Evening star., 1943-08-17
Gen. William WRIGHT
Dies al Walter Reed;
Veteran Of Two Wars

1t. Gen. William Mason Wright,
who served in the Spanish Amer
ican War and the First World War,
-, died at Walter Reed Hospital last
night after prolonged illness. He
would have been 80 on Septem-
ber "a.
Gen. Wright had been a resi-
! dent of Washington continuously
since his retirement in 1922. Pre-
viously, he had served several tours
of duty here.
Although Gen. Wright had been
in poor health for some time, his
death came suddenly. few hours
after he had been taken from his
home at 2540 Massachusetts, avenue
NV. to the hospital. His wife,
Mrs. Marjorie Jerauld Wright, was
out of the city when the end came.
She was expected to arrive today.
Graduate Of West Point.
Gen. Wright was born in Newark,
N. j., in 1868. His father, Col. Ed
ward H. Wright, served on the staff
of Gen. George B. Mcclellan, who
commanded the Union armies dur
ing the early part Of the Civil War.
Gen. Wright was graduated from
the United States Military Academy
at West Point in 1883 and from the
Infantry and Cavalry School in 1891.
His war experience began with the
Santiago campaign in 1893, and later
he helped to subdue the Philippine
Insurrection. Between 1905 and
1908 he served here in the War De-
partment, and in 1914 he accom-
panied the expedition to Vera Cruz,
Mexico.
When the United States entered
the World War Gen. Wright became
brigadier general and was placed
in command of the 35th Division
The following year he was given
command of the 89th Division,
which he led into battle at ST.
Mihiel and in the Meuse- -Argonne
offensive.
The day after the armistice Gen.
Wright became commander of the
1st Corps. He was appointed dep
uty chief of staff in January, 1920,
and served in that capacity until
July of the following year. Before
retiring he was placed in COM
mand of the 9th Corps Area and
later the Philippine Department.
Although Gen. Wright was retired
as major general, he was later
promoted to the rank of lieutenant
general.
Gen. Wright held the Distin-
guished Service Medal and was a
knight commander of st. Michael
and st. George, commander Of the
Legion of Honor, grand officer of
the Order of Leopold, Order of the
Rising Sun and held the Croix de
Guerre with palm He was mem
ber of the Union Club of New York
and the Metropolitan and Alibi
Clubs OF Washington.
During the years following his re-
tirement, Gen. Wright maintained
his World War associations with
Gen. John ]. Pershing.
Both of Gen. Wright's sons are
in the services. Capt. Jerauld
Wright, U. S. N, was a member of
the submarine party headed by 1t.
Gen. Mark Clark that took Gen.
Henri Giraud to North Africa and
laid the groundwork for the inva-
sion by Allied forces of French-held
territory. Gen. Wright's other son
is Col William Mason Wright, jr,
U. S. A. The general is also sur
vided by daughter, Mrs. David M.
Key. Mr.. Key is assistant liaison
officer with the State Department.
A nephew, Col. Chauncey Parker,
U. S. NJ c., is deputy director Of
selective service
Funeral services will be held at 2
pm. Thursday at the Fort Myer
Chapel. Gen. Wright will be buried
with full military honors at Arling-
ton National Cemetery.