CPT Andrew P. Ross (USMA '11)
LEXINGTON, Va. — David Miller was filled with emotions Thursday when talking about Andrew Ross or Drew as he calls him.
"His parents are friends of ours. So we've known him his whole life. Did a lot of neat things together. Our kids are inseparable and always have been," said Miller.
Ross and two other men were killed when their vehicle was hit by an IED during combat in Afghanistan on November 27, 2018. Miller said Drew will never be forgotten.
"His leadership ability, his heart, his love for family and friends. He's been this way his whole life. Just a loyal, loving young man," said Miller.
Ross is the second Lexington soldier killed in recent years while fighting for our country. They were close friends. Chase Prasnicki, also a West Point graduate, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. He graduated from Rockbridge County High School in 2006. Ross graduated from the same school in 2007. Miller said Chase was a hero to Drew.
"Chase had a lot of same qualities as Drew and a lot of the same characteristics. Drew kind followed the same steps that Chase put in front of him," said Miller.
Robby Jones attended Virginia Military Institute with Ross' dad and the two families were neighbors. His daughter and Miller's son was best friends. Jones calls them the "three musketeers". Jones says Andrew's death is a great loss to the community and the world.
"His thing was to make the world a better place," said Jones.
Jones recalled the times when Ross would make phone calls to friends and family before deployments.
"It was like he was still here with us. But he always liked to tell us he loved us"
Ross was an Army captain and Green Beret.
"He loved his men. They chose him as a leader. In that special forces area, that's an elite bunch," said Jones.
Ross had more than seven years of service in the Army. This was his second overseas tour. His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
Ross was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He is survived by his wife and parents.
For every CPT Drew Ross bracelet sold,proceeds will be donated to the Drew Ross Foundation.
May it be said, “Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”
LEXINGTON, Va. — David Miller was filled with emotions Thursday when talking about Andrew Ross or Drew as he calls him.
"His parents are friends of ours. So we've known him his whole life. Did a lot of neat things together. Our kids are inseparable and always have been," said Miller.
Ross and two other men were killed when their vehicle was hit by an IED during combat in Afghanistan on November 27, 2018. Miller said Drew will never be forgotten.
"His leadership ability, his heart, his love for family and friends. He's been this way his whole life. Just a loyal, loving young man," said Miller.
Ross is the second Lexington soldier killed in recent years while fighting for our country. They were close friends. Chase Prasnicki, also a West Point graduate, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. He graduated from Rockbridge County High School in 2006. Ross graduated from the same school in 2007. Miller said Chase was a hero to Drew.
"Chase had a lot of same qualities as Drew and a lot of the same characteristics. Drew kind followed the same steps that Chase put in front of him," said Miller.
Robby Jones attended Virginia Military Institute with Ross' dad and the two families were neighbors. His daughter and Miller's son was best friends. Jones calls them the "three musketeers". Jones says Andrew's death is a great loss to the community and the world.
"His thing was to make the world a better place," said Jones.
Jones recalled the times when Ross would make phone calls to friends and family before deployments.
"It was like he was still here with us. But he always liked to tell us he loved us"
Ross was an Army captain and Green Beret.
"He loved his men. They chose him as a leader. In that special forces area, that's an elite bunch," said Jones.
Ross had more than seven years of service in the Army. This was his second overseas tour. His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
Ross was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He is survived by his wife and parents.
For every CPT Drew Ross bracelet sold,proceeds will be donated to the Drew Ross Foundation.
May it be said, “Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”
LEXINGTON, Va. — David Miller was filled with emotions Thursday when talking about Andrew Ross or Drew as he calls him.
"His parents are friends of ours. So we've known him his whole life. Did a lot of neat things together. Our kids are inseparable and always have been," said Miller.
Ross and two other men were killed when their vehicle was hit by an IED during combat in Afghanistan on November 27, 2018. Miller said Drew will never be forgotten.
"His leadership ability, his heart, his love for family and friends. He's been this way his whole life. Just a loyal, loving young man," said Miller.
Ross is the second Lexington soldier killed in recent years while fighting for our country. They were close friends. Chase Prasnicki, also a West Point graduate, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. He graduated from Rockbridge County High School in 2006. Ross graduated from the same school in 2007. Miller said Chase was a hero to Drew.
"Chase had a lot of same qualities as Drew and a lot of the same characteristics. Drew kind followed the same steps that Chase put in front of him," said Miller.
Robby Jones attended Virginia Military Institute with Ross' dad and the two families were neighbors. His daughter and Miller's son was best friends. Jones calls them the "three musketeers". Jones says Andrew's death is a great loss to the community and the world.
"His thing was to make the world a better place," said Jones.
Jones recalled the times when Ross would make phone calls to friends and family before deployments.
"It was like he was still here with us. But he always liked to tell us he loved us"
Ross was an Army captain and Green Beret.
"He loved his men. They chose him as a leader. In that special forces area, that's an elite bunch," said Jones.
Ross had more than seven years of service in the Army. This was his second overseas tour. His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
Ross was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He is survived by his wife and parents.
For every CPT Drew Ross bracelet sold,proceeds will be donated to the Drew Ross Foundation.
May it be said, “Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”
Military Times — The Department of Defense released on Wednesday the identities of three U.S. special operations troops killed during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Two Army Green Berets and an Air Force combat controller were killed Tuesday by an improvised explosive device in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni.
The two Army Special Forces soldiers were Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross, 29, of Lexington, Virginia, and Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington. The two were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“Andrew and Eric were invaluable members and leaders in 3rd Special Forces Group and the special operations community. Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the families of these brave men,” Col. Nathan Prussian, 3rd Group commander, said in a statement.