Supervisors to recognize Lodi veteran
Next Tuesday, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will honor five veterans from San Joaquin County during its annual Veterans Day recognition.
Supervisor Chuck Winn, who represents District 4 on the board, has chosen Lodi resident Frank Wright for recognition.
A native of Little Rock, Ark., Wright enlisted with the United States Marine Corps in January of 1942 at the age of 16, lying about his real age.
Nine months after enlisting, he helped form the 4th Marine Raider Battalion and was assigned as Squad Leader 3rd Platoon with Company D.
The unit disbanded in February of 1944, and Wright ended up in Company F, 21st Marines as Squad Leader of the 3rd Platoon. During the re-occupation of Guam, Wright suffered a bayonet wound in the stomach, and suffered machine gun wounds on Iwo Jima before being evacuated in March of 1945.
He recovered in the Naval Hospital in San Diego and in 1945 he was transferred to Parris Island, S. C., assigned as a drill instructor, weapons and special instructor. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 22, 1946.
Wright’s final rank was Corporal, and earned the Purple Heart with two stars, a presidential Unit Citation with two stars, Navy Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with three service stars, Fleet Marine Force with four stars, Marine Corps Expedition Medal, Combat action with four stars, the Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. and can be viewed at www.sjgov.org, or the board’s YouTube channel.