November 2021 – Ozell Wright
U.S. Army 1958- 1960

Born in Covington, Tennessee, on July 16, 1935, Ozell Wright grew up in a world at war. World War II was the predominant news during much of his childhood; then during his teen years, Korea was a hot bed of activity and the focus of a great deal of the world’s attention. Like all young men in the 1950’s, Ozell dutifully registered for the draft after he turned eighteen. Although it took almost five years, his number finally worked its way to the top; and he received his draft notification. He was subsequently sworn into the U.S. Army on July 19, 1958.

He completed basic training at Fort Chafee, Arkansas, a world away from his roots in Tipton County, Tennessee. His only set of permanent change of station orders took him from Fort Chafee to the Second Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia where he served as a mail clerk until his honorable discharge in August 1960. Although his job may seem insignificant to many people, he had one of the most important jobs in the military. All service members know that there are three groups of people on whose good side you must remain – the cook, the paymaster, and the mail clerk!

Ozell honorably served the country that he loves during one of the few periods of no active warfare. As the Cold War continued to heat up, he kept his head down and dealt with the business at hand. He performed his assigned duties with honor, courage, and commitment, knowing full well the importance of letters from home to those who were deployed thousands of miles away. He knew that, while an army might travel on its stomach, its heart and soul had to be fortified with the strength and love contained in simple lines of script from those left behind at home.

Ozell is a retired assistant principal who is married to the love of his life, Josephine, a retired schoolteacher. He serves his church family as a deacon at Greater Shiloh Baptist Church and is a 50-year member of the American Legion Post 237 in Covington.

Mr. Wright was nominated for Veteran of the Month by John McBride, the May 2015 Veteran of the Month.