World War II Honoree

Ronald Alvin 'Al' Wright

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Jenks, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1939. STATIONED AS A MECHANIC AT AN AIRFIELD ADJACENT TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 7, 1941, WHEN THE JAPANESE CONDUCTED A SURPRISE ATTACK. HE RAN INTO A MAINTENANCE BUILDING TO ALERT OTHERS ABOUT THE ATTACK BUT EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS JOKING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, BOMBS BEGAN TO FALL ON THE AIRFIELD AND THE SCENE BECAME ABSOLUTELY CHAOTIC. MEN TOOK COVER IMMEDIATELY INCLUDING IN PITS THAT HAD BEEN DUG FOR A PLANNED MESS HALL. THE ATTACK LASTED ABOUT 90 MINUTES AND WOULD LAUNCH THE UNITED STATES INTO WAR. HE LOST A NUMBER OF FRIENDS DURING THE ATTACK THAT KILLED SOME 2,400 AMERICANS. AFTER THE ATTACK, HE WAS ORDERED TO HELP EVACUATE WOUNDED TO A HOSPITAL IN HONOLULU. HE SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY MAKING TRIPS BACK AND FORTH. HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. HE SOON PUT IN A REQUEST TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A COMBAT AIRCREW. THE REQUEST WAS APPROVED AND HE WAS REASSIGNED TO A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER CREW AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER/AERIAL GUNNER. HIS DUTIES INCLUDED CHECKING THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT, MAKING REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN FLIGHT TO CORRECT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, AND ASSISTING THE CO-PILOT OPERATE FLIGHT CONTROLS, POWER PLANT COMPONENTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER ATTACK. HE SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR FLYING COMBAT MISSIONS. SERVED DURING THE WAR, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.