thedrifter
04-24-03, 12:24 PM
Marine vet finally receives Purple Heart for WWII heroism
Associated Press
COUPEVILLE, Wash. — Nearly six decades after John Wright took out two machine gunners who had pinned down his Marine Corps unit in World War II, he has been awarded eight medals for heroism.
Wright, 78, walking with a cane and ailing with Parkinson’s disease, was presented with the Purple Heart and other awards Monday at his home in this Whidbey Island town about 45 miles north-northwest of Seattle.
About 50 relatives, friends and members of the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53 from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station attended the presentation.
On June 15, 1944, Wright was shot by a sniper in the back, leaving him with seven shattered ribs and a ruined left lung as two machine gunners blasted away at him and his 2nd Marine Division buddies from a tin shack near the beach on Saipan.
Despite the injuries, he managed to fire a round from his grenade rifle through the window of the shack, destroying the machine gun nest.
Wright spent the next year and four months at a hospital in Hawaii. An officer who witnessed his heroics promised to put him in for a citation, but all he got on his release from the Marines was a normal discharge button.
After decades of fruitless efforts to rectify the oversight, an inquiry by Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., established that Wright was entitled to the medals.
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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
Sempers,
Roger
Associated Press
COUPEVILLE, Wash. — Nearly six decades after John Wright took out two machine gunners who had pinned down his Marine Corps unit in World War II, he has been awarded eight medals for heroism.
Wright, 78, walking with a cane and ailing with Parkinson’s disease, was presented with the Purple Heart and other awards Monday at his home in this Whidbey Island town about 45 miles north-northwest of Seattle.
About 50 relatives, friends and members of the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53 from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station attended the presentation.
On June 15, 1944, Wright was shot by a sniper in the back, leaving him with seven shattered ribs and a ruined left lung as two machine gunners blasted away at him and his 2nd Marine Division buddies from a tin shack near the beach on Saipan.
Despite the injuries, he managed to fire a round from his grenade rifle through the window of the shack, destroying the machine gun nest.
Wright spent the next year and four months at a hospital in Hawaii. An officer who witnessed his heroics promised to put him in for a citation, but all he got on his release from the Marines was a normal discharge button.
After decades of fruitless efforts to rectify the oversight, an inquiry by Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., established that Wright was entitled to the medals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
Sempers,
Roger