The University of Virginia’s Army ROTC program is hosting the second annual R.J. Hess Memorial golf tournament on April 12 in memory of a former cadet killed in Afghanistan in 2013.
After his commissioning, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Robert Joseph “R.J.” Hess became a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and earned numerous medals for his service to the country. The Cavalier Battalion annually holds an event to honor Hess and to generate funding for a charity selected by the Hess family and the battalion. This year’s charity is the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
1st Lt. Robert Joseph “R.J.” Hess was killed in action in Pul-e-Alam, Afghanistan, on April 23, 2013. (Contributed photo)
The golf tournament, open to the public, will be played at the Meadowcreek Golf Course starting at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $70 per student, $80 for others.
Hess was a 2005 graduate of Robinson High School in Fairfax where he played football, 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 was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and was a member of Task Force Knighthawk when he was killed on April 23, 2013.
Hess’ younger brother Patrick joined the Army in 2018 in honor of his brother and became a Blackhawk pilot serving at Fort Lewis, Washington.
