1st Lt. Gilbert L. Wright (O-1318736)
Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
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Gilbert Lionel Wright was born April 28, 1912 in Lyon Mountain, NY to Charles J. Wright(1873-1952) and Cora S.Stewart (1882-1973). His parents were both from the area and were married in 1898. Gilbert was the 5th of 7 children the couple had. Kenneth, Hilda, Naomi (died young), and Ruby were older. Phyliss and Charles were younger.
1933 Ryder College
The 1920 and 1930 U.S. Census recorded the family on Hamilton St. in Plattsburgh, NY. His father was a Brakeman for the D&H Railroad in Plattsburgh. He graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1931 and Rider Business College with a degree in Accountancy in 1933. While at Rider he was a member of “the apartment”group, took an active part in intra-mural sports, especially Tennis, his favorite. He was secretary of the Accountants Club at Rider and was known for his evening walks up Greenwood Ave. The quote attributed to him in their yearbook was “For him this world would hold no joys. If in it there were only boys.”
Jane Burton Gildersleeve
1930 HS Photo courtesy of the Oneonta Greater Historical Society.
After graduating he was employed by the New York State Electric and Gas Co. in Plattsburgh for five years before being transferred to their Oneonta, NY office. While living in Plattsburgh he was active in sports at the local Y.M.C.A.
He entered into the service on April 18, 1941 at Albany, NY. He was 5'-9” tall and weighed in at 150 lbs. He had brown eyes and brown hair. He received his basic training at Camp Wheeler, Ga. and Camp Blanding, Fla. He married Jane Burton Gildersleeve (her second marriage) on January 17, 1942 in a military wedding at Camp Blanding, Fla when he was stationed there. They have no children. After Gilbert's death, Jane remarries. He received his commission at Fort Benning, Ga. after which he was assigned to Camp Robinson, Ark and Fort George Meade, Md. He went overseas in July 1944 to join the Second Division.
In the summer of 1944 the Second Division fought their way through northern France to the city of Brest, a heavily defended seaport which the Germans had used as a submarine base. After a bitter four-week struggle, the Nazis surrendered on September 18, 1944. The division then moved by truck and train across France and Belgium to the Siegfried Line. Between October 4 and December 11, the Second waged incessant patrol and artillery warfare with German troops in the deep pine forests and ridges of the Schnee-Eiffel. Lt. Wright was slightly wounded in action on November 23, 1944 for which he received the Purple Heart and returned to action on November 30, 1944.
On January 30, 1945, the 38th Infantry jumped off in a drive through deep snow drifts and bitter cold to retake the three towns of Wirtzfeld, Krinkelt, and Rocherath. It is in this action Lt. Wright is killed. First reported missing, he was then reported killed “in Rocherath, Belgium as a result of a gunshot wound of the chest”. Lt. Wright is initially buried in Plot JJJ, Row 8, Grave 150 in the Henri Chapelle cemetery in Belgium and later his body was disinterred and placed in a casket and buried in Plot C, Row 16, Grave 32 of the same cemetery. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously.
General Huebner Letter of Commendation
to the Second Division
Author's note: To get a better appreciation for what Lt. Wright and all the members of the Second Division went through, I highly recommend The Story of the 2nd Division, by Lt. Col. Eward W. Wood and Sgt. Raleigh Allsbrook. It is noted in the Sources section of this work.
If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.
Sources:
1930 Oneonta High School Yearbook, courtsey of the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, Main St., Oneonta, NY. (image of Jane Gildersleeve).
Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56286888/gilbert-l-wright, January 5, 2023.
Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127405394/jane-burton-millard, January 5, 2023.
IDPF Lt. Gilbert L. Wright, PDF file format of approx 80 pages.
“Lieut. Wright Is Missing”, The Binghamton Press, February 16, 1945, pg. 10
“Lt. Gil Wright was Killed in Action Jan. 30”, Plattsburgh Press Republican, February 24, 1945, pg. 3.
National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 04593; Reel: 181
New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Birth Index, Certificate Number:24555.
“Oneonta Man Dies in Action, Two Wounded”, February 23, 1945, pg. 3(8)
Wood, Eward, W., D+106 to V-E: the story of the 2nd Divisio, Bangor Public Library, accessed at https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1095&context=ww_reg_his, January 6, 2023.
Year: 1920; Census Place: Plattsburg Ward 3, Clinton, New York; Roll: T625_1095; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 29
Year: 1930; Census Place: Plattsburgh, Clinton, New York; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 2341152
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