ROSS, Cleo J.

ROSS, Cleo J.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
First Lieutenant, 8th Balloon Company, US Army  
from Titusville
died 26 Sept 1918 France
buried Meuse- Argonne American Cemetery,  France
Plot A Row 02 Grave 22
Son of: Mrs. Mary Alice Ross, 306 N. Franklin St., Titusville

Lt. Ross was killed in WWI when attempting to parachute from a balloon that had been shot down by a German airplane. Flaming fragments of the balloon landed upon his chute and ignited it.

My grandfather, Herbert B. Hudnut, was with Lt. Ross and survived by parachuting to safety after the same attack. My grandfather believed that had it not been for Lt. Ross exiting the balloon 2nd (after ordering him to exit), that he'd have died instead. My grandfather went on to become a minister after this experience. When I was a boy, my grandfather told me this story many times.

I think it's fair to say that everyone born since, in my family, attributes their own existence to the whims of fate, and how history transpired within those few fateful and tragic moments on Sept. 26, 1918. We will always greatly esteem, honor and respect Lt. Ross.
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