Recipient of Star of Military Valour and
Sacrifice Medal (posthumous)
Captain, a platoon commander with 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aged 26, he was originally from Penticton, British Columbia. He deployed in February to serve his second tour of duty with the Canadian contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Capt Jon Snyder died after falling into an open well during a night-time foot patrol in Zhari district, southwest of Kandahar City. While soldiers are equipped with infra-red technology at night, the embankments are very soft and the well, which was part of a larger irrigation system of unmarked wells that Afghans call a "kariz", was at least 20 metres deep.
Capt Snyder had served in the military for eight years and was on his third overseas mission. He was raised on his family's ranch in Penticton, B.C., along with his brother Adam, who was a few years older. Their father David taught English at Penticton High School and their mother, Anne, was a local reporter. His mother described him as a multi-talented honour student who ran, snowboarded, played rugby and soccer. He also appreciated arts and culture, and enjoyed singing. He was a handyman, an avid reader and dog lover. He leaves behind his fiancée Megan Stewart, father David Snyder, mother Anne Snyder, brother Adam, and other relatives.
Funeral service held on Monday, June 16, 2008 in the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Ottawa.
Capt Snyder is the 85th soldier, along with a diplomat, to die since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002.
On October 28, 2008 the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada announced the posthumous award of the Star of Military Valour, the country's second-highest award for gallantry under fire, to Capt Snyder.
Citation:
Corporals Cary Baker, James Ball and Steven Bancarz, and captains Robert Peel and Jonathan Snyder were deployed to Afghanistan to serve as mentors to an Afghan company, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents on June 4, 2008. With little chance of survival, they exposed themselves to great peril and retaliated against the enemy while encouraging the Afghan soldiers to do the same. Captain Snyder seized control of the situation and ensured that the Afghan soldiers retrieved their wounded comrades. Corporal Ball led a two-man team across broken terrain to secure an extraction route that allowed for the execution of a fighting withdrawal by Captain Peel and corporals Bancarz and Baker. Because of their dedication, leadership and valour, many Afghan and Canadian lives were saved.
*Thanks to Mike Thompson, Doreen Steidle, and Chichikov for the photos.
*Sincere thanks to Thom Painter for the generous sponsorship of this memorial.
Sacrifice Medal (posthumous)
Captain, a platoon commander with 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aged 26, he was originally from Penticton, British Columbia. He deployed in February to serve his second tour of duty with the Canadian contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Capt Jon Snyder died after falling into an open well during a night-time foot patrol in Zhari district, southwest of Kandahar City. While soldiers are equipped with infra-red technology at night, the embankments are very soft and the well, which was part of a larger irrigation system of unmarked wells that Afghans call a "kariz", was at least 20 metres deep.
Capt Snyder had served in the military for eight years and was on his third overseas mission. He was raised on his family's ranch in Penticton, B.C., along with his brother Adam, who was a few years older. Their father David taught English at Penticton High School and their mother, Anne, was a local reporter. His mother described him as a multi-talented honour student who ran, snowboarded, played rugby and soccer. He also appreciated arts and culture, and enjoyed singing. He was a handyman, an avid reader and dog lover. He leaves behind his fiancée Megan Stewart, father David Snyder, mother Anne Snyder, brother Adam, and other relatives.
Funeral service held on Monday, June 16, 2008 in the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Ottawa.
Capt Snyder is the 85th soldier, along with a diplomat, to die since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002.
On October 28, 2008 the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada announced the posthumous award of the Star of Military Valour, the country's second-highest award for gallantry under fire, to Capt Snyder.
Citation:
Corporals Cary Baker, James Ball and Steven Bancarz, and captains Robert Peel and Jonathan Snyder were deployed to Afghanistan to serve as mentors to an Afghan company, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents on June 4, 2008. With little chance of survival, they exposed themselves to great peril and retaliated against the enemy while encouraging the Afghan soldiers to do the same. Captain Snyder seized control of the situation and ensured that the Afghan soldiers retrieved their wounded comrades. Corporal Ball led a two-man team across broken terrain to secure an extraction route that allowed for the execution of a fighting withdrawal by Captain Peel and corporals Bancarz and Baker. Because of their dedication, leadership and valour, many Afghan and Canadian lives were saved.
