[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1534-E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. ARDILL WRIGHT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Pearl 
Harbor survivor and influential community member, Ardill Wright, Jr., 
for his life of service to his community and country.
  Mr. Wright enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Wichita Falls, Texas on 
February 14, 1940. On the morning of December 7, 1941, while stationed 
in Hawaii, Ardill Wright's peaceful morning was suddenly disrupted by 
the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. While on the deck of the 
USS Raleigh, Mr. Wright narrowly survived a Japanese attack on his 
ship. Overcoming the chaos and disaster of that morning, Mr. Wright 
valiantly and courageously saved several of his fellow service members, 
most notably rescuing multiple sailors trapped in the USS Utah by 
cutting a hole in the ship's keel. Following the attack, Mr. Wright 
resumed his service aboard the Raleigh until the conclusion of World 
War II.
  Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Mr. Wright moved to 
Washington State and became a member of the American Legion, Kent Post 
15. Consistent with the American Legion's objectives to benefit and 
serve the community through the organization of local programs for 
veterans and their families, Mr. Wright co-founded the highly 
successful Kent American Legion baseball program in 1961. Additionally, 
Mr. Wright contributed to the Kent community by serving as team manager 
well into the 1990s, and ran concessions at Kent Memorial Park until 
2004.
  In honor of his tireless service to his community, the main diamond 
at Kent Memorial Park was renamed Art Wright Field in 2003. 
Additionally, that same year, Mr. Wright was presented with the Kent 
Kiwanis Citizen of the Year award.
  Ardill Wright, Jr. passed away on May 25, 2010, in his Kent home. Mr. 
Wright is survived by his three sons: Joe, Ardill III, and Shannon, as 
well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His life profoundly 
reflected selfless commitment to others, and his admirable citizenship 
and character continue to live on in the Kent community today.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ardill 
Wright, Jr., for his selfless commitment to others, his military 
service

[[Page E1535]]

and heroism, and his dedication to his community and country.

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