Russell Mills Cox was born in Cambridge, Mass., 30 January 1919. Appointed ensign, USNR, to rank from 29 August 1940, he attended the Navy Supply Corps School, Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He was then assigned to the New York Navy Yard as a supply officer reporting there 10 March 1942. He reported to Juneau (CL-52) 29 May to serve as an assistant disbursing and supply officer and was reported missing in action when Juneau was sunk off Guadalcanal 13 November 1942.

Russell M. Cox (DE-774), a Cannon-class destroyer escort, was under construction at Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, Fla., but was cancelled on 1 September 1944.