Nov. 3—Lodi resident Frank Wright took a visit again in time final month when he returned to southern California to revisit the start of his navy profession.
Wright, 97, enlisted with america Marine Corps in 1942 on the age of 16 and accomplished fundamental boot camp on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
He fought in battles all through the Pacific Theater throughout World Conflict, together with at Iwo Jima, the place he witnessed the elevating of the flag on Mount Suribachi, which has since been memorialized in Joe Rosenthal’s {photograph} that has change into synonymous with victory for American armed forces.
An unique member of the Marine Corps’ Raiders particular forces unit, Wright was recalled to the depot on Oct. 13 to commemorate his service.
“My thoughts went again to January in 1942, seeing among the areas I had been,” Wright stated throughout an Oct. 17 press convention about his journey to San Diego.
“After all, it has utterly modified in that 80 years,” he stated. “I had an image made with the our (sleeping quarters) that I stayed in, and so they have them on show within the San Diego space.”
The Marine Raiders are a particular operations unit created in 1942 to conduct amphibious gentle infantry warfare. Nevertheless, most fight operations throughout the warfare noticed the Raiders used as standard infantry.
Wright was assigned to the 4th Raiders unit out of Camp Pendleton, led by Lt. Col. James Roosevelt, son of the president.
“I had the dignity of assist designing the fight course in San Diego with Col. James Roosevelt, and it introduced again recollections of what we had completed,” Wright stated. “We had been in standing committee at the moment, and I simply cant consider its grown a lot within the 80 years that I’ve left.”
There have been a complete 4 Raiders items throughout the warfare, and all had been engaged in heavy fight within the higher Solomon Islands.
On 15 March 1943, the 4 battalions had been organized as the first Marine Raider Regiment at Espiritu Santo.
Two further Raider items had been created in early 1944, however as a result of the anticipated want for commando-type items throughout the Marines had not materialized, they had been deactivated on Feb. 1 of that yr.
The items had been renamed, with Wright’s 4th Raiders now known as the 2nd battalion, 4th Marines.
A complete of 8.078 males, together with 7,710 Marines and 368 sailors had been assigned to the Raiders.
Throughout his service, Wright fought in 4 main battles, traveled between islands on 11 totally different Navy ships, was wounded within the abdomen by a bayonet whereas recapturing Guam, and was shot within the chest and arm by machine gun fireplace on the island of Iwo Jima.
He spent the final six months of his enlistment as a Marine drill teacher coaching new recruits.
Wright was awarded the Purple Coronary heart with two stars, the Presidential Unit Quotation with two stars, Navy Unit Commendation, the American Marketing campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Marketing campaign with three service stars, the Fleet Marine Drive with 4 stars, the Marine Corps Expedition Medal. Fight Motion with 4 stars, the Victory medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
He’s believed to be one of many three final surviving members of the Raiders, and penned a memoir about his experiences in 2019 entitled “Battles within the Pacific.”
Born in Arkadelphia, Ark., Wright stated he enlisted when he realized the nation had been attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.
“I heard over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed,” he stated. “I did not know the place Pearl Harbor was on the time, however I knew that any individual bombed us. I went right down to the Publish Workplace to see the totally different commercials… the Navy and Marines… and that form of stirred myself as much as be a kind of.”
Wright stated he finally selected to enlist within the Marines as a result of the poster on the Publish Workplace showcased males of their “costume blues,” the apparel usually worn throughout formal occasions and engagements.
“They usually had been all wanting sharp, and so they had been all on a ship (on the poster),” he stated.
Throughout his journey to San Diego, Wright met Basic David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and boarded the USS Anchorage.
He was additionally invited to attend the 2022 Boot Camp Commencement ceremony on Oct. 14, and given a tour of the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot Museum.
“It is probably the most honored factor I’ve ever had in my life,” he stated. “It was acknowledged not just for me as a person, however for honoring the Raider battalion for the Marine Corps. I could not consider that I used to be so welcome to so many individuals, not solely me as a person, however (as a part of) the Raiders. However (the Raiders) are acknowledged very a lot.”
In 2006, the Raiders had been reactivated when the Marine Particular Operations Regiment was renamed the Marine Raider Regiment. It at present consists of 1,512 personnel.
