World War II Honoree

Everet Wright

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Orangefield, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Chief Quartermaster. He was inducted into the United States Navy September 12, 1939 at Houston, Texas, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Norfolk, Virginia. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Quartermaster Training, he was transferred to the USS Spence Destroyer DD-512 for duty, standing watch on the main deck, and was an assistant to officers of the deck. The Destroyer and her shipmates on November 20, 1944 rendezvous with a fast carrier striking forces in the Philippine Sea for the impending invasion of the Philippine Islands. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Monday, December 18, 1944 when his warship capsized; sinking off-shore of Luzon Island, during Typhoon Cobra AKA: Typhoon of 1944. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.