A Fort Bragg soldier who died in a training jump Monday is a former Joint base Lewis-McChord commander who has ties to the Lynnwood area. Col. Darron Wright of the 18th Airborne Corps is the father of Meadowdale High School graduate Dillon Wright and MHS senior Chloe Wright.
Fort Bragg officials have not officially identified the 18th Airborne Corps soldier killed, according to a report on the Mobile (Alabama) News Record, but Wright’s friends “publicly grieved his death on social media,” the News-Record said.. “He was an inspirational officer with contagious enthusiasm, motivation and energy,” Col. John Norris, commander at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, wrote on Facebook. “Great soldier, leader, mentor, husband, father and very dear friend.”
Before taking command in Germany last year, Norris was commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Norris said. Wright also served as a deputy commander during a tour in Iraq.
Wright was relocated to Fort Bragg after being stationed at Lewis-McChord. Son Dillon, a 2012 Meadowdale graduate, attends the Virginia Military Institute. Col. Wright also leaves behind his wife Wendy and a young son.
I feel so grateful to have met this man. It is my privilege to be able to provide these photos of someone I feel is the epitome of the True American Soldier. Because of Col. Darron Wright, I will fly my flag with pride and I will never take our freedom for granted. My prayers are for all those he left behind.