THE WALL OF FACES

Dear CPL Reid Ross, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Agent Orange Awareness month. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Reid R. Ross

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Reid R. Ross, Jr. (MCSN: 2395408), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 December 1968, Company I was participating in Operation Meade River south of DaNang when the Marines were pinned down by an extremely heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying fortified emplacements. Rapidly assessing the situation, Corporal Ross immediately left his position of relative safety and exposing himself to the intense enemy fire, moved from one position to another in order to determine ammunition requirements and encourage his men. Temporarily unable to deploy his men to an alternate location because of the intensity of the hostile fire, he fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and hurled hand grenades and fired several light antitank assault weapons at the North Vietnamese bunkers. Realizing that his position was rapidly becoming untenable, Corporal Ross returned to his squad and skillfully directed his men to a more secure area while personally providing covering fire for them. Observing two casualties lying in an area dangerously exposed to the enemy fire, he unhesitatingly manned an M-60 machine gun and, with complete disregard for the intensity of the hostile rounds impacting near him, boldly delivered protective fire for an evacuation team until he was mortally wounded. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Corporal Ross inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

My squad leader and friend. Was with him earlier that day. Said if something happened to him, he would look after us if he could. Hard to explain how else I could have made it a few times. Semper Fi, Ross.

In paying my last respects at your funeral it was hard to say goodbye. See you again in Heaven Rex. Miss you and pray God Blesses your soul for your sacrifice for all Americans. I look forward to giving you a hug when we meet in Heaven someday but until then, rest in peace dear Rex. your friend.

He loved us so.
Every day, in a hundred ways, he told us so.
In honesty, in affection, he told us so.
He loved us so.
Every day, in a hundred ways, he showed us so.
With loyalty and bravery, he showed us so.
He was our defender, and he kept us free!
He took an oath to guard us, and fought for liberty!
He loved us so, and we should know.
For we loved him so.
Corporal Ross, you were the very essence of DUTY!...HONOR!...and COUNTRY! You had been there and done that in Vietnam! You were one brave man who did brave deeds for our America! You fought for the right without question or pause! Your name and fame are the BIRTHRIGHT of every American CITIZEN! In your youth and strength...your love and loyalty...you had given all that mortality can give to defend liberty everywhere! Flinton is very proud of you! You sacrificed your life so that freedom and justice may live! You had lived up to the motto of the Corps!---SEMPER FIDELIS!---and to the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land!...an ideal SO NOBLE that it arouses in all of us a sense of pride, and yet, of humility! I strongly and honestly believe that Avonmore's own Jill Corey, whom I so greatly and so immensely admire as one of my three top favorite songbirds of all time, the other two being Walton-on-Thames's own Julie Andrews, England's musical queen, and London's own Dusty Springfield, another thrush from England, would be very proud of your service to America, and the sacrifices you made to keep our country and us free! Well done, Corporal! Be thou at peace. SEMPERR FI!