Jimmy Douglas Ross
General, U.S. Army

Jimmy Douglas Ross was born on 23 May 1936 in Hosston, LA. Ross received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR, in 1958. As a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. He also has a Masters' in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. His military education includes the Basic Officer Course at the U.S. Army Infantry School; the Transportation Advanced Officer Course; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

His initial company grade assignments were with the Infantry and Transportation Corps units at Schofield Barracks, HI; Thailand; Fort Eustis, VA; Fort Campbell, KY; and Fort Bragg, NC. In 1964, Ross served in Vietnam as an Infantry Battalion Advisor in the PBT Special Zone, III Corps.

From 1967-69, he was assigned as a JTF-11 Staff Officer, U.S. Strike Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL. In 1969, Ross returned to Vietnam. During his second combat tour, he served as the S-4 and later the S-2/3 in the 101st Airborne Division Support Command; he then commanded the 10th Transportation Battalion at Cam Ranh Bay.

Upon his return to the U.S., he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at HQDA, in the Financial Resources and the Materiel Acquisition Directorates. He served as the Assistant Director of the Army Staff in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army, from 1973-74. His next assignment was as the Deputy Comptroller of Oakland Army Base, CA, and later as the Commander of the Military Ocean Terminal, Bay Area.

In 1978, Ross transferred to Germany, where he commanded the 4th Transportation Brigade and 2nd Support Command, VII Corps. He returned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, HQDA, as the Director for Transportation, Energy and Troop Support from 1982-84.

He served as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command, from 1984-86 and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Depot System Command, from 1986-87. In June 1987, he was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, where he served for four and a half years. Ross returned to AMC as Commanding General from 1 February 1992 to 11 February 1994.

General Jimmy Douglas Ross retired from active Army service in 1994.

Medals, Awards, Badges and Tabs

Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with Award Numeral 2
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Ribbon with Award Numeral 3
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab

In Retirement

In 2001, Ross served as a member of the board of directors of Stanley, Inc., a consulting firm. He also served as an executive with the American Red Cross and was a consultant to Cypress International. He was also a member of the board of directors of VSE Corporation.

Death and Burial

General Jimmy Douglas Ross died of cancer on 2 May 2012 in New Smyrna Beach, FL. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.