Obituary from the New York Times:

CHARLESTON, S.C., March 26— Russell Francis Harney, a retired Navy captain who was in charge of daily news briefings in Saigon in the Vietnam War and more recently was associate editor of The News and Courier in Charleston, died at home Tuesday of cancer. He was 54 years old.

He was assigned to Stuttgart, West Germany, in 1975 as director of public affairs for the United States military in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Since retiring from the Navy in 1978, Mr. Harney was an editorial writer and later associate editior of The Evening Post.

Mr. Harney, who was born in Worcester, Mass., graduated from the Naval Academy in 1953 and earned a master's degree in journalism in 1968 from the University of Wisconsin.

Editorial from the Charleston, SC Evening Post, March 26, 1986

Russell F Harney's life seemed to be filled with one accomplishment after another. First there was his career in the Navy as a public affairs specialist, which was preceded by graduation from the Naval Academy where He was an honors school appointee. Shortly after earning his master's degree in journalism he was in the thick of things in Saigon and became the Navy's chief spokesman om the conduct of the Vietnam War. Other tours of duty included London, Stuttgart, and Washington. When he retired as a captain in 1978 he was a widely known spokesman for the military. By that time he had returned to Charleston where he had served an earlier tour of duty. It wasn't long before he was making his mark in the community. A gregarious Irishman, he became an articulate spokesman for the public school system and involved in a long list of civic organizations and endeavors. Within a few years he was making his voice heard as an editorial writer, first as an associate editor of the Evening Post and then of the News and Courier. But no recounting of Russ Harney's life would be complete without saluting the courage and dignity with which he met death.

When he got the news two years ago that he had cancer, he was determined to beat the odds.His optimism was contagious. His sense of humor was unfailing. He insisted as much as possible on business as usual and that meant coming into the office after a heavy chemotherapy treatment that would have felled a lesser man.

And even though he eventually was forced to put up his golf clubs and finally, a few months ago, to give up his office routine, he kept abreast of the news and even continued to write or suggest an editorial or two. While it was clear in the last weeks of his life that he had accepted his fate, there was no sense of self-pity. He redirected his determination toward making the most of his time with family and friends. Russ Harney may not have beat the odds, but he left life a winner.

On March 27, 1986, both houses of the South Carolina General Assembly concurred in a resolution of condolence over the death of Russell Francis Hwrney.