Richard Potts Ross Jr. (1906 - 1990)

Born 18 Mar 1906 in Frederick, Maryland, United States

Husband of Catherine Frances (Pumphrey) Ross — married 25 Feb 1933 in Richmond, Virginia, United States

Died 6 Oct 1990 at age 84 in Laguna Hills, Orange, California, United States

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BGen Ross, USMC.

Biography

Richard Ross Jr. is Notable.

General Richard Ross Jr. served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: 2 Jun 1927
Unit(s): 1st Marine Division
Service ended: 28 Jun 1957

Early years

Richard was born on March 18, 1906, in Frederick, Maryland. His parents were Richard Ross Sr. and Blanche Shriner. ^[1] Richard (age 26), a United States Marine, married Catherine F. Pumphrey on February 25, 1933, in Virginia, United States. ^[1] Catherine and Richard had two children: ^[2]

1. Catherine
2. Unknown at this time

While Richard was stationed in Yokouska Naval Base, in Japan, his mother, Blanche, passed away on March 8, 1951, while visiting him there at his residence. ^[3] After serving in the United States Marine Corps for 30 years, he retired from service on June 28, 1957. ^[4] Richard (age 84) passed away on October 6, 1990, while living in Orange County, California. ^[5] He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. ^{[6] [7]}

Military Record

Date of Rank: Promotions

• On July 23, 1923, Richard was appointed 4th Class Midshipmen in the United States Navy. ^[8]
• On June 2, 1927, Richard (age 21) was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. ^{[9] [10]}
• After the Pearl Harbor attack, Richard was promoted to the rank of Major in September, 1942. ^[10]
• Richard was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September, 1942. ^[10]
• Richard was promoted to full Colonel in September, 1945. ^[10]

World War II Assignments

• Richard was the Commanding Officer of the Marine Unit that was aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma when the Japanese made their surprise attack on the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. ^[10]
• In November, 1942, Richard became commander of the 16th Defense battalion on Johnston Island. ^[10]
• Richard served with the 1st Marine Division at the Battle of Okinawa. ^{[11] [12]}
• Richard Joined the 1st Marine Division in June, 1944, onPavuvu Island, in the Solomon Islands. ^[13]
• Richard saw action as an executive officer in the 1st Marines, under the command of Colonel Lewis B. Puller, on the island of Peleliu and was part of the U.S. Marines' landing on Okinawa. ^{[13] [14] [12]}
• Richard was twice awarded the Legions of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. ^[13]

Legion of Merit.

Post-war Assignments

• Richard was appointed Commander of the 1st Marine Regiment and subsequently sent to China to assist the Nationalist Chinese military during the surrender of the Japanese forces. ^{[10] [12]}
• In 1946, Richard returned to Washinton D.C. an attended Command and Staff School. ^[10]
• In 1948, Richard became a member of the Joint War Plans Committee and graduated from the National War College. ^[10]
• In 1950, Richard accepted command of the Marine Barracks at Yokosuka Naval Air Base, near Tokyo, Japan. ^[10]
• Richard became Chief of Staff at the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot in October, 1952. ^[10]

Military Awards

• Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and Combat "V". ^[10]
• Bronze Star with Gold Star and Combat "V". ^[10]
• Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner, 5th Grade. ^[10]

Here's an image.

Census Data

• Richard Ross Jr. in household of Richard Ross, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States, during the U.S. Census of 1910^[15]
• Richard P Ross in entry for Richard Potts Ross, Sr. during the 1920 U.S. Census. ^[16]
• Richard Ross Jr. in household of Richard Ross, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States, during the 1930 U.S. Census. ^[17]
• Richard P. Ross in the 1940 U.S. Census. ^[2]

