Joshua Edwards Rowson

Joshua Edwards Rowson (Chief Warrant Officer 4, retired), age 48 of Anchorage, Alaska, a veteran of the United States Army Special Forces, peacefully passed away on October 7th, 2023. He was surrounded by family and friends. Josh is survived by his loving wife Jenny Pontius, and his beloved son Joseph Rowson.

Josh grew up in multiple locations but referred to Anchorage Alaska as childhood home. Immediately following high school graduation, Josh enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman in 1993, serving in the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, KY, followed by 1-4 Infantry Battalion in Hohenfels, Germany. Josh was selected for Special Forces training in 1997 and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1999 as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. He was then assigned to 1st Special Forces Group, serving on Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) 142 and 155 from 1999 to 2003 and successfully completing the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, the Combat Dive Supervisor Course, USMC Over The Horizon Nautical Navigation Course, and the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course. In 2003, Josh transferred to 5th Special Forces Group and served on ODA 535 until 2006. Josh left 5th Group in 2006 and joined 19th Special Forces Group assigned to the Washington National Guard, where he completed the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification course, the Special Forces Warrant Officer Advanced Course, and the Advanced Special Operations Technician Course. While assigned to 19th Group, Josh served as an Assistant Detachment Commander and Detachment Commander of ODA 9112, Company Operations Warrant Officer for ODB 9110, and concurrently worked as an independent contractor for the US Army Asymmetric Warfare Group and other government agencies. In 2017, Josh returned to 1st Group and served as a Company Operations Warrant Officer until his retirement in 2020 after 27 years of service. Throughout his service, Josh has completed over 12 deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Maldives, Republic of Korea, and Thailand.

Josh was a loving husband and father who was admired and respected by so many. An active person with many interests, Josh enjoyed adventure racing, skiing, shooting, and working on his classic cars. In 2019 he met his wife Jenny while both being stationed in Washington. That is when their love story began. Their relationship was one of unconditional love and respect from the very beginning. As dual military, they endured back to back deployments which only strengthened their love. Josh proposed to Jenny on top of Whistler mountain, while on one of their many ski trips. They married privately in April 2022 and celebrated their wedding with family and friends on October 8th, 2022. They shared many interests, but traveling, sharing laughs, and staying active outdoors were some of their favorites. Their final move was back up to Washington, to be near his son Joe and his Army community. He is dearly missed, but the memory of his love will endure.

Josh’s father, Michael Brian Rowson, a combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War as an infantryman and a helicopter door gunner, was laid to rest on June 4th, 2011. Josh’s mother, Ronda Heppner, a lifetime registered nurse, was laid to rest on August 14th, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joshua's memory may be made to Green Beret Foundation, https://greenberetfoundation.org/donate/.