Specialist Four Jerry L. Wilder was born on 30 November 1961 in Dayton, Ohio. He served as a Chinook Crew Chief and is remembered as one of the company's best, which is illustrated by the fact that he was crewing one of the company's precious "triple hooks."

He was a member of Alpha Company, 159th Aviation Battalion and was conducting overwater training operations when his CH-47 Chinook, #527, crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, just east of Cape Henry, Virginia on 20 March 1983.

SP4 Wilder is survived by his wife, Brenda.