and tell the story, wow!

I appreciate Dallas taking the time as well to search out our group to look up information on his uncle.
This is why the USSVI was started if you read our creed.

"To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution."

Thank you again Dallas, for sharing these stories with us, we appreciate your Uncle's service and sacrifice in the submarine brotherhood. Through the shared memories, their acheivements live on for others to appreciate and remember those that gave all.

References:
1. Wikapedia - During World War II, the U.S. Navy's submarine service suffered the highest casualty percentage of all the American armed forces, losing one in five submariners. Some 16,000 submariners served during the war, of whom 375 officers and 3,131 enlisted men were killed