Sioux Cityan Handles ‘Em Hot
Tackles Five-Inch Shell, Throws It Over Ship’s Side
Pearl Harbor, T. H. (Delayed)- If you saw a misfired five-inch shell rolling along the deck ready to let go, what would you do?
Here’s what Private First Class William D. Wright, U.S M.C., 20, 2721 Sheriden Road, Sioux City, did.
He grabbed the potential bomb and chucked it over the side of a United States warship.
Because of his courage while the ship was under fire, he was promoted to his present rank and received a letter of commendation.
It all happened during a naval engagement off Santa Cruz Island in which the aircraft carrier Hornet was lost. Before the day was out, a gun at which Private First Class Wright was stationed accounted for four Jap planes.
The letter of commendation follows:
“Private First Class William D. Wright, at great danger to his person, retrieved and threw over the side a five-inch projectile which had been a misfire. This shell had been thrown over the side from the gun during the action, but due to the list of the ship it had fallen on the quarterdeck beneath the gun. Private First Class Wright, without hesitation, ran below and threw the projectile over the side.”
It was signed by his commanding officer.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Wright, he enlisted December 26, 1941 and was transferred aboard ship for sea duty last June. His youngest brother, Richard, is awaiting call in the naval reserve aeronautical organization.
Source: The Sioux City Journal-Tribune, March 19, 1943 (photo included)
IN UNIFORM
Cpl. William D. Wright of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Aviation Cadet Dick Wright, U.S.N.R of Corpus Christi, Texas have returned to their stations after being called to Iowa City by the serious illness of their father, who was in the University Hospital. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Wright, 2721 Sheridan Street.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 25, 1945
William Donovan Wright was born Oct. 5, 1922 to Mark William and Gladys Donovan Wright. He died Oct. 5, 1967.
Cpl. Wright served with the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
