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Established 1948    Arthur P. Wright 1 September 1936 - 17 May 1966 Texas Captain 161st Aviation Co. Vietnam Purple Heart is honored on Panel 7E, Row 78 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The Sherman Democrat May 18, 1966 pg. 1 SHERMAN OFFICER KILLED IN VIET NAM Helicopter Shot Down Capt. Arthur P. Wright of Sherman was killed in action in the Viet Nam war about 4 p.m. Tuesday, his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Wright of 1202 E. Wells was notified Wednesday. Capt. Wright was piloting his helicopter when he was shot down by small arms fire. He died shortly afterwards of his wounds. First news of the death came to Mrs. Wright at 7 a.m. Wednesday when Maj. James Amlong of Dallas rang the doorbell and delivered the message on orders from Washington. "I knew when I saw the man's uniform what had happened," Mrs. Wright sobbed. She was under a doctor's care at her home. At 8:44 a.m. a telegram arrived from the Department of the Army in Washington, giving the same information Maj. Amlong had delivered in person. Capt. Wright was 29 and unmarried. He was graduated at Sherman High School in 1954 as a member of the last senior class in the old high school building, now Piner Junior High. He was a member of the all-state choir while in high school. He attended Arlington State University, Texas University and North Texas State University, obtaining his Bachelor's degree from the latter school. Capt. Wright joined the Sherman National Guard unit in 1953, while he was in high school. He entered the army soon after graduation from college. At the time of his death he was serving with the 161st Aviation Co., 520th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group. Besides his mother, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Donald J. Clark, of Sherman. His father was the late H.A. Wright of Sherman. Funeral services are pending at Waldo Funeral Home. The family is awaiting further information on the date and time of arrival of the body in Sherman. Sherman Democrat May 23, 1966 pg.10 Rites Scheduled For Pilot Killed In Viet Nam War Funeral services for Capt. Arthur T. Wright, 29, helicopter pilot killed in Viet Nam, were held Wednesday afternoon from the East Sherman Baptist Church. The service was conducted by Rev. R.M. Williams, pastor of the East Sherman Baptist Church, and an Army Chaplain from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Burial was at Cedarlawn Memorial Park where full military honors were accorded by Army personnel from Fort Sill. The services were directed by Waldo Funeral Home. Capt. Wright was killed in action at 4 p.m. on May 17, 1966 and his body was to arrive in Sherman at 2 p.m. Monday. His permanent address was 1202 E. Wells. He was born Septtember 1, 1936 in Grayson County, son of H.A. Wright and Gertrude Wright. He was a graduate of Sherman High School and had been in the U.S. Army since 1953. He was a member of Travis Masonic Lodge No. 117 and he was a 32 degree Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of the East Sherman Baptist Church. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Wright of Sherman; one sister, Mrs. Doris Clark of Sherman; 2 nephews and one niece. Members of Travis Lodge served as honorary pallbearers. The Sherman Democrat May 24, 1966 pg.8 WRIGHT SERVICES SET FOR WEDNESDAY Funeral services for Capt. Arthur T. Wright will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday from the East Sherman Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. R.M. Williams, pastor, and an Army chaplain from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Burial will be at Cedarlawn Memorial Park, directed by Waldo Funeral Home...the body will lie in state at the church from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday. The Bonham Daily Favorite May 24, 1966 pg.3 FUNERAL SERVICES SET FOR CAPT. ARTHUR WRIGHT Sherman (Spl.) - Funeral services for Capt. Arthur Plato Wright, 29, a helicopter pilot killed in Viet Nam May 17, were held with full military honors of the East Sherman Baptist Church at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Waldo Funeral Home directed the services with interment in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park. Capt. Wright was a command pilot of a helicopter on combat mission when he was killed by small arms fire. Capt. James Ballard of Ft. Sill, Oklahoma accompanied the body to Sherman and a chaplain and honor guard for the services was from Ft. Sill. Capt. Wright was born September 1, 1936, son of Mrs. Gertrude Bennett Wright and the late Harry Arthur Wright. He joined the National Guard at the age of 17 in 1953 and graduated from Sherman High School in 1954. He attended Austin College, North Texas and Arlington State and had officer's training at Austin. He was called to active duty in September 1961 at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. He served a tour of duty in Hawaii and from there went to Camp Wolters, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Benning, Georgia for helicopter training and then to Viet Nam. He was a member of Travis Masonic Lodge 117, a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Hella Temple Shriners in Dallas. He was a member of the Sherman Baptist Church. Survivors are his mother of the home address, 1202 East Wells, Sherman; a sister, Mrs. Donald J. (Doris) Clark; 2 nephews and one niece; 2 aunts, Mrs. Grace Bennett and Mrs. Joe Bailey Todd of Bonham. He was the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Wright of Leonard and the late Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Bennett of Whitewright. Members of the lodge served as honorary pallbearers. The Sherman Democrat October 11, 1966 pg. 8 DEAD WAR HERO TO BE HONORED Army Capt. Arthur T. Wright, first Sherman man to be killed in action in Viet Nam, will be honored posthumously Sunday when the Distinguished Flying Cross will be presented to Capt. Wright's mother, Mrs. Gertrude Wright of 1202 E. Wells. Ceremonies are scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday in the National Guard Armory at 1400 S. Gribble with several city and county representatives expected to attend. Members of the guard unit will be present. The public is invited. Capt. Wright, a helicopter pilot, was killed in action May 16, 1966 by Viet Cong small arms fire. He was buried May 25, 1966 in Cedarlawn Memorial Park with full military honors.   Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message |