Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

Second Company, 1st Special Service Force, British Army

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1944

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Second Company, First Regiment, Special Service Force, in action against enemy forces near Radicosa, Italy on 7 January 1944. When a night attack by his company on an enemy-held mountain crest was halted by the deadly cross-fire of sixteen machine guns, Lieutenant Wright, commanding an assault platoon proceeded forward alone to attack the machine gun position nearest him. After crawling one hundred yards up the exposed, snow covered slope to within a few yards of the enemy position, he leaped to his feet and charged the gun emplacement firing his Thompson submachine gun, destroying one and capturing two of the enemy crew. After assembling a section of his platoon, he personally led them in a charge against a second and then a third machine gun, putting them out of action and destroying three and capturing two more of the enemy. During an order to withdraw at this point because adjacent units were unable to press their attack, Lieutenant Wright was informed that one of his men had been seriously wounded and lay in a position which could not be reached because of the intense fire of enemy machine guns and machine pistols. Unmindful of almost certain death, Lieutenant Wright rushed twenty-five yards up the fire-swept slope, bodily lifted the man to his shoulders and carried him one hundred and fifty yards to a litter team. He then directed his platoon in a successful withdrawal without further casualties. By his single- handed assault, his daring and courageous leadership toward an ultimate winning objective to save the life of a soldier at the risk of his own, Lieutenant Wright won the respect and admiration of his fellow soldiers and superior officers. He proved himself a real leader in the overcoming of a military obstacle of no small magnitude."

Headquarters: Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 77