Wilber Elliott Wilder

At Horseshoe Canyon he helped rescue a man under heavy fire.

Wilber Elliott Wilder was a U.S. Army cavalry officer whose career ran from frontier campaigns to the First World War. A West Point graduate of 1877, he joined the 4th Cavalry and fought Cheyenne forces in 1878 before further scouting and Apache operations in the Southwest.

On 23 April 1882, First Lieutenant Wilder helped rescue wounded Private Edward Leonard under heavy fire at Horseshoe Canyon, New Mexico. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society records the citation: “Assisted, under a heavy fire, in rescuing a wounded comrade.” Wilder received the Medal of Honor on 17 August 1896. His frontier service also brought a brevet captaincy for gallantry.

Wilder became colonel of the 14th New York Volunteer Infantry in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. In the Philippines in 1899–1900, he commanded the Macabebe Scouts during the campaign against Filipino insurgents and took part in six recorded skirmishes and engagements. Later appointments included service on the military governor's staff and as superintendent of police in Manila. He returned to the Philippines in 1907–1909; direct fighting on that posting has not been established.

As colonel of the 5th Cavalry, Wilder served with the Mexican Punitive Expedition for six months in 1916. Appointed a National Army brigadier general in 1917, he commanded the 168th Infantry Brigade and the 84th Division during wartime mobilization. He reached France in September 1918 and served in a training area through the Armistice, with no established frontline battle participation.

Wilder reverted to colonel in February 1919 and retired in that grade in August 1920. He was advanced to brigadier general on the retired list in February 1927. He died on 30 January 1952.