Thursday afternoon the chartered plane carrying the body of PFC Adam Corey Ross from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, landed at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport and then taxed toward the FedEx Terminal.
PFC Adam Ross, 19, was fatally wounded while on patrol in Wardak, Afghanistan on July 24th.
An Honor Guard of SC National Guard soldiers escorted the flag-draped coffin to the Wood Mortuary hearse. More than 200 members of the Patriot Guard and American Legion Riders on motorcycles with flags escorted the hearse to the Wood Mortuary in Greer.
Hundreds of patriotic citizens with American Flags lined the street leading to the Mortuary.
As the family arrived at Fairview Baptist Church, Saturday afternoon for the memorial service for PFC Adam Ross, they saw Patriot Guard and American Legion Riders along with other veterans and plain folks holding and waving American Flags to show their solemn support in honor of PFC Adam Ross.
During the memorial service, SC Army National Guard Senior Military Chaplain Col. Steve Shugart stated, “It is OK to cry.” He then read the Scripture message form the book of Matthew. He concluded by asking the congregation to stand and recite the 23rd Psalm.
Kevin Nix, Adam’s uncle, talked about what it was like watching Adam Ross grow up.
Adam attended Byrnes High School and joined the Air Force Junior ROTC program.
“Adam wanted to be like his father, a Navy veteran, and currently an Army Staff Sergeant in the SC National Guard,” said his uncle. Adam was a humble young man who was destined to become a soldier in the US Army. Ross enlisted in the Army in April 2011.
PFC Adam Corey Ross, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. He had been stationed at Vicenza, Italy, since September 2011, and he had only been stationed in Afghanistan for three weeks.
He was buried with full military honors at Wood Memorial Gardens in Lyman. He was presented seven medals posthumously, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and NATO Ribbon (Afghanistan).
PFC Austin Kernels, Chosen Company, Mortars, 3rd Platoon, after being told of Adam’s death wrote a poem titled, “Atop Ross Ridge” on 24 July 2012.
He is survived by his fiancée Rachel Lowery; his parents, SSgt. George and Amanda Ross; his brothers PFC Jonathan and his wife Diedre Ross, and Jacob Ross.