Family mourns loss of Marine
by David Taylor / Lake Houston Sentinel
Crosby soldier killed in Iraq
The family and friends of Staff Sgt. Russell Slay are mourning his death. The 28-year-old father of two was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq where the U. S. military is conducting a major offensive. Slay's ex-wife and children are Crosby residents.
Slay's father, Roy Slay, who now lives in Willis, could hardly speak about his son, overcome with grief.
"We were contacted on Wednesday, Nov. 10, by the Marine Corps that he had been killed," he said.
Roy Slay said they didn't know the details of how he was killed, but that Slay's unit wouldn't rotate back home for another five months. He thought then they might hear from some of his friends what had happened.
"It doesn't really matter how he was killed," the father said, "the outcome is still the same. I love him and I'll miss him. He died for his country and in my eyes he's a hero."
Slay was a member of the 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp LeJeune, NC.
He had been living in North Carolina where he was stationed for the last three years, was divorced, and had two children, Kinlee, 9, and Walker Ray, 5.
Slay was born in 1975 and lived on Coolgreen off Maxey Road until 1983 when he moved with his family to Huffman. He attended school in Huffman ISD for several years and transferred to Humble ISD for his final years in high school.
He rode bulls in FFA, played football, baseball, was in the band and loved to sing.
"He called me one day and he told me what he wanted to do with his life," said his mom, Donna Slay. "He told me I wasn't going to like it, and I didn't at the time."
She said Slay's best friend from Huffman had joined the Marines and her son followed suit.
He was stationed at Camp Pendleton for eight years and transferred to Camp LeJeune prior to the invasion of Iraq.
His unit received orders to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom at the beginning of the war.
"They were the first ones in and the first ones home," his mother said. "I was a basket case with worry, but I got to talk to him several times."
His mother related how reporters from the national news channel, CNN, would loan their phones to servicemen so they could call home.
"I could hear mortar fire in the background as I talked to him," she said.
Slay finished his first tour of duty as the military moved into Baghdad.
"It was the most exciting day of my life when he came home," Donna said.
The excitement was short-lived. Slay was home for less than a year when he received orders to return to Iraq.
"I don't think he wanted to worry me and I got a call out of the blue on Sept. 29 and he told me not to watch the news and not to worry."
It was the last time she would hear from her son until the heart-wrenching call no mother wants to receive.
"I received a phone call and someone was crying on the other end of the phone." She thought it was her daughter at first, then realized it was her daughter-in-law calling.
"She told me that there were two Marines in uniform outside walking up to her front porch. We knew the inevitable."
A Texas motorcycle magazine is devoting a full page to Slay's memory. The family loves riding motorcycles, including Slay's stepfather, Cochise.
The family has been flooded with phone calls and visits from the community.
"Everyone has been really nice and helpful," she said.
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Marine who predicted he'd fall in Iraq is laid to rest
100th Texas service member to die wrote farewell to his children
After getting orders to report for a second tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay told family and friends he didn't think he would make it back.
His premonition proved true as he became the 100th Texas service member killed in the war. Slay, 28, of Humble, was buried Friday following a funeral in which he was portrayed as a loving and devoted father known to make people laugh.
The 450 people attending Slay's service at Brookside Funeral Home in north Houston were moved to tears when a letter written by Slay to his 9-year-old daughter, Kinlee, and 5-year-old son, Walker, was read out loud.
"Tell Kinlee that I love her and never knew what life was before she was born," the letter read by U.S. Marine Capt. Mike Evans said. "She'll always be Daddy's little girl."
He said he wanted his daughter to have the best life possible and to be sure she went to college.
"Daddy will always be with her and watching out for her. I'll miss you. Hugs and kisses," Slay wrote.
Slay died in combat Nov. 9 along with seven others in Al Anbar, a province west of Baghdad that includes Fallujah.
To his son, Slay said he always made him smile.
"You're the sweetest little man. Be studious, stay in school and stay away from the military. I mean it. Always be a man. If you make mistakes, stand up and say so."
Slay encouraged his son to have children of his own so he, too, could "feel the joy and happiness you brought me."
"Tell them how much I love them," Slay wrote. "My family was in my last thoughts. I can't say I love you enough."
The hour-long service included comments from friends and family, including Kinlee.
Through tears the little girl reminisced about playing cars with her dad and little brother and shopping at Wal-Mart for more cars. She also fondly recalled a weekend ritual of washing the family car.
Friends and family paid their last respects to the Marine as he lay in an open casket draped with an American flag. Beside the casket stood another American flag, a U.S. Marine Corps flag and easels with portraits of Slay. Slay was buried in his military uniform and with a picture colored by his children.
At the Houston National Cemetery, as Slay's casket was escorted out of a hearse and a bagpiper played, Kinlee saluted her father. Slay's father, Houston police officer Roy Slay, was presented with a Purple Heart bestowed on his son. The flag draping the casket was meticulously folded and given to his mother, Donna Slay.
Slay's son was given his dog tags, and his daughter received a bouquet of yellow roses.
Twenty-one doves were released in Slay's honor, followed by a full military service with a rifle salute and a lone Marine playing taps. Slay's burial at the veterans cemetery was private.
Quinton Alberto, Slay's high school friend who served as a pallbearer, described Slay as a trustworthy friend and his partner in crime. The two, he said, had a great ability to scheme and an equal ability to get caught.
As examples, he said, the two decided to skip school one morning and go eat breakfast. All was fine until the high school coaches decided to eat at the same restaurant.
Then there was a time when the two skipped school to attend a matinee movie, only to discover Alberto's mother sitting behind them.
Charlie Flanagan, who officiated at the service, said Slay was not the best football player or baseball player in high school, but in Iraq he became a great band member of the group called the Texas Trio.
"He played the meanest air guitar, air drums and any other instrument," Flanagan said as those in attendance chuckled.
Slay joined the military after graduating from Humble High School. During his 10-year military career, he was trained to drive armored vehicles that can ferry combat troops from ships to beachheads during an amphibious attack. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, part of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
During his first assignment to Iraq in 2002, Slay took part in overtaking Baghdad. He left for his second mission Sept. 11.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to trust accounts established for Slay's children at the Houston Police Federal Credit Union.