PFC Carl Richard Wright

courtesy of Karl Stelly

PFC Carl Richard Wright and his twin, Clark Eugene Wright, were born 7 Apr 1924 in Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He and his brother were the 3rd and 4th of the 10 children of Harry Clayton and Sarah Irene (Hoke) Wright. Carl's father supported his family by working in a shoe factory and, in 1939, working as a watchman there he earned a reported $780. Carl did not advance his education beyond the 8th grade but by 1942 he went to work for the Alvord Polk Reamer and Tool Company in Millersburg.

Carl was drafted with his brother in May 1943 and they were sent together to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for their initial training and he may have had his training as a medic there, too. Carl was sent overseas in June 1944. He was assigned to the Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 14 Jul 1944. He was wounded in the abdomen by artillery fire on 6 Aug 1944 and sent to hospital. In hospital PVT Wright underwent surgery removing part of his colon but it wasn't enough to save his life and PFC Wright died of his wounds on 10 Oct 1944.

PFC Wright was repatriated and re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Brother, Harold Clayton Wright, served in C Company 1st Battalion 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division and was wounded on Okinawa. Carl's twin also served in the U.S. Army during the war. Father Harry Clayton Wright, served as a PFC in the U.S. Army during WW1.Great-grandfather, Jacob M. Peterman, served in E Company 200th Pennsylvania Infantry (USA) during the Civil War.