Chief Electrician William Ellsworth Snyder was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 4, 1910 in Hampton Roads, Virginia — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Birmingham. Snyder was 26 years old.
The medal was presented on December 13, 1910 — presented by Pres. William H. Taft. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Snyder was born on February 24, 1883 in South Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Snyder died on December 30, 1944, at the age of 61. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- February 24, 1883Born in South Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
- January 4, 1910Act of valor — Hampton Roads, VirginiaAge 26. U.S.S. Birmingham
- December 13, 1910Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Pres. William H. Taft
- December 30, 1944DiedAge 61.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
William Ellsworth Snyder (February 24, 1883 – December 30, 1944) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “William E. Snyder (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →