Donald Ray Wright had an older brother, Chester Franklin Wright.

Donald attended Thompson’s Island Farm and Trade School. Articles from the school newspaper, the Beacon, first include mention of Donald in 1927. He is mentioned in the newspaper through May of 1932. Donald graduated from the Rindge Technical School in 1933. He is included on the Rindge Technical School’s Honor Roll of veterans who lost their lives while serving from Dec 7, 1941- Aug 15 1945.

Like so many young men of his generation Donald Wright answered the call to military service. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 5 Oct 1940 from MA. At the time of his enlistment the name he used was Ray Donald Wright. His service number was 11020584. Ray D Wright was subsequently assigned to the 28th Materiel Squadron of the 20th Air Base Group at in Manila, Philippines. Ray Donald Wright and the men he served with became prisoners of the Japanese on 9 Apr 1942.

An article and photo appeared 25 Jul 1943 in the Daily Boston Globe about Pvt Ray Donald Wright. He was listed with three other MA men who died while captives of the Japanese. The article mentions: Ray D Wright is the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Wright of Cambridge who was residing at 4 University Road in Cambridge. Ray D Wright was sent to the Philippines in February of 1941. Ray was captured when Bataan fell to the Japanese. He was 26 year old at the time of his capture.

Donald is listed in World War II Prisoners of War 1941-1946. He is also listed on the American Battle Monuments Commission WWII Honor Roll. It was determined that Ray Donald Wright lost his life on 12 Dec 1942 while a prisoner of the Japanese. Like many of the prisoners who died while a captive in the Philippines, Donald Wright’s body was not recovered. Ray D Wright’s name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.