The University of Virginia’s Army ROTC program will sponsor a golf tournament on Saturday at Meadow Creek Golf Course in memory of a fallen comrade, near the anniversary of his death.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Robert Joseph “R.J.” Hess of Fairfax, a 2010 graduate of 鶹ƽ Army ROTC program, was killed in action April 23, 2013, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan. In his memory, the UVA Army ROTC established the 1st Lt. Hess Leadership Award.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Robert Joseph “R.J.” Hess will be remembered with a golf tournament in his honor. (Contributed photo)
The event, which begins Saturday at 8 a.m., will include 10 foursomes. Retired U.S. Army Col. Robert T. Hess Sr., R.J. Hess’ father, and Brig. Gen. Matt Braman, Hess’s commander at the time of his death, will participate. Proceeds will be donated to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hess’ memory.
Hess was a 2005 graduate of Robinson High School in Fairfax, where he played football and lacrosse and captained the swimming team. He was selected to be an Army aviator and attended Basic Officer Leaders Course and flight school in 2011. He attended Old Dominion University, but was a member of the Cavalier Battalion Army ROTC.
In the Army, Hess received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Aviator Badge.
