Switzerland County, Indiana, suffered the loss of many promising young men during World War II, but the death of none was felt more widely and deeply than that of Captain James Dumont Wright, or Dumont as he was known in his home town. When the tragic news “Killed in action” was received the community was profoundly shocked by a sense of personal grief. The local newspaper voiced the general feeling in the following editorial:
‘‘Dumont Wright’s death comes closer than many of the others because he was so well and widely known, because we watched him grow up from baby-hood, because he was a fine, clean kid, who always said ‘Yes sir’ and ‘No sir’. So, he became one of our pin up boys and we followed his career with interest, during his years of college and beyond, to his West Point training, when he started on a course that might have made him general, had it not wound up all too soon in a ‘Blaze of Glory’ that makes our own hardened throat choke up with the pity of it all. He was the kind that spurned the safety of being an instructor, and chafed to be overseas, in action.
“A copy of his picture, published in next week’s issue, will be pinned up on the wall in our own home where our own kids can see, and be told, ‘There was a real American boy!’ And we can teach them they can be no better citizen than this Vevay lad who did everything right—even to giving up his life for his country.”
James Dumont Wright, born June 18, 1919, only child of James S. Wright, attorney, and his wife, Jane Dupraz Wright, was of English Irish ancestry on the paternal side and of French-Swiss stock on the maternal. His mother is a great grand niece of Mrs. Julia L. Dumont, well known, pioneer author and educator, and is also related to the family of Lincoln’s wife.
Dumont grew up in a fine old homestead, one of Vevay’s show places, erected by one of the town’s founders, and in the process, unlike many children, gave his parents no cause for uneasiness. He was one of those unusual persons—an only child, totally unspoiled. This was partly perhaps because of the sensible training given him by his parents but largely because of a fine disposition. His father early made a companion of him and they were always devoted pals, and his mother never allowed her pride in him to overcome her judgment about what was best for him. And so he grew up a manly rather serious minded youngster whose unfailing courtesy and fine attitude made him a general town favorite with old and young, and popular with teachers and fellow students. He was a leader both in class room and on playground and after graduating from the Vevay High School in 1937 his high scholarship was maintained at Indiana University. That was just cause for pride to his family and friends during the two years he spent there before receiving his appointment to West Point, where he maintained his high standard of achievement.
This appointment realized for him a dream he’d had since childhood when an ancestral sword had inspired his interested admiration, and he liked nothing better than to be allowed to handle it. He was a born soldier, and how proud the town was of him, its only West Pointer! When he came home in his uniform, tall and handsome, he was a gallant figure, the ideal hero of his little cousins, who regarded him with the small boy’s adoration; yet he was always engagingly modest and unassuming and nothing shook his quiet poise.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in January, 1943 with the rank of Second Lieutenant, Infantry, Regular Army. He was promoted to First Lieutenant the following May and to Captain in August, 1944. He had the degree of B.S., conferred on him in 1943 and was a graduate of the Basic Course, Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA., 1943.
He entered upon active duty January 19, 1943, and was assigned to duty with the 13th Company, Headquarters, 1st Student Training Regiment, Ft. Benning, GA.; assigned to duty as Heavy Weapons Platoon Leader, 330th Infantry, 83rd Division, Camp Atterbury, Ind., 16 May, 1943; and served with that organization as Infantry Platoon Officer, Executive Officer, and Assistant Regimental S-2, and later at Camp Breckinridge, KY., to 6 April 1944 when he departed from the continental limits of the United States with the same organization and arrived in the European Theatre of Operations, 11 April 1944. He served as Executive and Commanding Officer, Rifle Company, with the 330th Infantry, 83rd Division in the European Theatre of Operations to 6 January when he was killed in action in Belgium. His command was part of the fluid line defending Belgium and France in the terrific fighting of the Bulge.
His platoon sergeant writes: “Your son’s name will always live with those who knew and fought with him. From the very first day of our combat duty together, he was loved and respected, as a hero, by us all. I was lucky enough to be with him every day. He took charge of our company the 3rd of July last year when our old company commander was killed. At that time lie was wounded by shrapnel in the neck but stayed with the fight and got medical attention from company aid men. He had no regard for his own personal safety whatsoever but always looked to the safety of his men. From July on he led his company in every battle skillfully and efficiently without any serious mishap until December when again he was hit in the neck with shrapnel. He was awarded the Purple Heart with a cluster for the two wounds received. January 6 we had moved into a small Belgian town, when in a German artillery barrage he received the fatal wound which for the third time, was in the neck. If anything could have been done to save him, he would have been saved for the medics were at his side immediately. I do not know how his Bronze Star citation read but anything it said could not have been half good enough for him. I speak for every man in the company when I send you our deepest and most sincere sympathy”.
The citation accompanying the medal awarded to Captain Wright for his achievement of July 3rd is as follows:— “For distinguishing himself by heroic action in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States ... Captain Wright led a patrol a quarter of a mile into enemy’s lines to obtain information as to enemy’s position and if possible to bring back a prisoner. The patrol was subjected to withering fire all the way but without regard to his own safety, although he was wounded, he continued to lead his men on to their objective. He was unable to bring back a prisoner but returned with important papers taken from the body of an enemy, killed by the patrol, and also information of many enemy positions and gun locations that greatly assisted the battalion in making plans for the next day’s attack. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Wright merit the highest praise”.
The Commander of Company F, 330th Infantry writes:— “I was one of your son Jimmie’s closest friends in this man’s war. He was sure a fine officer and a real swell fellow. He showed no fear of battle and from the day he took over his company was a wonderful leader. His men loved him and had a great deal of respect for his judgment. To all of us who knew him and fought beside him, it was a sad day when we lost him—a real blow to our whole regiment. He was killed during the Battle of the Bulge, just outside the town of Lierneaux. Not more than five minutes later he was in our Battalion Aid station-which had just moved forward into the town, but in spite of instant care he died in a few minutes. We all felt very bad over our loss; we had been through so much together. He was buried In Belgium where the people were the nicest of all the Europeans”.
His Commanding Colonel writes: “I trust it will be of some comfort for you in your hours of sorrow to know your son fought honorably and gallantly and that his Supreme Sacrifice has not been in vain. May I join with the officers and men of my command in extending our most sincere sympathy?”
Another officer writes: “As a soldier who knew Captain Wright quite well I can assure you that no man was more devoted to his men than he. His many courageous deeds in leading his command will long be remembered”.
His chaplain says:— “I’ve known your son since he first joined our unit in the States and it was a real grief to me when he was killed. Believe me when I say your son was one of our most trusted and capable officers. He was held in highest esteem both by his superior officers and those who served under him”.
Another chaplain: “Your son is at rest in our United States Military Cemetery No. 1 Henry Chapelle, Belgium; appropriate rites were observed at the burial by a chaplain of Protestant faith”.
Captain Wright was awarded a Purple Heart under the provisions of General Orders No. 1, 83rd Infantry, dated January 3, 1945; and an Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart, General Orders No. 1, 83rd Infantry Division, dated January 3, 1945; the Combat Infantry Badge, General Orders No. 8, 330th Infantry, dated 14 August, 1944; a Purple Heart, Posthumously, 23 February, 1945, and the Bronze Star Medal, Posthumously, General Orders No. 44, 83rd Infantry Division, dated March 5, 1945. He was entitled to the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Service Ribbon with three bronze campaign stars for Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland Campaigns. Captain Wright is survived by his parents.
The premature death of these many exemplary young men who died willingly for the Cause of Liberty and Right, is our greatest incentive to bend every effort to secure permanent peace, so they shall not have vainly made the Supreme Sacrifice.