SSG James Luther Wright

 

SSG James Luther Wright was born 28 Jun 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the 7th of 8 children born to William Thomas and Martha Katherine (Eddy) Wright. The family lived at 1004 Dale Avenue in Roanoke before buying a home on Highway 115 outside Big Lick, Virginia which was valued at $9000 in 1940. His father was a machinist earning a reported $1200 in 1939 and James was working at helper at a gas station earning $364 in the same period. 

James also enlisted in the National Guard joining D Company 116th Infantry in Roanoke. PFC Wright was called to active duty with his unit on 3 Feb 1941 and trained with them at Fort George Meade, Maryland, near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before going to England with the unit in September 1942. D Company trained for the amphibious landing that was planned to be part of the effort to liberate Nazi occupied France. He demonstrated leadership and soldier skills and was promoted to SSG before the unit boarded for the invasion. SSG Wright was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944. 

SSG Wright was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia. 

James' older brother, Thomas Lee Wright, also served in the U.S. Army during the war.