George Kyle Wright was born in Morristown, Tennessee, the son of Joseph Henry Wright and Kitty Pearson Baker.
Sergeant George K. Wright enlisted in the military on January 19, 1944 in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He served in the European theater of war with the Company I, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. As the 378th Infantry Regiment was fighting its way to Altforweiler, Germany, he was killed in action on Friday, December 1, 1944. He was initially buried at Limey Cemetery at Toul, France and reburied in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold (Moselle), France (Plot J, Row 29, Grave 30).
Awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart
The Knoxville Journal, 24 August 1945
For gallantry in action against the enemy, on Nov. 28, 1944, Sgt. George K. Wright has been posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry. Received by his mother, Mrs. Kittie B. Wright, Maryville, Route 3, the presentation was made by Col. William R. Carlson, commandant of the U-T ROTC unit. The citation reads in part:
“For gallantry in action against the enemy of November 28, 1944. An American soldier was wounded in the leg while crossing a street inside (censored) when a German machine gun emplaced in a building two hundred yards to the front opened fire on him… Without hesitation and with no regard for his personal safety, Sergeant Wright dashed out into the street, under raking fire from the machine gun, and helped carry the wounded soldier to cover.” The valiant soldier was killed three days later on Dec. 1, while serving his country in action.
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 9 November 1917
- Date of death: 1 December 1944
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Mentor
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold (Moselle), France
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Middle Panel
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