Russell Keith Widener, a retired U.S. Army major and Silver Star recipient, announced recently that he will donate 60 signed copies of his books to veterans participating in an upcoming Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
Widener, a Pagosa Springs resident, recently released two books that reflect his 29-year military career, which began as an enlisted mortar section leader with the 1/61 Infantry, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Vietnam, and concluded as a major in the Army Nurse Corps.
“I wanted to give something back to the men and women who shared the uniform,” said Widener. “These books are written for the veteran community — the stories are raw, often humorous, and reflect the staccato reality of life in the service. It is an honor to place them in the hands of those traveling to our national memorials.”
The donation coincides with an upcoming Honor Flight, a program that provides veterans with all-expenses-paid trips to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
Widener, who participated in an Honor Flight in 2023, understands the lasting impact the experience has on those who take the journey.
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