Joe B. Snyder
Joe Butler Snyder
US Army
PFC
34188299
3rd Chemical Battalion, Headquarters Company
Born December 1917 in Shouns, TN to Jessie James and Sallie E. Snyder
Died July 10, 1943 leaving his widow, Hazel King Snyder and daughter Joyce.
Snyder enlisted on February 12, 1942 at Fort McClellan, AL where he got his basic training, then moving on to Fort Bliss, TX for additional training. He was 23 when he enlisted.
His unit, the 3rd Chemical Battalion sailed to North Africa in April 1943. The Chemical Mortar Battalions were support units for the infantry and could be assigned to any Infantry Division. They were considered highly valuable assets as they fired high explosive, gas, incendiary, and smoke maker shells.. Chemical shells were always on standby if the enemy fired them first. In addition, the chemical mortars were easily assembled and easily maneuvered and most effective against stationary targets, like machine gun nests, strongpoints and pillboxes.
It was during the Allied invasion of Sicily that the chemical mortars were used for the first time - 35,000 rounds were fired in 38 days, 90% of which were the high explosives. This was Operation Husky under the leadership of General George Patton, 7th US Army. It was on July 10 1943 that PFC Snyder was killed in action. He was the first man from Johnson County, TN to be killed in action in World War II. '
Snyder was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain City, TN
US Army
PFC
34188299
3rd Chemical Battalion, Headquarters Company
Born December 1917 in Shouns, TN to Jessie James and Sallie E. Snyder
Died July 10, 1943 leaving his widow, Hazel King Snyder and daughter Joyce.
Snyder enlisted on February 12, 1942 at Fort McClellan, AL where he got his basic training, then moving on to Fort Bliss, TX for additional training. He was 23 when he enlisted.
His unit, the 3rd Chemical Battalion sailed to North Africa in April 1943. The Chemical Mortar Battalions were support units for the infantry and could be assigned to any Infantry Division. They were considered highly valuable assets as they fired high explosive, gas, incendiary, and smoke maker shells.. Chemical shells were always on standby if the enemy fired them first. In addition, the chemical mortars were easily assembled and easily maneuvered and most effective against stationary targets, like machine gun nests, strongpoints and pillboxes.
It was during the Allied invasion of Sicily that the chemical mortars were used for the first time - 35,000 rounds were fired in 38 days, 90% of which were the high explosives. This was Operation Husky under the leadership of General George Patton, 7th US Army. It was on July 10 1943 that PFC Snyder was killed in action. He was the first man from Johnson County, TN to be killed in action in World War II. '
Snyder was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain City, TN
patch of he 3rd Chemical Battalion
