[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 119 (Thursday, July 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF AN AMERICAN HERO, SERGEANT FRANK S. 
                                 WRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOSH HARDER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2025

  Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate the 100th birthday of an American hero, Sergeant Frank S. 
Wright of Lodi, California. As one of the last surviving members of the 
original United States Marine Corps Raiders, Sergeant Wright stands as 
a living testament to the courage, resilience, and dedication to 
country.
  Born in 1924 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Sergeant Wright answered the 
call to serve his country following the attack on Pearl Harbor. At just 
16 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps--using a delayed 
birth certificate and a clever diet of bananas to meet age and weight 
requirements. His journey took him through boot camp in San Diego and 
ultimately led to his selection as one of the original Marine Raiders--
a pioneering special operations force whose legacy would later inspire 
the formation of today's elite Marine Forces Special Operations Command 
(MARSOC).
  During World War II, Sergeant Wright served with distinction in the 
Pacific Theater, including in the battles of Guam and Iwo Jima. He was 
wounded multiple times in close combat, including gunshot wounds at Iwo 
Jima, where he witnessed the iconic raising of the American flag on 
Mount Suribachi. Over the course of the war, he served aboard 11 naval 
vessels and fought in four major campaigns.
  Sergeant Wright's valor is recognized by a host of military 
decorations, including the Purple Heart with two stars, the Combat 
Action Ribbon with four stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with two 
stars, and several campaign and service medals. His commitment to the 
Marine Corps extended beyond the battlefield--he closed out his 
military service as a Drill Instructor, shaping the next generation of 
Marines.
  Following the war, Sergeant Wright settled in Lodi, where he has 
lived for decades as a proud veteran and community member. In 2019, he 
published his memoir, Battles in the Pacific, offering a firsthand 
account of his wartime experiences. In 2022, he returned to the Marine 
Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego for the first time since boot camp, 
honored by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
  Sergeant Frank Wright is a Central Valley treasure and a national 
symbol of American grit and resilience. I am proud to recognize his 
lifetime of service and sacrifice, and to celebrate his extraordinary 
100th birthday. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations.

                          ____________________