Hess, Robert Joseph

First Lieutenant Robert Joseph Hess was a 26-year-old officer from Virginia serving in the United States Army. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, part of Task Force Destiny within the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.

On April 23, 2013, Hess was killed in Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan. According to U.S. military reports, he died from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device (IED). The attack occurred during a security patrol.

Hess's death took place during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2013, the conflict was in a phase focused on transitioning security responsibilities to Afghan forces, though insurgent attacks remained frequent, particularly in provinces like Logar surrounding Kabul.

The Department of Defense announced Hess's death on April 24, 2013. He was posthumously promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the NATO Medal.

Robert Hess was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists and by veterans' organizations. His unit, the 10th Aviation Regiment, continued its deployment as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.

First Lieutenant Hess was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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