October 4, 2017

HOMETOWN: Lyons, GA

ENTERED SERVICE: 2012

UNITS:  A Co, 2nd BN, 3rd SFG(A)

MILITARY TRAINING: After graduating from Advanced Individual Training (AIT) training, Dustin completed Army Airborne School training at Ft. Benning, Georgia followed by completion of the Special Operations Preparation Course (SOPC) in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. His training continued in Fort Bragg where he completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course (SFAS) and culminated in his completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Due to his tenacity and commitment, Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright earned the status of United States Army Special Forces and was awarded the coveted Green Beret in 2014. Dustin was serving his third deployment 

DEPLOYMENTS: Afghanistan, Africa

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Dustin has been awarded numerous distinctions, including the Silver Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, and Parachutist Badge. Such accomplishments by someone much older would represent a life of great purpose and achievement. Dustin was only 29. Without question, if granted more time, he would have done so much more. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star

SURVIVED BY: his father, Arnold Edgar “Ardie” Wright of Lyons; his mother, Terri Trull Criscio & husband A.J. of Brunswick; four brothers, Arnold Edgar “Little Ardie” Wright IV, William Charles “Will” Wright, Zachariah Douglas “Zach” Wright, all of Lyons, & Steven Criscio of Easton, Pennsylvania; paternal grandparents, Sue Rustin Grisham & “Eddie” Wright, Jr. & wife Elaine, all of Santa Claus; maternal grandmother, Elaine Williamson Trull of the Normantown Community; paternal great-grandmother, Helen Wright; aunts, Teresa McCullough & husband Robin of Vidalia, Ginger Russell & husband Justin of Normantown, Michelle Oglesby of Lyons, & Diana Phillips and husband Joseph of Kentucky; uncles, Rustin Wright of Lyons and Jeffery E. Wright of Statesboro; several great-aunts, several great uncles, numerous cousins & friends.

On October 4, 2017 SSG Dustin Wright and his ODA, with a 30 man Nigerian partner force, were on a patrol when they were ambushed by an overwhelming enemy element. During the ambush, Dustin maneuvered numerous times, across open terrain, through intense and accurate fire from the enemy, to protect and recover two of his fallen comrades. As Dustin turned back for his teammates, he was shot and killed. SSG Brian Black, SSG Jeremiah Johnson, and  SGT La David Johnson lost there lives also during the ambush.

Special Forces Engineer Sergeant