#348 Frank Wright - The Last Living Original Marine Raider From WW2
Summary
Shawn Ryan interviews Frank Wright, a 101-year-old WWII Marine Raider and the last living member of the original unit. Wright recounts enlisting at 16, his combat experiences in the Pacific including Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima, and the severe injuries he sustained. He shares vivid stories of close-quarters combat, the emotional weight of witnessing death, and his recent return to Guam as a parade grand marshal.
Topics discussed
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Introduction: Last living Marine Raider and his service record
Joining the Marines at 16 and the banana weight trick
Early days: Uniforms, Navy-Marine rivalry, and bar fights
Selection for the 4th Marine Raider Battalion
Combat training: Roosevelt's visit and killing techniques
First kill and the psychology of self-preservation
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New Georgia: Jungle fighting, headhunters, and tattoo rules
Anti-tank rifle experience and covering fire
Guadalcanal: Traps, chaplain incident, and Japanese camouflage
Guam: Combat with a gung-ho attacker and bayonet wound
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Return to Guam: Releasing prisoners and the 'Liberator' moment
Guam holdouts: Searching the jungle and finding suicide notes
Iwo Jima: Landing, being knocked out, and the flag raising
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Iwo Jima: Wounding in the chest and arm, and aid station
Iwo Jima: Clearing caves and the comfort girls controversy
Post-war: Emotional breakdown and media interviews
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Medical aftermath: Hospital ships, misdiagnosis, and ongoing pain
Advice for new recruits and closing remarks
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