Research Notes

(add any new info here)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Marriage Record for Richard Potts Ross Jr.; "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRFF-Z2M : 29 January 2020), Richard P. Ross Jr, 1933. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1940 U.S. Census for Richard P. Ross; "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-KW63?cc=2000219&wc=QZX5-W65%3A790105301%2C803572501%2C803639001%2C953717701 : accessed 19 April 2022), California > San Diego > San Diego Judicial Township, San Diego, Councilmanic District 1 > 62-7B San Diego Judicial Township, San Diego City Councilmanic District 1 in Assembly District 78 bounded by (N) Guy, Andrews, Puterbaugh; (E) Kite, Horton, Upas, Councilmanic District Line; (S) San Diego Bay; (W) Bean, Chalmers, Kettner, Mission Hills Blvd > image 8 of 28; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
3. ↑ Death of Mother, Blanche Ross; Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156606624/blanche-eader-ross : accessed 22 April 2022), memorial page for Blanche Eader Shriner Ross (24 Sep 1873–8 Mar 1951), Find a Grave Memorial ID 156606624, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USA ; Maintained by Sanebee (contributor 47775620) .
4. ↑ Richard P. Ross Jr. on Wikipedia; Wikipedia contributors, "Richard P. Ross Jr.," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_P._Ross_Jr.&oldid=1077759118 (accessed April 20, 2022).
5. ↑ Record of Death for Richard P. Ross; "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPXK-7DG : 26 November 2014), Richard P Ross, 06 Oct 1990; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
6. ↑ Find A Grave Index for Richard Potts Ross; "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGF-YBH4 : 24 February 2022), Richard Potts Ross, ; Burial, Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America, Arlington National Cemetery; citing record ID 121747273, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
7. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial for Brigadier Richard Potts Ross Jr.; Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121747273/richard-potts-ross : accessed 19 April 2022), memorial page for BG Richard Potts Ross Jr. (18 Mar 1906–6 Oct 1990), Find A Grave: Memorial #121747273, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by David McInturff (contributor 47179039) .
8. ↑ U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 for Richard Potts Ross; Navy and Marine Corps Officers;1924; Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28169975?h=7687e6. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
9. ↑ Richard Potts Ross Jr. USN commission date; Richard Potts Ross Jr. in the U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985; Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28170106?h=e585cd. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
10. ↑ ^{10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13} Colonel Richard P. Ross, Jr., United States Marine Corps, Chief of Staff; Library of Wisconsin, Korean War Vets, Marine Corp; http://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/KoreanWarVetsMtHoreb/MarineCorpRecruit/reference/wi.marinecorprecruit.i0004.pdf Colonel Richard P. Ross, Jr. (accessed 20 Apr 2022)
11. ↑ Richard Ross Potts Jr. in the 1st Marine Division; Bharatpedia contributors, "Richard P. Ross Jr.," Bharatpedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.bharatpedia.org.in/index.php?title=Richard_P._Ross_Jr.&oldid=100327 (accessed April 20, 2022).
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} A Brief History of the 1st Marines, by Major John H. Johnstone, USMC; 1962, page 18; Historical Branch, G-3 Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., 20380; https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/A%20BRIEF%20HISTORY%20OF%20THE%20FIRST%20MARINES%20%20PCN%2019000248100.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163140-550. (accessed 20 Apr 2022)
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Biography for Brigadier General P. Ross, Jr.; Fortitudine; Bulletin of the Marine Corps Historical Program; Historical Bulletin Volume XX, Winter 1990-1991, Number 3, page 20; BGen Richard P. Ross, Jr.; https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Fortitudine%20Vol%2020%20No%203.pdf. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
14. ↑ The Seizure of Peleliu by Major Frank O. Hough, USMC; USMC Historical Monograph, http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Peleliu/USMC-M-Peleliu-H.html. (accessed 20 Apr 2022)
15. ↑ 1910 U.S. Census for Richard Ross Jr.; "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2FP-427 : accessed 19 April 2022), Richard Ross Jr. in household of Richard Ross, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 51, sheet 13B, family 270, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 564; FHL microfilm 1,374,577. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
16. ↑ 1920 U.S. Census for Richard P. Ross; "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6QL-6X2 : 1 February 2021), Richard P Ross in entry for Richard Potts Ross, 1920. (accessed 19 Apr 2022)
17. ↑ 1930 U.S. Census for Richard Ross Jr.; "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X34N-WY5 : accessed 19 April 2022), Richard Ross Jr. in household of Richard Ross, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 7, sheet 9B, line 97, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 874; FHL microfilm 2,340,609.

See also:

• Colonel Richard P. Ross, Jr., United States Marine Corps, Chief of Staff; Library of Wisconsin, Korean War Vets, Marine Corp; http://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/KoreanWarVetsMtHoreb/MarineCorpRecruit/reference/wi.marinecorprecruit.i0004.pdf Colonel Richard P. Ross, Jr. (accessed 20 Apr 2022)
• Wikipedia contributors, "Richard P. Ross Jr.," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_P._Ross_Jr.&oldid=996611153 (accessed March 15, 2021).
• A Brief History of the 1st Marines, by Major John H. Johnstone, USMC; 1962, Historical Branch, G-3 Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., 20380; https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/A%20BRIEF%20HISTORY%20OF%20THE%20FIRST%20MARINES%20%20PCN%2019000248100.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163140-550. (accessed 20 Apr 2022)