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In retirement in his early thirties, Ross decided to fight in World War II and joined the United States Marine Corps. However, the Marines wanted to keep him stateside, because they wanted him to teach boxing to the trainees. He waived off the licensing, however, choosing to go to training instead, and, upon graduation, he was sent to fight overseas.
He was sent to Guadalcanal, where one night, he and three other comrades were trapped under enemy fire. All three of his fellow Marines were wounded, as was Ross, but he withstood the attack, shooting about 400 bullets and throwing 22 grenades at his attackers, killing 20 of the enemy. Two of the Marines with him had died in the battle, but he carried the remaining man on his shoulders to safety; the other man weighed 230 lb (104 kg) compared to Ross' 140 lb (64 kg). Because of his heroism, Ross was awarded America's third highest military honor, the Silver Star.
During his recovery at the hospital from his wounds suffered in that battle, Ross developed a habit for the morphine administered for pain. This habit became so bad he would sometimes spend $500 a day on the drug. Ross went to a recovery center and beat his addiction. He gave lectures to high school students about the dangers of drug addiction. In 1957, Ross' life and battle with addiction were depicted in the film Monkey on My Back, directed by André De Toth and starring Cameron Mitchell as Ross.
Ross spent his last days doing a few things outside boxing. He was happy he reached the two goals he had set to reach: reunite his family which became separated after his father murder and when his mother went insane and become a world champion in boxing. He wrote an autobiography titled No Man Stands Alone, and he had a role as an actor in the movie Requiem for a Heavyweight.
He was also a strong advocate for the creation and survival of the State of Israel.
Ross died in his hometown Chicago when he was 57 years old. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
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