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<p><em>John MacNair “Jack” Wright Jr.</em> was born in Los Angeles, CA on April 14, 1916. His interest in the military and Scouting began early. He became an Eagle Scout at age 14 and was the Junior ROTC battalion commander in high school. He enlisted in the Army in 1935, attended the Prep School, and entered West Point in 1936. </p>
<p>Jack graduated from West Point in 1940 and was commissioned in the Coast Artillery Corps. He married Helene Tribit, his sweetheart since the 10th grade, and was assigned to the 91st Coast Artillery, Philippine Scouts on Corregidor Island, Philippines. They enjoyed a short honeymoon, which ended when Helene was evacuated from Corregidor with all other dependents in May 1941.</p>
<p>Jack served in a four-gun, 155 mm battery until the Japanese final assault on Corregidor. Then he was designated “Battery Wright” with one 155 mm roving gun and authority to move anywhere on Corregidor to fire on Japanese targets on Bataan. Battery Wright fired the last artillery round in the defense of Corregidor. </p>
<p>Captured on Corregidor, Jack was a prisoner of war for 40 months, enduring depraved, inhuman, and demoralizing conditions. In December 1944 he was moved from the Philippines to Japan and then to Korea, on three different Japanese “hell ships.” Although there were many officers senior to Lieutenant Wright, he was frequently chosen by the senior American POWs to occupy the most difficult leadership positions. Jack documented his experiences in a diary he kept during that period and later published in his book, Captured on Corregidor: Diary of an American POW in World War II.</p>
<p>He was liberated in September 1945 and promoted to captain. After a year of hospitalization, he transferred to the Infantry and qualified as a parachutist. In 1948, he became the military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay. Next, he attended the Infantry School and then commanded the 3rd Battalion, 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team at Fort Benning, GA.</p>
<p>During the Korean War, Jack was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, where he served as the executive officer for the 32nd Infantry Regiment (Division G-1 and Division G-4). After returning, he earned a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Southern California and was then assigned to the Department of the Army Staff. In 1961, he graduated from the National War College. </p>
<p>After assignments in Germany as chief of staff, 8th Infantry Division; G-3, VII Corps; and G-3, Seventh Army, he was promoted to brigadier general in 1964 and assigned as assistant division commander of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test), an experimental unit formed to test and evaluate airmobile concepts at Fort Benning.</p>
<p>Jack contributed significantly to the development and implementation of air assault tactics and doctrine. To better understand these new capabilities, he qualified as a helicopter pilot. In 1965, the division was reorganized as the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile), and he deployed to Vietnam. </p>
<p>Returning to the United States, Jack was promoted to major general and assigned to the Army Staff to conduct a study, “Aviation Requirements for the Combat Structure of the Army.” This study became the blueprint for the development of Army aviation. In 1967, he became commanding general of the Infantry Center and commandant of the Infantry School at Fort Benning. In 1969, he returned to Vietnam to command the 101st Airborne Division. </p>
<p>Promoted to lieutenant general, Jack Wright was appointed comptroller of the Army. He had a significant impact on the rebuilding of the Army and the recruiting, training, and retention of quality soldiers. In 1972, he retired from active duty. A year later he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at George Washington University.</p>
<p>For his leadership, professionalism, and personal courage, he was awarded three Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 60 Air Medals, two Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Senior Army Aviator Badge. He was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986. </p>
<p>Throughout Jack’s life he served the youth of America through Boy Scouts. He was involved with Scouting as a volunteer throughout his military career serving as Scoutmaster, explorer advisor, district commissioner, district chairman, and council president. He participated in national and world jamborees and served as technical advisor to the Boy Scout Association of Vietnam while serving in Vietnam.</p>
<p>In retirement he became a professional Scouter and served successively as director of research and development, national director of programs, and national director of exploring for the Boy Scouts of America. Jack was the recipient of the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards for distinguished service to Scouting and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for outstanding service to the Army and the nation. He was registered with the Boy Scouts of America in some capacity for 82 consecutive years.</p>
<p>Jack received the West Point Association of Graduates’ Distinguished Graduate Award in 2007. It summarizes his life best: “Throughout a lifetime of service to his country, General Wright made permanent and valuable contributions to the security and freedom of the United States. His personal courage under unimaginable conditions, his dedication to the welfare of the American soldier throughout his career, his lifetime commitment to the welfare of the youth of America, and the example of leadership and integrity he set, are in the finest traditions of the United States Military Academy.”</p>
<p>Helene passed away in March 1995. Jack is survived by his two sons, John M. Wright III of Tucson, AZ and Richard K. Wright of San Antonio, TX; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.</p>
<p><em>— COL Richard K. Wright ’68 (Retired)</em></p>
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