Army Cpl. Russell G. Culbertson III

Remember Our Heroes

Army Cpl. Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pa.

Cpl. Culbertson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Oct. 17, 2006 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Also killed were: 2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon, Cpl. David M. Unger and Spc. Joseph C. Dumas Jr.

LONE PINE It’s small town rural America where they rally around the flag and support our troops in Iraq.

But the painful reality of the war has hit Lone Pine, Washington County with a devastating blow.

Army Specialist Russell Culbertson Jr., 22, was one of four soldiers killed by a roadside bomb near Abu Ghraib prison.

His friends and family tell KDKA’s Paul Martino they can’t believe he didn’t make it out alive.

“I don’t know what we’ll do without him,” said Charlene Adams.

Culbertson was a 2003 graduate of Trinity High School.

He loved cars and was saving the money he made in Iraq to buy a new Camero.

For the past few years, he worked at the Adams Pine Creek Restaurant where everyone said he was a great guy to be with.

“He just was such a kind, warm person and very hard worker, so it was hard not to care about him,” said Adams.

But with the death a young man from this small town, folks are getting mixed feelings about a war they once strongly supported.

“At times I think this is such a waste of young life,” said Sylvia Johnson. “But I guess it’s a job that we need to do, it needs finished.”

Culbertson’s sister Elizabeth, who did not want to speak on camera, told KDKA her brother was supposed to finish his tour of duty in six weeks.

The family was planning a huge Christmas celebration with Russ.

Instead tonight, they’re planning his funeral.

Army Cpl. Russell G. Culbertson III was killed in action on 10/17/06.