Arthur Wright III

May 8, 1943 – November 25, 1966

Arthur E. WrIght, III~ 23, of Natick died of wounds received in Viet Nam, at Brooks Army Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was wounded Nov. 16 while leading a tank platoon in action.

NATICK - First Lieutenant Arthur E. Wright III, 23 year old son of Arthur E. and Adelaide L. (Champion) Wright Jr. of 202 Bacon St became Natick's first Viet Narn war casualty on Friday when he died of wounds sustained Nov. 16, 1966.

Lt Wright, husband of Andrea L. (Norwood) Wright of Gloucester, was struck by hostile fire while leading a tank platoon on Wednesday, Nov. 16 and was burned over 50 per cent of his bodv, He also received shrapnel wounds of the legs. Several others in the platoon were also casualties.

Within a 22 hour period; the youth was flown to the Brook Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, 'I'exas, where his parents and wife flew to his side, remaining with him until his death on Friday, Nov. 25, 1966,

Lt. Wright was born in Atlantic City, N.J.~ May 8, 1943. He was graduated from the Riverdale School in Dedham. At Natick High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1960, he was a member of the track team. A history major, he was graduated from Norwich University, Northfield, Vt. in 1964, While in college he was a member of the ROTC program. In August 1964 Lt Wright was married and from that .time until April 1965 when he entered active duty, he and his wife resided in Gloucester. During their residence in Gloucester he was substitute teacher in the Gloucester public schoots.

During the summer months, Wright worked for two years for the Natick Recreation Dept. and also served for several years as councilor at the Brockton YMCA summer camp in Middleboro. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Natick and the Natick Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. He left the states last August and arrived in Viet Nam in early September.

Besides his patents and his wife, he is survived by three sisters, Jeanne, a student nurse at Worcester Hahnemann Hospital, Patricia, a ninth grade; pupil at the Wilson Junior High School and Marilyn, a fifth grader at the Center School; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Champion of Atlantic City, N.J. his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Arthur E. Wright of Royal Oaks, Mich.; and his father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs Alfred Norwood of 119 Gloucester Ave., Gloucester, with whom his is residing.

The body arrived with Military escort from Texas this morning and was brought the Mitchell Funeral Horne, 105 North Main St. A full military funeral will be held Friday at 10 o'clock at the First Congregational Church with the minister Rev. Robert Gibb officiating. Interment will follow in Rockridge Cemetery, Sharon. Funeral home calling hours will be Thursday from 7 to 9 PM