Vertis Wilder

For I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.                                                                                 II Timothy 4: 6-7

Vertis Wilder, was born January 30, 1955, to the parents of the late Harry Beamon and Roberta Bailey Kitchen in Chicago, Illinois.  He departed this life on February 10, 2018, at home in Columbia, South Carolina.

He attended Chicago public schools an early high school graduate from Tilden High School in Chicago, Illinois, a year later at the age of 17 he entered the United States Army, and retired as a Command Sergeant Major after 30 years of service.   He then went on to further his education and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Business.  He later joined forces with Camden Military Academy, in Camden, South Carolina as a tactical officer, from October 2003 -January 2018.  

Vertis married his childhood sweetheart Patricia Harris Wilder on August 18, 1979.  To this union one son was born.  They have been married 38 years.

Those left to cherish his memories are:  his loving and devoted wife Patricia H. Wilder, loving son Vertis M. Wilder; two brothers preceded him in death (Sylvester and Stephon Bailey); three sisters, Barbara Jones, Linda Faye Patterson of Dallas, Texas and Carolyn M. (Leonard) Harris of Chicago, Illinois; three brothers, Royal Anthony Bailey, Tony Bailey (Lois), and Terrance Bailey (Lawrence) of Chicago, Illinois; mother-in-law Dorethia J. Harris of Chicago, Illinois; three sisters-in-law, Christine Harris, Juanita Harris, and Ruby Diane Harris of Chicago, Illinois; three brothers-in-law, Stanley Harris (Olivia) of Bellwood Illinois, Kenneth M. Harris of Chicago, Illinois, and Derrick D. Harris of Phoenix, Arizona; host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and  friends.

Vertis entered the Army in July 1972, during his first decade of service he held every position from team leader to platoon sergeant, with the majority of this time assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. 

From March 1982 to June 1985, he served as a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson with C Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade.

As a senior noncommissioned officer, he served as both platoon sergeant and later, as first sergeant for A Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.  During his tenure as first sergeant, he deployed to Panama in support of Operation Just Cause. He also served in Desert Storm, December 1990 until March 1991.

Additionally, Wilder served at the Combat Maneuver Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany, as an observer-controller, and later, after appointment to sergeant major, as the CMTC S-3 Operations Group sergeant major. 

He then served as the US Army Europe Headquarters Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations sergeant major in Heidelberg, Germany and the deputy commandant of the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Wilder is a graduate of the Primary Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy, the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, as well as the First Sergeant’s Course, and the United States Army’s Sergeants Major Academy.

While assigned as the battalion command sergeant major for 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he was recognized as an innovative trainer who consistently sought new and better ways to train our Initial Entry Training Soldiers.  Due to his outstanding qualities he was selected to serve as the acting brigade command sergeant major for 4th Training Brigade.

His seniority and outstanding repertoire of skills regularly provided him the means by which he mentored 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry noncommissioned officers, being well-respected by seniors and subordinates alike.  His efforts have always had a positive impact on both the Soldiers in training and cadre.  His efforts have been acknowledged in the book of 100 Sergeants Major of Color. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Lodge #4262. 

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