[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 132 (Thursday, July 31, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4991-S4992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CORPORAL FRANK S. WRIGHT

 Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 
100th birthday of Corporal Frank S. Wright, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran 
who served in the Second World War with the 4th Marine Raider 
Battalion, one of WWII's most elite fighting units.
  Frank Wright was born on July 5, 1925, in Arkadelphia, AR, and grew 
up

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as a child of the Great Depression. Following the attack on Pearl 
Harbor, Frank felt called to serve his country and decided to enlist in 
the U.S. Marine Corps on January 21, 1942. But at only 16 years old and 
well below the weight requirement to serve, Frank was initially turned 
away. Undeterred, Frank found himself lying about his age and even 
filling his pockets with bananas to meet the minimum weight 
requirement. Soon enough, he was headed out West, reporting to Marine 
Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, with the Nation at war.
  Corporal Wright trained in San Diego for 2 months before leaving for 
his first duty station in Astoria, OR. There, he served on guard duty, 
including during the Japanese bombardment of Fort Stevens. It was in 
Oregon where Corporal Wright first heard a call for recruits to join 
the 4th Marine Raiders. After being accepted to join the group, he was 
surprised to learn that James Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's eldest 
son, would be leading the special forces unit.
  As a Marine Raider, Corporal Wright participated in some of the most 
pivotal battles of the Pacific Theater--including Guadalcanal, New 
Georgia, Guam, and Iwo Jima. His service was marked by sacrifice and 
bravery, persevering through malaria in the Solomon Islands, a bayonet 
injury during the liberation of Guam, and gunfire to the chest and arm 
during Iwo Jima. Despite his injuries, he continued to serve long 
enough to see an American flag raised high over Iwo Jima--and the war 
won.
  In recognition of his service, Corporal Wright received a Purple 
Heart with two gold stars and the Presidential Unit Citation with two 
stars, among others.
  After the war, Corporal Wright moved to Lodi, CA, where he remained 
active in veteran causes, including the Stockton Marine Corps Club and 
the American Legion Karl Ross Post 16. He also authored two books 
documenting his experiences in World War II entitled ``Battles in the 
Pacific: World War II--My Personal War Causing PTSD'' and ``My 12 Days 
in Hell.''
  Corporal Wright is a father, a beloved grandfather, and great-
grandfather. Throughout his life, he has been blessed by the love of 
his late wife Katherine; their three sons David, Duane, and Dean; their 
four granddaughters Tricia, Cheryl, Christina, and Beth; and their 11 
great-grandchildren.
  I would like to thank Corporal Wright for his century of service to 
our country and to his community, which has inspired and educated 
generations of Americans. And even today, we know he is not done 
serving. As Corporal Wright himself has said, when he reports to the 
Pearly Gates, he will simply tell St. Peter: ``Just another Marine 
reporting for duty, sir.''

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