Rear Admiral Wright, born in Knoxville,Tennessee, on October 19,1900, attended the Knoxville Public Schools, the Snyder School and Columbia Preparatory School in Washington, DC. before entering the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland,from the Second District of Tennessee in July, 1918. Graduated on June 8, 1923, and commissioned Ensign to rank from June 8, 1923, he progressed in grade until his promotion to Captain on June 10, 1943. On June 1,1948 he was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy, in the rank of Rear Admiral.

After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1923, Rear Admiral Wright joined the USS S.P. LEE and was onboard when she was wrecked with six others destroyers at Honda Point, California on September 8, 1923.  Later that month he was ordered to duty in connection with fitting out the USS MEYER and onboard when commissioned on September 27, 1923. He was Engineering Officer of this destroyer when she was awarded the Navy “E” for engineering excellence, and he later received a Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his part in the MEYER's splendid record.

Detached from that assignment in October 1926, Rear Admiral Wright joined the Asiatic Fleet, and from December,1926 until May 1930 he had consecutive duty in the USS RIZAL, USS ELCANO, USS LUZON, and USS TRENTON. During this period he served for a year and a half on the Yangtze Patrol.

Returning to the United States in the USS TRENTON, Rear Admiral Wright was detached from that cruiser in May 1930 and for the following two years was an instructor in the Department of Engineering and Aeronautics at the Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland. In June 1932 he reported to the USS ZANE, and served first as engineering officer, and later as executive officer, until June 1935.

Rear Admiral Wright completed the junior course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in May 1936, after which he was ordered to duty at the Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  In June 1937 he reported to the USS NEW MEXICO and from May 1938 until June 1939 served as her assistant fire control. officer. After a year's duty as gunnery officer of the USS SARATOGA, Rear Admiral Wright was transferred, in August 1940 to duty as a professor of Naval Science and Tactics in connection with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained until January 1942, immediately after the United States declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy in December, 1941.

In February 1942 Rear Admiral Wright reported for duty in the USS WICHITA then at the New York Navy Yard for overhaul. After her postrepair trials, he sailed in the WICHITA for Scapa Flow to join other American vessels. She then became flagship of Vice Admiral (then Rear Admiral) Robert Carlisle Giffen, USN, Commander of a Task Force operating with British Naval Forces. On June 5, Admiral Harold R. Stark, USN, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, was received aboard, and two days later King George VI of England paid the cruiser an inspection visit. During the spring and early summer of 1942, the WICHITA served in the Cruiser Covering Group for Murmansk convoys, engaging German aircraft on at least two actions.

Returning to the United States in the fall of 1942, Rear Admiral Wright reported for duty with a Landing Craft Group, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia. In January 1943 he assumed command of Landing Craft Flotilla One and for his outstanding services during the invasion of Sicily was awarded the Legion of Merit with the following citation:


"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Government of the United States as Commander of a Landing Craft Flotilla during the Amphibious invasion of the Island of Sicily in July 1943. By his complete, thorough and effective indoctrination methods, Captain Wright (then Commander) developed an inexperienced group of officers and men into a well-trained fighting force. On July 10-l2, he gallantly directed the attack group under his command in landing the embarked assaulting force with remarkable speed and efficiency. His courageous leadership under fire and untiring devotion to duty contributed in great measure to the success of the invasion of this strategic island."

Rear Admiral Wright was commended by the Commander, Northwest African Waters, for outstanding performance during the amphibious invasion of Italy in September, 1943. For his services as Deputy Commander of an assault group during the D-day invasion of the coast of France on June 6, 1944, Captain Wright was awarded the Silver Star Medal with the following citation:


"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Deputy Commander of an Assault Group during the amphibious invasion of the Coast of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Taking station close to the beach at an early hour on D-Day, Captain (then Commander) Wright remained under fire during the bitterest period of the assault, reorganizing and disposing his craft for maximum effectiveness and dispatching them to the beach. Upon relieving the Task Group Commander, Captain Wright was placed In general charge afloat of Navy responsibilities for the unloading of ferry craft, and by his splendid organizational ability, experience and tireless effort, rapidly cleared the backlog of ships. His expert handling of a difficult task was a contributing factor in the success of these vital operations and his gallant conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United State Naval Service.

Rear' Admiral Wright was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for services during the D-day invasion.

Returning to the United States in the summer of 1944, Rear Admiral Wright reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. and on September 4, assumed duties in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. A year later he was appointed United States Naval Attache and Naval Attache for Air, American Legation, Stockholm, Sweden, reporting for duty on October 31, 1945. He served in that assignment until August 1947 when he was ordered to the Third Naval District, New York, New York.  On October 28, 1947 he was ordered to assume command of the USS LITTLE ROCK and in May 1948 was ordered detached and to return to the United States for temporary duty at the Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island. On June 1, 1948 he was transferred to the Retired List.

In addition to the Silver Star Medal and the Legion of Merit, Rear Admiral Wright has the Victory Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal (USS RIZAL); the American Defense Service Medal; the European-African- Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal; the American Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He also has the Croix de Guerre of France.

He was married to Mrs. Helen Rollis Rleger of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1930. They have two children: Barbara Rieger Wright and William A.P. Wright. The Wrights reside in Annapolis, Maryland.

Rear Admiral Wright is a member of the Mayflower Association and the Sons of Colonial Wars.

WILLIAM D. WRIGHT
TENNESSEE
REAR ADMIRAL US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
OCT 19 1900 - SEPT 17 1970

USNA Cemetery Documentation Project
Name: Wright, William D
Section/ Lot Number:
02- 0262 A
Category: USN/ Rear Admiral

Crew Remembrances & Anecdotes

(Add yours..... Contact Art Tilley)