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Navy Federal Credit Union
John
MacNair
Wright
Jr.
POW (WWII)
1916-04-14

–

2014-01-27

Born:

, 

California

Home:

Hollywood

, 

California

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

John Wright graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1940. Captured on Corregidor at the fall of the Philippine Islands in May 1942, he was held as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese until the end of the war. He retired in 1972 as a U.S. Army Lieutenant General.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands & Japan)

    Action Date:

    1942 – 1945

    Captain (Coast Artillery Corps) John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was captured by the Japanese after the fall the Philippine Islands in 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military control at the end of hostilities in August 1945.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Regiment:

    91st Coast Artillery Regiment

    Division:

    Philippine Scouts

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Pacific, General Orders No. 260 (1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in Lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Coast Artillery Corps) John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 91st Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts), in action against the enemy at Corregidor, Manila Harbor, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Wright, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Colonel (Infantry)

    Division:

    7th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    1953 – 1954
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Infantry) John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with the 7th Infantry Division, in Korea, from 1953 to 1954.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Division:

    11th Air Assault Division (Test)

    Action Date:

    1964 – 1965
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Brigadier General John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Division Commander, 11th Air Assault Division (Test), from 1964 to 1965.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division

    Action Date:

    June 1965 – August 1966
    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 45 (December 1, 1966)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General John M. Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Assistant Division Commander, 1st Cavalry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period from June 1965 to August 1966.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    101st Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    Vietnam War
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division, in the Republic of Vietnam.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Regiment:

    91st Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts)

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, Philippine Coast Artillery Command, General Orders No. 29 (1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Coast Artillery Corps) John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 91st Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts), in action against the enemy at Corregidor, Manila Harbor, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Wright, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    Division:

    Comptroller of the Army

    Action Date:

    1970 – 1972
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant General John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Comptroller of the Army from 1970 to 1972.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    101st Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    1969 – 1970
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General John MacNair Wright, Jr. (ASN: 0-23057), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division, from 1969 to 1970.