Pfc. Adam Corey Ross, 19, came home today and thousands turned out to salute the fallen hero.
Men, women and children waved American flags, paused on the side of highways and downtown Greer and saluted Ross.
Ross was killed in an ambush in Wardak Province, Afghanistan July 24. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Vincenza, Italy. A memorial service was held in Vincenza this morning. Read and watch the services. Visitation is Friday with funeral services at Fairview Baptist Saturday.
“Michael Crump, dressed in his Air Force uniform outside BB&T, said, “This a conflicting day for me. It’s my last day as general manager at the bank and I leave tomorrow for Charleston and Afghanistan.” Crump was with his wife and two children.
“We understand the reality of it mentally,” Crump, a combat civil engineer, said. “It’s good to have an employer who fully supports the service.” Crump said he will rejoin BB&T upon his return.
"My brother-in-law is in the service in Afghanistan right now, and I have friends in the military. My grandfather was at Iwo Jima so I've grown up with those who serve,” said Anna, who didn’t give a last name. “We have to show them what they mean to us."
Virginia and Patricia Chambers, sisters, were on Poinsett to honor Ross. Patricia’s grandson, Justin Sumner, is attached to the honor guard that met Ross at Stevens Aviation when his flight arrived at 1:24 this afternoon.
The motorcade drove under a giant American flag across W. Poinsett, attached to two Greer fire trucks. It was a hot, humid day with temperatures in the 90s and humidity pushing the heat index into the low 100s. “If the soldiers can do it we can do it,” Virginia said.
Jason Searle was standing with his family one day after returning from Afghanistan after serving a five-month tour. “I came to show our respect for Pfc. Adam Ross,” Searle said. Searle has served several tours since he was in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1998.
