Captain Andrew Patrick “Drew” Ross was born on January 26, 1989, in Lexington, Virginia, the son of Elizabeth “Beth” Jones Ross and Stephen Ross. He grew up in Lexington, loved playing soccer and graduated from Rockbridge County High School. Representative Robert Goodlatte of Virginia’s 6th District nominated him to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Drew excelled as a cadet, especially in physical fitness, where he regularly exceeded a perfect score on the Army Physical Fitness Test. He played on the Army soccer team as a plebe and then joined the strength team, helping varsity athletes build strength in the weight room. Classmates said he loved fitness for the mental toughness it demanded; he loved to persevere through a challenge. He majored in management, attended Airborne School and Cadet Troop Leader Training in Korea and, in his final semester, served as cadet company commander of Company F-4. He graduated on May 21, 2011, and was commissioned as an Armor officer.
At Fort Benning, Drew completed the Armor Basic Officer Leader Course, the Army Reconnaissance Course and Ranger School. He then led 3rd Platoon, Troop B, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and deployed with the squadron to Logar Province, Afghanistan, for nine months in 2013. Most importantly, he met his future wife, Felicia, while stationed at Fort Stewart. After returning from Afghanistan he helped train the West Point classes of 2015 and 2016 at Camp Buckner, sharing the lessons of his recent combat experience.
Drew went on to complete the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2017, which surprised no one who knew him. He earned the Green Beret and became the detachment commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3126, Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg. It was his dream job. Drew and Felicia were married on February 17, 2018.
In August 2018 Drew and his team deployed to Afghanistan. On November 27, 2018, an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle during combat operations in the Andar District of Ghazni Province. Drew was killed along with Sergeant First Class Eric Emond and Air Force Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin. He was 29. His awards include two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab and the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.
More than 900 people attended his funeral in the Richmond area, and he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Drew was known for his infectious smile, his playful sense of humor and his passion for fitness, and he lived by the motto “Never Falter, Never Quit.” He was a devoted husband and a proud uncle and godfather. He was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel Matthew Ross. He is survived by Felicia and their dogs Bubba and Dolly, his mother and father, his sister Sarah Ross Geisen and her husband Major Brian Geisen of the Marine Corps, his nephews and his grandparents.
CPT Andrew Ross was killed on November 27, 2018 in Andar, Ghazni province when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle while serving in combat operations in Afghanistan.
Memorial Valor Foundation
Sources
- West Point Association of Graduates: Andrew P. Ross 2011 (memorial article)
- ARSOF History: Captain Andrew P. Ross
- Green Beret Foundation: Andrew P. Ross
- WRIC: Hundreds attend funeral for Virginia Army Special Forces captain killed in action
- Department of Defense: DoD identifies three Operation Freedom’s Sentinel casualties
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Andrew Ross bio
