Sacrifice & Service

Department of North Carolina - Military Order of the Purple Heart

2 months ago

Who will I see joining me in New Bern (13-16 July) for the National Conventions? ... See MoreSee Less

Department of North Carolina - Military Order of the Purple Heart

2 years ago

If you have participated in or been a supporter of Southeast North Carolina Veterans Parade it’s time to start making plans for this year’s events.
We will have the flotilla, the golf tournament and the parade as well as supporting other events leading up to the parade.
Thanks again for your support before and thanks in advance for your help this year… ... See MoreSee Less

Department of North Carolina - Military Order of the Purple Heart

3 years ago

You know the planets align when you get birthday gifts that work together. Case in point, my wife and I got a webcam equipped bird feeder from Tim and JoAnne Lund, and the same week we got a bird identification guide specifically for the Carolinas from Tom, Serena and Samuel Copeland. Thanks guys we are having a lot of fun with them. ... See MoreSee Less

Department of North Carolina - Military Order of the Purple Heart

5 years ago

Sept. 23, 2021

WASHINGTON—The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army 1st Lt. James E. Wright, 25, of Parkton, North Carolina, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 9, 2021.

In September 1944, Wright was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. They were part of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army and had been fighting across France that summer before being stopped by fierce German opposition at the Moselle River near Dornot. On the morning of Sept. 8, Wright’s unit was part of a larger force ordered to cross the river and take up a position in the woods on the east side. They dug their defensive positions in a curved line at the edge of the forest they called Horseshoe Woods. The force held their position against a relentless German attack, taking heavy losses, until Sept. 10, when another crossing of the Moselle was made. Only then were they allowed to retreat. That night and into the morning of Sept. 11 most of the Soldiers were able to retreat across the river, though some officers stayed behind to search the woods for the wounded or missing before recrossing the river. Wright was among the Soldiers reported missing that night. His body was unable to be recovered because of the fighting and German presence on east side of the river.

The American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) was charged with recovering the remains of fallen service members in the European Theater following the war. Although some unknown remains were found in and around Horseshoe Woods, none were associated with Wright. AGRC continued operations along the banks of the Moselle until 1951. At that point, Wright was declared non-recoverable.

In 2012, a private researcher for the 7th Armored Division Association suggested one of the unknowns recovered from the Horseshoe Woods, known as X-46 Hamm and buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Hamm, Luxembourg, could be a match to a Soldier from Wright’s unit or the 7th Armored Division. After extensive research and record comparison by DPAA historians and analysts, X-46 was disinterred in May 2016 and sent to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for identification.

To identify Wright’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

Wright’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Lorraine American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in St. Avold, France, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Wright will be buried Oct. 12, 2021, in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina. ... See MoreSee Less

Department of North Carolina - Military Order of the Purple Heart

5 years ago

Some of you may have heard some very negative things being said about one of our members. They have been on social media and electronic messaging.
The first thing that happened once the Department leadership was made aware of it was to contact both Regional and National leadership.
Those leadership teams did what they were supposed to do - be fair and impartial. They went into the achieves and pulled up the Patriot's enrolment documents and yes, he had all the awards he said he had. His detractors said he didn't.
This Patriot offered to leave the Order so as to not mar the upcoming events in Durham and Fayetteville.
The Department Leadership wants to go on record as being supportive of any member being accused of wrong doing to be given due process and not to be convicted by social media posts.
This post will be sent out electronically to the Department Executive Counsel with copies to Regional and National Leadership. ... See MoreSee Less