Author Christopher Russell to speak at Rehoboth library Nov. 4 for Veterans Day
Baritone Books announced its release of "The Battle of Turkey Thicket," about a teenage soldier with ties to Rehoboth Beach. Author Christopher Russell will give a 60-minute presentation at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Rehoboth Beach Public Library's upstairs meeting room, 226 Rehoboth Ave. The presentation anticipates Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11. There is no charge to attend. For more information, call 302-227-8044.
“The Battle of Turkey Thicket” was inspired when Russell saw an obscure memorial plaque displayed in St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach. Russell unraveled the epic story of its subject, Philip Thomas Hughes, whose family had a summer home in Rehoboth.
"Turkey Thicket was the playground near Philip's childhood home in Washington, D.C.'s Brookland community," said Russell. "This kid was an orphan, raised during the 1930s and ‘40s. Family struggles caused him to run away from home. His travels took him from coast to coast across North America. Philip joined the peacetime Army at age 17, which led him into the battlefields of Korea. He's buried in Arlington Cemetery."
Hughes’ story describes life in Washington D.C.'s almost-forgotten Irish Catholic community, as well as the role of young American troops in the reconstruction of post-World War II Japan. In 1950, Hughes was one of the first, and youngest, American soldiers to serve in Korea. In researching the story, Russell found and befriended Hughes’ younger brother, now a retiree living comfortably in Washington, D.C. Their collaboration revealed a fascinating snapshot of mid-20th century America, the harrowing Korean War and a family's enduring legacy.
Russell applies most of his writing chops to historical nonfiction. There's more work in the pipeline, including the biography of a would-be fighter pilot who opines on faith-driven leadership styles. Russell also has a treasure trove of vintage photos and documents that are the foundation for a future book about a Minnesota man's adventures in World War I. A vagabond musician and do-it-yourself home renovator, Russell is an American in the truest sense of the word: One of his parents is an immigrant while the other has roots that predate the first U.S. census of 1790. For more information, go to baritonebooks.com.
