AIT barracks dedicated to fallen field artillery officer

By Jeff CrawleyMay 9, 2014

Plaque unveiling
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former FA officer Paul Lewis, Mike Wright, Shelly Wright and Lt. Col. Michael Mullins, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery commander, unveil the plaque on 2nd Lt. Robert Wright Hall at the building's dedication May 2, on Blair Street here. The facili... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Building dedication
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander, thanks Shelly and Rubye Wright for their sacrifices after the 2nd Lt. Robert Wright building dedication May 2, 2014, at Fort Sill, Okla. Lt. Wright, a field artillery officer, was killed Jan. 2, 1970, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Sill paid tribute to an Oklahoman and field artillery officer with the dedication of the 2nd Lt. Robert (Bob) Wright Hall May 2.

Dozens of relatives, friends and former colleagues from Elk City, and retired FA officers attended the ceremony. The facility is in Bldg. 4404 Blair St. and serves as barracks for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Soldiers.

Wright was an FA officer who was killed Jan. 2, 1970, along with 12 other Soldiers near Duc Pho, Vietnam. His actions that day earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award that can be given to a Soldier. Fort Sill had also honored Wright here 44 years ago with the presentation of the cross to his family.

"Bob has been honored over the years ... but to see your family name on a structure this size ... it's huge," said Shelly Wright, Bob's younger sister, as she held back tears.

Bob's younger brother Mike, a retired Navy chief petty officer, said so many future field artillery Soldiers will pass through Wright Hall and that's what impresses him most. Bob's mother, Rubye and brother, Kelly were also at the dedication.

Lt. Col. Michael Mullins, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery commander, said Wright Hall is the headquarters and barracks for B Battery, 1-78th FA AIT Soldiers. They are learning to become forward observers, or military occupational specialty 13-F. About 350 Soldiers are currently in B Battery.

"The new building opened in May last year, but I like to tell the family that today was the official opening," Mullins said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Freddie Barbary, 1-78th FA CSM, said it was a great honor to name the facility after Wright.

"We are the field artillery school here, so it's only appropriate that we honor one of our fallen heroes,"

Barbary said.

Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander, welcomed and thanked the Wright family for their sacrifices and said "clearly Bob is watching over us."

The commander went on to quote the Bible, John Chapter 15, Verse 13: Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

"That probably talks about a lot of people in this audience today, and especially talks about Bob and the incredible things he did for his country," said Waters to the crowd, that was full of former FA officers here for a reunion.

Speaker Paul Lewis, a former FA officer, remembered Wright reporting for duty in August 1969, in Vietnam: "A contagious smile accented by red hair, a snappy salute, 'sir,' and a firm handshake ... he seemed to resonate 'can do.'"

Wright was awarded the Bronze Star for valorous actions on Oct. 18, 1969, when his company's defensive position came under rocket fire, Lewis said.

Lewis continued and told the events of Jan. 2, 1970.

Wright was in command of an advance party of field artillerymen who were establishing a firebase on Hill 285. The hill came under intense mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire from the North Vietnamese. Wright directed artillery fire onto the attackers, continually exposing himself to incoming fire.

An enemy mortar exploded near Wright and his radio operator sending shrapnel into them. The enemy continued to advance, but Wright's rifle was damaged and he could not return fire. The radioman was unable to move so Wright drew attention to himself. He led the attackers away from the injured Soldiers and he was chased for 40 meters before he was fatally shot. The radio operator today lives in Ohio.

Family and friends recalled Wright being a talented musician, gifted athlete, a leader, a scuba diver and a disc jockey during college.

Carole Woodard, of Frisco, Texas, lived on the same street with Wright when they were in junior high school. Sometimes she would help him roll newspapers for his route.

"Honest-to-God, I didn't know anybody who didn't like Bob," she said. "He was just that kind of person."

Gregg Blair, of Edmond, Okla., was a 1966 Elk City High School graduate and classmate of Wright.

"He was talented in everything he did," Blair said. "He was a photographer for the local Elk City Daily New, and he had several photographs on the front page of The Oklahoman. This is while he was in high school."

Shelly said she was only 7 years old when her brother was killed, but she heard a story about how some students were making racial slurs toward a black student in school. Bob witnessed the event and told the disrespectful students: "You will not treat him this way," and he was ready to settle the matter another way if necessary, she said.

"That to me, as a baby sister, speaks of his character," she said.