Chief Warrant Officer Four Michael L. Wright died June 1, 2006, when his MH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Doerun, Ga., during a training flight from his unit’s home station at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., to Fort Rucker, Ala.
He was born October 13, 1964, in Indiana. He graduated from Central Texas College with an Associates Degree in Professional Aeronautics and later Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Aeronautics.
After several years in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Police Officer and an air traffic controller, Wright was accepted into the Army Warrant Officer Program at Fort Rucker, Ala., in 1989. Upon graduation from the CH-47D Qualification Course in 1991, Wright was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 158th Aviation, Fort Hood, Texas, as the production control officer. His follow-on assignments included 2nd Bn., 501st Aviation, Camp Humphreys, Korea, as the maintenance officer; 2nd Bn., 159th Aviation., Fort Bragg, N.C., as the AVUM platoon leader and maintenance test pilot; and 4th Bn., 123rd Aviation, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, as the battalion maintenance evaluator and AVUM platoon leader.
Wright was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., in October 1999 where he served as the MH-47 maintenance platoon leader, battalion production control officer and maintenance officer.
A six-time veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, Wright deployed four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His schools include the Air Force Air Traffic Management Course, Air Assault School, the CH-47D Aircraft Maintenance Officer Test Pilot Course, Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion Course and the Special Operations Training Course.
His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Air Medal for Valor, two Army Commendation Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kuwaiti Defense Medal, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Air Force Training Ribbon. Wright’s badges include the Air Assault Badge, Air Force Security Forces Badge, Air Force Air Traffic Controller Badge and Army Master Aviator Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit.
Wright was preceded in death by his mother, Joella Wright. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his children, Jennifer, Michael, Mallory and Holly; his father, Floyd Wright; and two sisters, Connie Dahn and Vicki Jo Timmons.
-NSDQ
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