Col. Ross hailed as ‘towering soldier’ at moving farewell
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony (left) and Permanent Secretary Alfred King (right), among those bearing the body of Col Lindon Ross out of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall compound on Wednesday
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony (left) and Permanent Secretary Alfred King (right), among those bearing the body of Col Lindon Ross out of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall compound on Wednesday

“A great man has died, a towering soldier has passed away and Guyana has lost a worthy son,” said Col (Ret’d) George Gomes, President of the Guyana Veterans Legion, as he delivered the Army Veterans eulogy at the Thanksgiving Service for Col. Lindon Vernon McIntyre Ross, on Wednesday. The venue was the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue in Gdeorgetown.

At the time of his death Col Ross, who was Deputy Director of Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, was also Acting President of the Army Veterans Legion.

Bereaved members of the Ross family at the Thanksgiving Service
Bereaved members of the Ross family at the Thanksgiving Service

His life may have started from humble beginnings, as a young man growing up in Belladrum, West Coast Berbice, but over time he certainly achieved greatness. Ross, who climbed the military ladder to the rank of Colonel in the Guyana Defence Force, undoubtedly typified the old adage: “To achieve greatness, one must serve”.
Col. Ross served the Guyana Defence Force, and Guyana at large, with dedication and distinction. Consequently, he won the greatest military accolade, “A soldiers’ Officer”, said Col (Ret’d) Gomes.
In recognition of his sterling service to his country, Ross who departed this life on March 17, was on Wednesday accorded a hero’s send off, first with a Thanksgiving Service at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, after which his body was taken to his birthplace Belladrum, West Coast Berbice for interment.
Towards the start of the service in Georgetown, and amidst choice musical renditions by Ras Camo on the steel pan, there was a downpour, but that did precious little to keep the hundreds from turning out to pay their last respects to one who was described as a patriot, a true and dedicated son of the soil.
COL. ‘FIX IT’

Among the distinguished gathering of mourners were Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony; Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger; Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green; Town Clerk (Ag), Ms. Carol Sooba; Army Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips; Permanent Secretary of the MCYS, Alfred King; Retired Chief of Staff Major General Joseph Singh; other past and current senior officers of the GDF, and others.
There were several moving tributes delivered by Dr. Frank Anthony, Mr David Granger; Mr Joe Singh; and Director of the MCYS, Dr James Rose. The family eulogy was read by Col. Ross’ only sister, Ingrid Ross and his son, Leon Ross.
However, the military tribute, read by Col. George Gomes gave an in-depth insight into the life, career and accomplishments of Col Ross who had spent more than half of his life in the army.

At the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport where he served with distinction, renowned for being able to solve almost every perceivable problem, he had come to be called ‘Col. Fix It’, according to Minister Anthony.

While serving in the GDF, Col. Ross received the following accolades:

 Mr Joe Singh, Dr Frank Anthony, Mr David Granger, Mr Alfred King and Mr Mark Phillips among mourners at Wednesday’s Thanksgiving ceremony (Adrian Narine photos)
Mr Joe Singh, Dr Frank Anthony, Mr David Granger, Mr Alfred King and Mr Mark Phillips among mourners at Wednesday’s Thanksgiving ceremony (Adrian Narine photos)

* Recipient of the Military Service Medal
* Military Efficiency Medal
* Border Defence Medal
* Fortieth Anniversary Medal and
* Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Medal for his long, dedicated and distinguished service in the Guyana Defence Force
He also secured a Degree in Public Management at the University of Guyana.
Born in Belladrum on October 11, 1955, Ross attended Belladrum Primary and Mahaicony Secondary Schools and then entered the teaching profession.
He later quit teaching and enlisted in the GDF, where he commenced training on May 16, 1976 on the then Sixth Standard Officers’ Course. By mid-December that year, he graduated as a Second Lieutenant, the prelude to his outstanding career in soldiering, where he spent the next 31 years.
Col. Lewis described Ross’ military career as colourful, with many peaks and troughs: On graduating from the Standard Officers’ Course, he was posted to Jaguar Battalion as a Platoon Commander. Thereafter, he had many appointments within the Jaguar and Pirai Battalions, spanning six years.
During that period he travelled overseas as part of the GDF’s contingent to IX TIN SHEET in England, a military exchange training programme between the GDF and the British Army. He also did the Junior Command and Tactics Course locally, in 1978, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1979.
In March 1972 he was posted to Brigade Headquarters as Operations Officer, then later to Jaguar Battalion (1 Infantry Battalion) with command over the troops there for the next two years.
In January 1984 he was promoted to Captain, after completing the Junior Command and Staff Course in 1983. In September 1984, he was posted to training Corps with responsibility for training at officer and other ranks levels for the next four years. While there, Ross also attended and successfully completed the Senior Command and Staff Course in 1986.
After leaving Training Corps in 1988, he continued his military career as a Staff Officer in the Ground Forces Group HQ and in January 1989 was promoted to the rank of Major. In June that year, he proceeded to Canada where he attended and successfully completed the one-year Canadian Land Forces Command Course and Canadian Land Forces Staff Course.
On his return home, he was appointed Base Commander, Base Camp Ayanganna, where he served for less than one month before being appointed the Operations and Training Officer at the Grade 2 level.
In June 1992, Ross was appointed the Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion.

 Col Ross’ sister, Hazel, and his son Leon read the family eulogy
Col Ross’ sister, Hazel, and his son Leon read the family eulogy

Over the next 15 years of his career, he continued his upward climb working assiduously in various senior staff and command appointments within the Force. Such appointments include: Commanding Officer 4 Engineer Battalion; Second-in-Command 1 Infantry Battalion; as base Commander, Base Camp Stephenson; Commanding Officer Training Corps; Staff Officer I Operations and Training, Defence Headquarters; Commander 2 Infantry Battalion and finally Commander I Infantry Battalion – the last military appointment he held.
He was then elevated from the rank of Major to Colonel. Among the many training programmes Col. Ross attended were: the Peace Keeping Course in Canada; the International Humanitarian Course; the Army Command and Staff Officers’ Course and the Higher Studies of Politics Course in Brazil. He also attended the Hemispheric Defence & Security Course in the USA.
Meanwhile, seminars/meetings at which he represented the GDF and Guyana overseas include: New Horizon’s Mid-Planning Conference in the USA in 1997; the Conference of Security of the Americas in Brazil and the Annual Regional Meeting of Military Exchange between the GDF and the Brazilian Army where aspects of joint border security were discussed.
In 1997 Col Ross commanded the Regional Security System Battalion during the EX TRADEWINDS in Puerto Rico and Grenada, then in 2005, commanded the 1 Infantry Brigade during EX IRONWEED in Tacama.
After a long, dedicated and distinguished service in the GDF, Col Ross retired with dignity on October 11, 2010 – his 55th birth anniversary. While yet in the GDF, on August 27, 2007, he was seconded to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, where he served as Deputy Director of Culture.
“If there is but one legacy that we can emulate from the life of Col Ross, it was his devotion to work,” Col Lewis concluded.

By Shirley Thomas

 

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