b. 24/02/1883 South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. d. 30/12/1944 Brooklyn, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 04/01/1910 Hampton Roads, Virginia.
William E Snyder MOH
A native of South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Snyder joined the Navy from that state.
On January 4, 1910, he was serving as a chief electrician on the USS Birmingham (CL-2). On that day, while the Birmingham was anchored at Hampton Roads in Virginia, Seaman G.H. Kephart fell overboard into the freezing cold water. Although the temperature was around 0 °F (−18 °C) and a strong tide was running, Snyder jumped into the water and rescued Kephart from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on March 2, 1910. The medal was formally presented to him by President William Howard Taft at the White House on December 13 of that year.
Snyder was promoted to the warrant officer rank of gunner on 3 December 1915. During the First World War, Snyder became a commissioned officer when he was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant on 21 September 1918 and received a permanent promotion to that rank on 3 August 1920. He retired from the Navy on May 26, 1930.
MOH CITATION:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Birmingham, for extraordinary heroism, rescuing G.H. Kephart, seaman, from drowning at Hampton Roads, Va., 4 January 1910.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 10, GRAVE 10636.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
