WWII Navy Pilot Honored at Memorial Service in Oregon (VIDEO)

Family, friends and just plain old Americans came out to honor this vet who beat the odds many times in his lifetime.

Harry Snyder just after WWII Photos by Q Madp IraqWarHeroes.org

(ALVADORE, Ore.) - A Naval officer who served in World War Two was laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, January 15, 2009. A memorial service was held at the Alvadore Christian Church in Alvadore. Retired Lieutenant Commander Harry Freeman Snyder was born on November 26, 1918 in Richmond, Michigan.

He was the only child of Esbon and Tillie (Wagner) Snyder. Harry died on January 10, 2009 in Springfield, Oregon; he was 90 years of age.

As a child Harry attended five county schools and graduated from Memphis, Michigan high school in 1937. There he played football, basketball, and baseball. There was some doubt that he could attend high school because of cost until Lloyd Sharrard, a lifetime friend, and his mother made it affordable by providing books. Harry walked six miles by road or five miles through fields each way, as he could not afford the two dollars per month for car transportation.

After graduating from school, Harry worked on farms, steamboats that plied the Great Lakes, did carpenter work, delivered coal around Flint, Michigan, molded engine parts for General Motors in Pontiac, and began to work for Detroit Edison.

Deep down, however, Harry said he always wanted to fly airplanes. So on October 9, 1941 he enlisted in the Navy.

When World War II broke out just less than two months later, he was sent to Sand Point in Seattle for training in aviation ordnance.

In a V-5 program, in which there was no need for college credit, Harry applied for ground flight school that would teach him to fly at the same time. In 1942 he was stationed at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, where he ran a gunnery shop.

It was during this time that Harry and a buddy narrowly escaped strafing during one of the two attacks by Japanese Zeros. In October 1943 Harry reported to William Jewel College in Kansas City, Mo. for three months of flight training and then to the University of Colorado, where he made his first solo flight.

In March, 1944 Harry went to St. Mary’s College in Oakland, California. On March 22, his father died of a heart attack. The transportation home would be costly, but his battalion commander called him into his office and handed him an envelope containing $200 gathered by his caring comrades. After further training Harry received his wings on VJ Day, August 15, 1945. At Daytona Beach he received training in SB2C dive bombers and was assigned to the Aircraft Carrier Midway.

Harry got out of the Navy January 1, 1947 and resumed working with Detroit Edison. In 1950 he went to college at Michigan State under the GI Bill and continued his studies for nearly three years. As a reservist, he became a lieutenant in June 1952. He was called back to the Navy January 1, 1953 for the Korean War. While serving on the USS Wright, Harry made a celebrated 49,000 carrier landing on the Wright in an AD5 March 24, 1954. The was deployed to Europe on the carrier Randolph.

On August 3, 1956 Harry, as an instructor, and a student named Ryan took off from Corpus Christy in a North American T28 trainer. At 12,000 feet another T28 collided with their plane. Ryan bailed out, was struck by the tail and died, as did the pilots in the other plane. Harry parachuted and landed safely, though with injury to his knees.

Harry became a Lieutenant Commander on July 1, 1957 and was assigned to intelligence school in Washington D.C. He was then assigned to Fleet Intelligence Command in Europe, based in London and later Paris.

In December 1964 Harry met Betty Lou Ruble on a ski holiday in Arosa, Switzerland. Betty Lou was a purser flying with Pan American with Paris being a frequent destination. Harry and Betty Lou began dating in Paris. After being transferred stateside in January 1966 Harry was able to thumb rides on flights to New York so as to get together with Betty Lou. They were married October 8, 1966 in New York City, with a honeymoon in Barbados and Antigua.

A daughter, Nicole Renee was born on Harry’s forty-ninth birthday, November 26, 1967 and a son, Matthew Lafayette was born on September 21, 1969.

In 1969 Harry made and expedition to Oregon to search for a new home He bought properties in Alvadore and on the McKenzie River. The family arrived in Oregon January 1970.

In Oregon, Harry entered upon a second career in real estate, first with Bell Real Estate, and then with Cougill and Hansen for many years. He retired in 2000 from real estate at the age of 81.

His primary interest was in his children and grandchildren. He spared no effort or expense in locating just the right place for Matt to live and made countless trips to visit him in Kentucky and to escort him home to Alvadore for special occasions. Nicole grew to become his business protégé. His delight in his grandsons was boundless.

In Memphis, Michgan Harry became a Mason. He belonged to the Elks in Eugene, the Military Officers Association, where he served as President, and Shadow Hills Country Club. He served on the board of the Pearl Buck Center and participated in his local Neighborhood Watch. Harry was a member of the Alvadore Christian Church and had a keen interest in youth programs. He was a fisherman, bird hunter, Duck football season ticket subscriber, and a member of Court Sports for many years.

Survivors include his wife: Betty Lou; two children: Nicole Shultz of Veneta and Matthew of Frankfort, Kentucky; and two grandchildren: Ryan and Jarrett Shultz of Veneta.

Q Madp of IraqWarHeroes.org made this comment after the memorial.

"Before the service started, Harry's wife stepped out of the church to see the flags by the door and I beckoned for her to step closer to where I was for a better view of all the flags being held by patriot Guard Riders and she was very happy to see these strangers come out to honor her husband."

He added, "Toward the end of the service, one of the speakers talked about running errands for Harry as he was becoming less and less able to move about and that would include getting flowers and gifts for his wife on special occasions. "

"She then said that she had one final task she was carrying out for Harry, and from the back of the podium she lifted up a glass vase with a huge bouquet of dark red roses. Even the pastor ended up biting whatever papers he was holding and I don't think there was anyone, that wasn't moved by this."

Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy

Note: This article was almost entirely derived from biographical data provided by the Snyder family and Q Madp.

Here is the video/slide presentation of the service for Harry Snyder; photos by Q Madp of IraqWarHeroes.org and edited by Tim King. Music by Benny Goodman.

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