"My mind is numb and in my mind there's so much going through it right now," Conroy Wright said shortly after being notified of his son's death by the Army. "I knew he'd be something great, and this is a proud moment."
Conroy Wright said his son was proud to be a soldier.
"He just loved what he was doing ... never took that uniform off once since he joined the National Guard," Conroy Wright said. "He would wear it all the time."
Conroy Wright said his son would often interact with Iraqi children who would sometimes warn him about danger in the area.
"He gave them candy, and they would tell them if something was going on," Conroy Wright said.
Wright was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
Wright was born in Jamaica and later lived in Boston. He joined the Massachusetts National Guard in 1999 and went on active duty with the Army in 2004. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, and on March 3, 2006, joined 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Engineers Battalion, and helped stand up the 72nd Engineer Company.
In the fall of 2006, Wright deployed to Iraq with the 1st Engineer Battalion. In the Diayla Province, he served as a vehicle gunner and vehicle commander.
Wright's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Drive Badge, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge.
He is also survived by his mother, Ruby Watson; and a daughter, Tiaja.
Monday: Sgt. Jonathan Kingman
