Martin Laverne Wright

1st Sergeant, U. S. Army

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 129 (1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Martin L. Wright (ASN: 20803159), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, In action against the enemy on 22 January 1944 in the vicinity of the Rapido River, Italy.
After the platoon leader was killed during the attack across a vital river, Sergeant Wright assumed command of the platoon and led them under terrific artillery and mortar file through mine fields where markings of most of the cleared paths had been destroyed by enemy shelling. Under his bold leadership the men succeeded in carrying a pontoon foot bridge to the crossing point where they assisted the engineers in throwing it across the treacherous currents of the river.
Sergeant Wright's gallant actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.