Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright

Remember Our Heroes

Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright, 37, of Nashville, Tenn.; assigned to the 926th Engineer Brigade, Montgomery, Ala.; died Sept. 17, 2008 in Baghdad of a non-combat related illness.

Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright remembered
The Associated Press

Darrick D. Wright was known not only for his engineering and leadership skills, but also for his kindness, faith and 100-watt smile.

“He lit up a room,” said Lt. Jeremy Tallent. “He was a big old teddy bear with a big old smile.”

Wright, 37, of Nashville, Tenn., died Sept. 17 in Baghdad of a non-combat cardiac arrest. He was assigned to Montgomery, Ala.

“He was a great soldier,” Capt. Michael Beach. “He had the skills, the knowledge, the expertise, everything required for soldiering. But he was an all-around good guy, and that made a world of difference.”

In civilian life, Wright was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and in 1996 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Engineer Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Katina, and their expected son, Trevor, due in November.

During a funeral service, Brig. Gen. William Buckle recalled that Wright’s fellow officers “talked about how he was the heartbeat of the unit.”

“This man was not only a great American, but a great human being,” he said.

Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright died of a non-combat illness on 9/17/08.