The Georgia Virtue Veteran Spotlight Series features veterans in communities around Georgia that humbly and selflessly served our country. The series is sponsored by Femac Security Solutions.
Mrs. Ann Ross and Mr. Henry Ross, who have been married for well over three decades, share a family together, a life, and a great appreciation for the United States military, in which they both served honorably.
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Henry was drafted as part of the last Vietnam draft in the late 1960s at the age of nineteen. He completed basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Alexandria, Virginia for his AIT training before being deployed to Germany. From there, he went to Vietnam during the era of ‘clean up,’ as he referred to it. Henry was there for much of the exit strategy implementation in 1968 and 1969.
He was initially drafted for two years, but enlisted to serve another year, working in equipment engineering before moving on to work as a contractor. That returned him to Germany where he attended trade school and began working on the German economy. He learned to speak German fluently merely by being immersed in the culture, which was a benefit since his classes were entirely in German.
Ann enlisted in the military like many of her siblings before her in her early twenties. Seeking to further her education and see different aspects of the world, she decided the U.S. Army would provide that opportunity. “I saw it as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.” Basic training was in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where she was briefly, until moving on to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. Ann’s Military Occupational Speciality
(MOS) at the time was a stenography. “That was back in the day of 100 words per minute on the manual typewriter,” she said laughing. “Those were the good days.”
She spent time in both Germany and South Korea. During her service, she was overseas for approximately ten years. “I enjoyed it,” she said. “Meeting new people, learning their way of life. It was wonderful.”
The two met in Heidelberg, Germany several years into their service when they were in their thirties. Henry was still working as a contractor and Ann was working for NATO. She was stationed in Heidelberg and he was on vacation visiting with a friend for a game of basketball. “And that was a lifetime ago,” Henry said.
When asked exactly how long they’d been married, they both joked that they weren’t sure. “We don’t keep up with that stuff,” Ann said.
“We do, too! Watch me forget and she won’t be saying ‘We don’t keep up with it!’” Henry said laughing.
“I mean we aren’t counting anymore,” Ann said. “We just do life together!”
By best estimates, though, they have been married over thirty-five years. The two have four accomplished adult daughters now, all of whom were born while Ann was on active duty and one of which remains in Germany on her own Air Force assignment.
In 2000, they moved from Belton, Texas to the small town of Register in Bulloch County. It once again allowed them to be closer to family and they’ve called the town home for the last twenty-one years. They both still work and Ann serves as a city councilwoman in Register as well. She is very involved in the local American Legion post and advocates for more resources for veterans when they return and reintegrate into civilian life. She also runs ‘The Wedding Ladies Statesboro, LLC’, a veteran-owned event planning service.
The two share much in common in their life together, but things stay quite lively with their different perspectives and opposite political ideologies. Their varied opinions clashed a little in discussing how to show appreciation for veterans and whether or not military service should be mandatory upon graduation from high school.
“All young people, after they graduate, should serve two years,” Ann said.
“Why should they do that?” Henry asked.
“Because it would give them a sense of purpose, a sense of responsibility and a loyalty to your country. The military makes you grow up,” she said.
“Once you come out of high school, you should know what’s right and wrong. The loyalty, the patriotism, the culture, that comes from home,” Henry replied. “Your country shouldn’t make you do something you don’t want to do.”
Henry said he would do it all again, and mostly the same, if he had the chance, because he walked away with valuable lessons and information from his time in the service. “I had opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
“You learn how to live with others that aren’t your family. You form bonds, learn how to help each other – because in war, you’ve got to help each other in order to survive,” Ann said. “I appreciate what the military taught me.”
In reflecting on their service, both laughed about how much the Army has changed. Ann talked about the way the service has loosened some of their standards and altered how they instill discipline in people.
“Your drill sergeant could…”
“Beat you up,” Henry finished. “They took all that childishness from the street out of you. Molded you to make you man.” He shared a story about chewing gum when he got off the bus at basic training – the only one out of 200. “My drill sergeant stopped me, asked me what was in my mouth so I spit the gum out on the ground. He sent everyone to the mess hall and I had to wait outside. He had me stand there for an hour and a half and yell, ‘I’m a chewing gum chewer!’ I could hardly talk the next day…and I don’t chew gum today!’ Henry shared laughing.
Both were asked what advice they would offer someone considering joining the military in 2021.
“My first advice would be to figure out what branch you want to serve in,” Henry said. “And why. Other than that, I would tell them, ‘You know what’s right and what’s wrong. Just listen, do your job, and never be afraid to ask questions. Going into the military is a good thing. You can’t go wrong.”
Ann echoed the sentiment, saying “It’s good discipline. It’s a good career and it’s a good thing to serve your country, you’ll have so much more appreciation for things.”
“And you’ll become a better person,” Henry said.
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