[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                    HONORING CAPTAIN ANDREW P. ROSS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for 1\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to express my 
sincere thanks to General Vincent Brooks, my classmate from West Point, 
upon his retirement day after 38 years of active military service.
  Mr. Speaker, I came down to the floor to read a Facebook post from 
another West Pointer honoring his close friend who died on November 27 
of this year in Afghanistan.
  Time will not permit me to go through his entire post, but I think 
for many of us who have served in the conflicts that we have today, it 
underlines the sacrifice that our men and women pay to the service of 
our country.
  And I will end with this. It was Captain Andrew Ross who died on 
November 27, 2018. And the last verse of our alma mater which was sung 
at the second singing of alma maters at the Army-Navy game, it ends 
with this, and I think it is appropriate:

     And when our work is done.
     Our course on Earth is run.
     May it be said, `Well done;
     Be thou at peace.'
     E'er may that line of gray.
     Increase from day to day.
     Live, serve, and die, we pray.
     West Point for thee.

  God bless the family of Captain Ross and all the men and women who 
serve overseas in dangerous locations.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Captain Andrew P. Ross, who 
passed away in Afghanistan on Tuesday, November 27th.
  Captain Ross was a Virginian native who earned his education at West 
Point, my alma mater. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. Afterward, 
Captain Ross joined Special Forces and led Green Berets.
  On November 27th, Captain Ross was killed when an IED detonated 
underneath his vehicle in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. His friend, 
Michael Shepherd, shared the following words to honor his memory:

       I am still numb and perhaps still in disbelief. I have been 
     dreading writing this post, but I am going to get this out 
     because I believe people should know.
       ``Apocalypse 36, this is Bushmaster 36. I am providing 
     overwatch from your northwest as you move north along the 
     route.'' I knew that voice better than anyone when it came 
     over the radio. That was Drew Ross, my best friend. My West 
     Point classmates and fellow platoon leaders know nothing is 
     more calming than knowing your battle buddy is looking out 
     for you.
       I met Drew on July 2, 2007 when we started West Point 
     together. We were in the same cadet basic training platoon 
     and in the same cadet company (Go Frogs!) for three years. 
     Then, we found ourselves together again at Fort Stewart, GA 
     in the same cavalry squadron (Mustangs!). By the time we 
     deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, we knew more about each 
     other than we probably would've liked. Drew was the third 
     platoon leader in B Troop and I was the third platoon leader 
     in A Troop. After 9 months, we sat next to each other on the 
     flight home. When the pilot announced that we were over U.S. 
     airspace, Drew and looked around the plane and discussed how 
     lucky we were to bring all of our Soldiers home.
       As I left the Army for law school, Drew not only stayed in 
     but decided he wanted to join Special Forces and lead Green 
     Berets. Of course, Drew made it through easily and married 
     his lovely wife in February. On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 
     Drew was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated 
     underneath his vehicle in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. We 
     FaceTimed last week and the last thing he sent me was his 
     address because I wanted to send him something for Christmas.
       Drew represented the best of our country. He could have 
     done anything he wanted, but chose time and again to put 
     himself in between our country and the enemy under the most 
     violent and dangerous of circumstances. I would share more 
     about how funny and incredible of a man he was, but there are 
     some things I want to keep only for myself.
       Please don't feel sorry for me. I am beyond lucky that I 
     knew him, let alone that I was able to call him a fellow 
     classmate, Frog, Soldier, Mustang, platoon leader, executive 
     officer, and most importantly (according to him at least) a 
     workout partner. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers his 
     wife, family, and Green Berets whose time with him was cut 
     short. Mourn for our country who lost a man who gave so much 
     in 29 years, but had so much more to give.

  Mr. Speaker, Captain Ross served our nation honorably and 
courageously. He will be dearly missed.

                          ____________________