Thomas G. Wright
Sergeant, Michigan National Guard
April 5, 1969 – May 14, 2007
Age –38
Holly, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
46th Military Police Company, 210th Military Police Battalion, Kingsford, MI
Died in flight to Germany from Iraq from an aneurysm
A 1987 high school graduate, SGT Wright was an avid bicycle racer. When not performing National Guard duties, Wright held jobs at Wilson’s Leather, Best Buy and a car interior company, and he owned his own equipment assembly business.
SGT Wright joined the National Guard in 2000 at the age of 31. He was assigned to airport security detail after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, worked security at the Pentagon from April 2003 to April 2004, and assisted in the cleanup in New Orleans for a month after Hurricane Katrina before he was deployed to Iraq and trained Iraqi soldiers.
Wright was called up in 2002 and spent two tours in Iraq. Initially, he went to Iraq with the 144th Military Police Company out of Owosso. His current tour was with the Army National Guard’s 46th Military Police Company out of Kingsford and Cheboygan.
Sgt. Thomas G. Wright, 38, of Grand Blanc Township died while in flight to Germany after suddenly falling ill with what initial reports said was an aneurysm.
His death came as a shock to First Lt. David Skurda of the Army National Guard’s 144th Military Police Company in Owosso, where Wright was once attached.
“I can still hear his voice as clear as day: ‘Yes, sir. No problem, sir,’ ” said Skurda. “I never heard anything negative come out of his mouth. He was the kind of guy you could always rely on to get the job done. And he was always doing the best he could to take care of his family.”
Deployed to Iraq in July with the 46th Military Police Company out of Kingsford and Cheboygan, Wright was able to spend two weeks on leave in February visiting his wife, Katherine, and 4-year-old daughter Alexis.
“He always talked about how much he loved her. His daughter was the twinkle in his eye,” said Valentina Binion, assistant manager at Wilson’s Leather in the Great Lakes shopping center in Auburn Hills, where Wright was an assistant manager for two years.
When not on duty, Wright raced with the bicycling team, the Flying Rhinos, based in Clarkston, and was a state and national competitor.
Thomas G. Wright’s younger brother said he treated everyone with honor and respect. “He made many friends quickly,” said Paul Wright. “When my brother passed away in a foreign place, I found some comfort that he died around friends.”
“He had a heart for his soldiers,” said 1st Lt. David Skurda. “There’s something to be said about a man who joins the Army and goes through basic training at age 31.” He had just signed on for six more years in the Army.