Russ grew up in Lone Pine, Pennsylvania, where he developed a passion for fast cars and enjoyed working on his red Camaro. He was a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan and loved spending time outdoors, especially hunting. Shortly after graduating from Trinity High School in 2003, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as a tank gunner with C Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. His unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was assigned to patrol an area west of Baghdad, a known stronghold of Sunni Arab insurgents. On October 17, 2006, the lead vehicle he was riding in struck more than 500 pounds of explosives buried beneath Route Penguins near Abu Ghraib. He was killed in the blast, along with three fellow soldiers and his Iraqi interpreter.

His legacy lives on through his family, friends, and comrades.