Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of Scio, Ohio

LCpl Wright was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 21, 2011 in Helmand province while supporting combat operations.

An investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense into the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of the Scio area, who died Wednesday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Wright was the son of Dawn Seabolt of the Scio area. He graduated in 2008 from Carrollton High School and Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia.

“The circumstances surrounding Lance Cpl. Wright’s death are still being determined,” 2nd Lt. D. Oliver David, public affairs officer for the 2nd Marine Division, said Friday night.

“His death occurred due to wounds sustained while conducting combat operations and in the course of duty. I can’t release specific information until the investigation is complete. At this point, there’s certainly no indication of friendly fire.

“It’s always unfortunate when we lose a member of our team and our family. We’re working to ensure that we are able to provide his family and his loved ones with the best care that we can.”

Wright joined the Marine Corps in July 2008 and was promoted to lance corporal in April 2009.

He deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009 for his first tour of duty, with his second tour beginning in July 2011.

“He always wanted to be in the military,” 1st Sgt. Lowell Hilty, Army instructor of the ROTC program at Carrollton High School, told The Times-Reporter.

“He was small in stature, like me, but that didn’t deter him from wanting to serve his country and be a Marine. He was probably about 5-foot-5 and 110 pounds. Size doesn’t matter when you want to serve your country.”

“He was always happy-go-lucky — it was a rare day when he was down in the dumps about anything,” Hilty said. “He enjoyed life and wanted to excel. The Marine Corps gave him that opportunity, and he excelled more so than many Americans ever get the opportunity to do. It’s young people like him who allow us to go to bed at night and sleep knowing we’re in good hands. I would tell him ‘thank you’ for serving our country and making the ultimate sacrifice.”

Hilty said that none of the current R.O.T.C. students were in high school with him, but “we’ll offer them the opportunity to go to the funeral as a group. We would assist the family in any way they ask. The whole family was in R.O.T.C., which is kind of neat.”

Wright’s family “is very patriotic,” Hilty said, adding that an older sister served in the Army and an older brother, Adam, is currently serving in the Marine Corps.

“It makes for a somber day,” James “Bucky” Myers of Uhrichsville said after he received a phone message about Wright’s death.

Myers is an instructor in the law enforcement and criminal justice program at Buckeye Career Center. Wright was a student there as a junior and senior in high school.

“I remember that he would accept any challenge that I gave him,” Myers said. “He would accept whatever came his way and never offered excuses.”

Myers said Wright’s “class was a rather small class, with maybe 10 to 12 in it. They were all close, almost like brothers and sisters.”

Buckeye Career Center Superintendent Roger Bond said the flag at the school will be lowered to half-staff when Wright’s body is returned to the area.

Wright’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the NATO Medal for Afghanistan.

Carrollton High Principal Dave Davis remembered Wright as a freshman and sophomore.

“He was a real likable kid and all his teachers appreciated having him in class,” he said. “His friends could always count on him to be there for them. He had a goal and vision that he wanted to serve his country, wanted to be a Marine. We are all very proud of him. Obviously, we mourn his loss and pray for his family. His family has given a lot to everyone and given more now, for sure, with his loss.”

Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright was killed in action on 9/21/11.