David Forrest Wilber, Jr. was born October 17, 1917 in Zurich, Switzerland to David F. Wilber (1859-1928) and Esther Rosina Zolliker (1884- abt1954) His father was born in Milford, NY and was then serving as consul-general. His mother was the secretary for his father and was from Germany (although she reported being from Switzerland on future Census). They were married August 20 (21), 1916 in Washington, D.C. According to multiple sources, it was his father's second marriage. As his father's career carried him from consulate to consulate, David Jr. lived in places such as Genoa, Italy and Auckland New Zealand while growing up. He was privately tutored. The family returned to Oneonta, NY in 1922 when his uncle died. By 1925 they had established permanent residence in Oneonta at 11 Ford Ave. His father died in 1928. The 1931 City Directory for Oneonta recorded David Jr. living with his mom at 11 Ford Ave. in Oneonta, NY.

David was part of the well know Wilber family of Oneonta. His father was a U.S. Congressman before serving as consul-general. His uncle, George, was president of Wilber Bank and had financial roots in the D&H Railroad and in IBM Corp. His mother was also well known and passed in 1954 after a long illness leaving David's childhood home, "The Wilber Mansion" to the City of Oneonta. 

He married Virginia McIntosh on July 4, 1940 in Newtonville, NY, near Albany and they took up residence at 14 Ford Ave . He registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 and entered into service with the very first contingent of selectees ever to leave Oneonta, on November 28, 1940. He was 5'-10", 157 lbs with hazel eyes and black hair. He received his training at Fort Dix, NJ. Later he was transferred to Camp Claibourne, La. for a time and later Ft. Lewis, Washington. While at Ft. Lewis he served for the 174th Infantry which later was to be part of the same division with which he went overseas.

In 1943 he was ordered to Ft. Benning, Ga. and Infantry Officers School. He graduated as a 2nd Lt and was stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark. His wife joined him there and together they moved to Tyler, Tex. where Camp Fannin was. Their son David Forrest, III was born while they are in Texas. David III ultimately becomes the sole heir to the Wilber fortune. His father, David Jr. was promotion to 1st Lt. in November 1943. Later he was sent to Colorado and then California before Georgia where he was sent overseas as a "casualty replacment." 

He joined the 180th Infantry in time to for their invasion into southern France. Landing near St. Maxime, France, Lt. Wilber was constantly in combat with the 7th Army, except for one 48 hour pass, for more than 4 months. By late March 1945 the 180th had reached Nurnberg. An exert from Saltpeter's history of the 180th describes the attack on Nurnberg (Nurembeg):

"Nuremberg was captured, but only after it was taken block by block in some of the most difficult fighting the regiment had ever participated in. Infantry supported by tanks and tank destroyers methodically blasted the stubborn defenders from their positions. As the attack progressed, and when the SS and Gestapo defenders were killed, the Wehrmacht defenders began to surrender in large numbers. By 2215 hours, on April 20th, the city was completely in the hands of American troops "

Lt. Wilber was killed on April 19, 1945 near Nurnberg, Germany just one day before the city was captured. According to an article in a local Oneonta, NY paper, a sniper's bullet got him. He was buried 3 days later at Bensheim on April 22 , Grave 2376, Row 30, Plot Q. Then disintered and reburied October 8, 1945 at St. Avold, France. grave 72, row 6, plot LLL. His name is included in the "Lest we forget..." section of Saltpeter's history along with the rest of the 180th men that gave their lives. Lt. Wilber's name is also etched on a plaque in his hometown's Neahwa Park.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7576586/david-forrest-wilber, accessed January 7, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208965560/virginia-reynolds, accessed January 7, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56662295/david-f-wilber, accessed January 7, 2023.

Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for David Wilber, National Archives, St. Louis, MI. 

"Mrs Wilber Funeral Tomorrow", Binghamton Press, June 2, 1954

"Mrs. D.F. Wilber, 70 Dead; Ford Ave. Property to City", The Oneonta Star, Oneonta, NY, June 1, 1954, pg. 5

Moore, Edwin, Oneonta Scrapbook Series, "Lt. D.F. Wilber, Jr. Killed In Action in Southern Germany", Huntington Memorial Library New York State Room, Oneonta, NY.

Salpeter, Norbert; Salter, Carl; and United States Army, "180th Infantry: a regiment of the 45th Infantry Division" (1945). World War Regimental Histories. 48. http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/48 accessed January 7, 2023.

The Daily Province, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada·Tuesday, September 12, 1916 , pg. 8.

The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia·Monday, August 21, 1916, pg. 5.

U.S. Passport Applications, "Esther R Wilber",National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Volume #:Volume 176: Italy

Wilber, David Forest 1859-1928, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000453, accessed on January 7, 2023.

Washington Sketch book, pg. 100, at https://archive.org/details/cu31924081310785/page/n99/mode/2up?view=theater&q=Wilbur , accessed January 7, 2023.

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