MoMM3C William Wayne Wright (WWII)


Remembering MoMM3C William Wayne Wright (Mannington/Fairmont)

July 8, 1924 - April 24, 1945

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Motor Mechanic's Mate 3rd Class William Wayne Wright (Service Number 7555081) was born on July 8, 1924 in Mannington, WV, the son of William "Willie" Russell Wright and Oma Mae (Long) Wright. Willie was a farm laborer (1930 Census), and their family lived near Laurel Run (Oma Wright Death Certificate). 

In 1932, Oma died, leaving Willie with four living children- William (8), Robert (6), Russell (4), and Merle (2). By 1935, the children were living with Harry and Virginia Partridge in the Winfield District (1940 Census). 

William attended East Fairmont High School, but left EFHS in 1942 to join the Navy. About 5 1/2 months into William's service in the Navy, he married Phyllis Alberta Huff. A Lisbon, Maine native, Phyllis and William were married in South Mills, North Carolina on April 15, 1943.

Military Service:

William entered the Navy on October 30, 1942 in Charleston, WV, and was stationed in Norfolk, VA, and Orange, Texas.

William boarded the U.S.S. Frederick C. Davis, known as the "Fightin' Freddy," on July 14, 1943- the day it was commissioned in Texas. The Fightin' Freddy served as an escort ship, providing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft protection for the ships in their care.

He remained on board for the duration of his time at sea, and was still on board when it was sunk by a German U-Boat (U-546) in the Atlantic Ocean during "Operation Teardrop." The Davis stayed afloat for 9 minutes after the torpedo struck, with only 77 of the ship's 192 crew members surviving (Naval History and Heritage Command).

During the time that William was aboard the Fightin' Freddy, it was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her service in the Anzio campaign, January 23 - February 23, 1944. She earned four battle stars during WWII.

Legacy and Survivors:

MoMM3C William Wayne Wright is honored on the East Coast Memorial in Battery Park in New York City. He is also remembered cenotaph that he shares with his wife, Phyllis, at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Locally, he is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

William was survived by his wife, Phyllis, three living siblings, and the Partridges-  his guardians of more than a decade. He was preceded in death by his mother, and two sisters who died in infancy. William's brother, Robert, served in the Army during WWII and Korea. Robert was stationed at Fort McClelland in Alabama at the time of William's death.

Sources and More Information:

Note: Willie remarried in 1937, and had 7 additional children with his new wife, Pauline Cunningham. I'm not sure how much further contact he had with William, Robert, Russell, and Merle, but he is not listed on William's military contact form- Mr. Partridge is instead.

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