Chief Warrant Officer Four Michael L. Wright died on 1 June 2006 when his MH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Doerun, Georgia during a training flight from his unit's home station at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, to Fort Rucker, Alabama.

CW4 Wright was born on 13 October 1964 in Indiana. He graduated from Central Texas College earning an Associate degree in Professional Aeronautics and, later, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics.

After several years in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Police Officer and an Air Traffic Controller, CW4 Wright was accepted into the Army Warrant Officer Program at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1989. Upon graduation from the CH-47D Qualification Course in 1991, CW4 Wright was assigned as the Production Control Officer with 2nd Battalion, 158th Aviation at Fort Hood, Texas. His follow-on assignments included 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation, Camp Humphreys, Korea, as the Maintenance Officer; 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the Aviation Unit Maintenance (AVUM) Platoon Leader and Maintenance Test Pilot; and 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, as the Battalion Maintenance Evaluator and AVUM Platoon Leader.

CW4 Wright was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, in October 1999, where he served as the MH-47 Maintenance Platoon Leader, Battalion Production Control Officer, and Aviation Maintenance Officer.

A six-time veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, CW4 Wright deployed four times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

CW4 Wright was a graduate of the Air Force Air Traffic Management Course, Air Assault School, CH-47D Aircraft Maintenance Officer Test Pilot Course, Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, and the Special Operations Training Course.

CW4 Wright's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (w/1 OLC), Air Medal (w/V Device), Army Commendation Medal (w/2 OLC), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (w/2 OLC), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (w/2 OLC), Air Force Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal (w/1 OLC), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Master Aviator Badge, Air Force Security Police Qualification Badge, and Air Force Air Traffic Controller Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit.

CW4 Wright is survived by his wife, Judy; his children, Jennifer, Michael, Mallory and Holly; and sisters, Connie and Vicki Jo. He is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 64, Site 2204.