-Service Occupation: Light Weapons Infantryman
-Born 11 March 1932
-Private First Class Wright was a member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on July 29, 1950 and returned to duty on September 26, 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on March 10, 1951.

Buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, TN

The Knoxville News-Sentinel, March 29, 1951
The Knoxville soldier who was one of the first men of the 24th Infantry Division to be committed to action in Korea last summer has been killed in action. He is Pfc. Emerson J. Wright, 20-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Wright, 2008 Seminole Avenue. The parents received word last night that their son was killed March 10. Until they received the message, they had thought their son was still in a hospital in Japan, where he had been taken for treatment of frozen feet. The former Young High School student volunteered for the Army in August, 1949. He had been stationed in Japan for several months before the Korean was started. He leaves his parents; two sisters, Mrs. Howard Fritts, 1201 Hannah Avenue and Miss Berdie Wright, Knoxville and four brothers, Hayden, Billy and Ray, all of Knoxville and James of Greeneboro, N.C.

 

  • Rank: Private First Class
  • Date of birth:
  • 11 March 1932
  • Date of death: 10 March 1951
  • County: Knox
  • Hometown: Knoxville
  • Service Branch: Army
  • Division/Assignment: 24th Infantry Division
  • Conflict: Korean War
  • Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea War Service Medal
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, TN
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar XXI, Top Panel
  • Contact us to sponsor Emerson J. Wright

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