World War II Honoree

Hoover H. Wright

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mangum, Oklahoma

Honored By

Norma Wright

Relationship

Wife

HE WAS DRAFTED OUT OF OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY IN JANUARY, 1943. HE RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING IN FLORIDA AND FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI. HE ALSO RECEIVED AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING WITH THE 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON COASTS OF CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON STATES. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT BEFORE BEING SENT TO EUROPE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE SERVED WITH THE 97TH INFANTRY IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND AND WALES. THE 97TH MET RUSSIANS AT THE END OF WAR IN GERMANY AND RETURNED TO UNITED STATES. THE 97TH INFANTRY WAS THEN SENT TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. JAPAN SURRENDERED AND THEY WERE DIRECTED TO JAPAN INSTEAD AND SPENT ABOUT 9 MONTHS OCCUPYING JAPAN BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED.