ALVIN L. WILDERMAN, CDR, USN
Alvin Wilderman '59
Lucky Bag
From the 1959 Lucky Bag:
ALVIN L. WILDERMAN
Greenville, Illinois
Twelfth Company
Finding no opportunities open to a budding crewman in his hometown, Al came to USNA seeking an athletic and an academic outlet for his talents. He found his way to Hubbard Hall Plebe year and earned a numeral his first season, followed by a junior varsity "NA" Youngster year. That same year found him joining the Trident Society, the foremost of his extracurricular activities. But Al found ample time to maintain his scholastic standing. Popular with his classmates, Al was known for his response to the cry, "Jeepers, creepers, where'd you get those peepers?"
He was Company Commander of 12th Company (fall), a member of the 12th Company staff (spring), and the Brigade Executive Committee (Honor Committee).
ALVIN L. WILDERMAN
Greenville, Illinois
Twelfth Company
Finding no opportunities open to a budding crewman in his hometown, Al came to USNA seeking an athletic and an academic outlet for his talents. He found his way to Hubbard Hall Plebe year and earned a numeral his first season, followed by a junior varsity "NA" Youngster year. That same year found him joining the Trident Society, the foremost of his extracurricular activities. But Al found ample time to maintain his scholastic standing. Popular with his classmates, Al was known for his response to the cry, "Jeepers, creepers, where'd you get those peepers?"
He was Company Commander of 12th Company (fall), a member of the 12th Company staff (spring), and the Brigade Executive Committee (Honor Committee).
Loss
Alvin was lost on November 30, 1973 when he was washed overboard from the bridge of USS Plunger (SSN 595) off the coast of San Francisco.
The San Francisco Examiner reported on December 2, 1973:
He was wearing a life preserver when swept from the bridge of the US3 Plunger at 4:17 p.m. Friday, while three other officers clung for their lives to the railings. The sub was awash with 12 foot waves, buffetted by gale force winds of 30 to 40 knots, six miles seaward of the Golden Gate when the captain went overboard. Navy spokesmen said several men usually are stationed on the bridge of the sub's massive conning tower when the boat is on the surface. A lookout, the officer of the deck and a junior officer of the deck were on the bridge with the captain when he disappeared...
Other Information
The Press-Telegram of Long Beach, CA reported that Alvin had recently moved with his family to Coronado and had been in command of Plunger for about two years. The boat had departed from Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo for a shakedown cruise when the accident occurred. Plunger was part of Submarine Squadron 3 based in San Diego; The boat had been at Mare Island for a fuel overhaul between 1971 and 1973.
From Find A Grave:
Wilderman Hall at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA, was named in memory of Commander Alvin L. Wilderman, born in Bond County, Illinois in 1937, a 1959 graduate of the Naval Academy and a 1961 graduate of Submarine School. Commander Wilderman was washed overboard from the bridge of PLUNGER (SSN-595) on 30 November 1973 outside Golden Gate while the ship was enroute to routine post-overhaul sea trials. In spite of an intensive search by air and sea, his body was never recovered. He had cleared the bridge of all other personnel when the ship encountered extremely heavy seas and no one else was lost. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously. Commander Wilderman previously served in VON STEUBEN (SSBN-632), WOODROW WILSON (SSBN-624), and as Executive Officer of PARGO (SSN-650), before assuming command of PLUNGER.
From the June 1974 issue of Shipmate:
Cdr. Alvin LaDon Wilderman, USN, died on 30 November at sea near San Francisco. Born in Greenville, Ill., Cdr. Wilderman graduated from the Naval Academy in 1959. Upon graduation he served in USS Wilkinson. He also served in USS Von Steuben, USS Woodrow Wilson and USS Pargo in addition to USS Plunger, his last duty station. His schooling included tours at the U.S. Naval Submarine School, SuBase, New London, Conn.; the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Schenectady, N.Y.; Dir. Division of Naval Reactors, AEC; and ComSubPac PCO School.
His decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; the Navy Unit Commendation Medal from his cruise to the North Pole in USS Pargo; the National Defense Medal; and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Surviving are his widow, Diane, of Coronado, CA; his parents; and two sons, Steven and David.
Alvin has a memory marker in Illinois.
Photographs
"CDR A. L. Wilderman, Commanding Officer of Plunger (SSN-595), receives the Meritorious Unit Commendation award from CDR A. A. Young (SUBPAC representative at Mare Island) at Mare Island on 1 December 1971." From Naval History and Heritage Command.
Related Articles
William Cain '59 and James Leonard '59 were also in 12th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