*Thanks to Mike Thompson, Doreen Steidle, and Chichikov for the photos.
*Sincere thanks to Thom Painter for the generous sponsorship of this memorial.
Recipient of Star of Military Valour and
Sacrifice Medal (posthumous)
Captain, a platoon commander with 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aged 26, he was originally from Penticton, British Columbia. He deployed in February to serve his second tour of duty with the Canadian contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Capt Jon Snyder died after falling into an open well during a night-time foot patrol in Zhari district, southwest of Kandahar City. While soldiers are equipped with infra-red technology at night, the embankments are very soft and the well, which was part of a larger irrigation system of unmarked wells that Afghans call a "kariz", was at least 20 metres deep.
Capt Snyder had served in the military for eight years and was on his third overseas mission. He was raised on his family's ranch in Penticton, B.C., along with his brother Adam, who was a few years older. Their father David taught English at Penticton High School and their mother, Anne, was a local reporter. His mother described him as a multi-talented honour student who ran, snowboarded, played rugby and soccer. He also appreciated arts and culture, and enjoyed singing. He was a handyman, an avid reader and dog lover. He leaves behind his fiancée Megan Stewart, father David Snyder, mother Anne Snyder, brother Adam, and other relatives.
Funeral service held on Monday, June 16, 2008 in the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Ottawa.
Capt Snyder is the 85th soldier, along with a diplomat, to die since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002.
On October 28, 2008 the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada announced the posthumous award of the Star of Military Valour, the country's second-highest award for gallantry under fire, to Capt Snyder.
Citation:
Corporals Cary Baker, James Ball and Steven Bancarz, and captains Robert Peel and Jonathan Snyder were deployed to Afghanistan to serve as mentors to an Afghan company, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents on June 4, 2008. With little chance of survival, they exposed themselves to great peril and retaliated against the enemy while encouraging the Afghan soldiers to do the same. Captain Snyder seized control of the situation and ensured that the Afghan soldiers retrieved their wounded comrades. Corporal Ball led a two-man team across broken terrain to secure an extraction route that allowed for the execution of a fighting withdrawal by Captain Peel and corporals Bancarz and Baker. Because of their dedication, leadership and valour, many Afghan and Canadian lives were saved.
*Thanks to Mike Thompson, Doreen Steidle, and Chichikov for the photos.
*Sincere thanks to Thom Painter for the generous sponsorship of this memorial.
Sacrifice Medal (posthumous)
Captain, a platoon commander with 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aged 26, he was originally from Penticton, British Columbia. He deployed in February to serve his second tour of duty with the Canadian contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Capt Jon Snyder died after falling into an open well during a night-time foot patrol in Zhari district, southwest of Kandahar City. While soldiers are equipped with infra-red technology at night, the embankments are very soft and the well, which was part of a larger irrigation system of unmarked wells that Afghans call a "kariz", was at least 20 metres deep.
Capt Snyder had served in the military for eight years and was on his third overseas mission. He was raised on his family's ranch in Penticton, B.C., along with his brother Adam, who was a few years older. Their father David taught English at Penticton High School and their mother, Anne, was a local reporter. His mother described him as a multi-talented honour student who ran, snowboarded, played rugby and soccer. He also appreciated arts and culture, and enjoyed singing. He was a handyman, an avid reader and dog lover. He leaves behind his fiancée Megan Stewart, father David Snyder, mother Anne Snyder, brother Adam, and other relatives.
Funeral service held on Monday, June 16, 2008 in the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, Ottawa.
Capt Snyder is the 85th soldier, along with a diplomat, to die since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002.
On October 28, 2008 the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada announced the posthumous award of the Star of Military Valour, the country's second-highest award for gallantry under fire, to Capt Snyder.
Citation:
Corporals Cary Baker, James Ball and Steven Bancarz, and captains Robert Peel and Jonathan Snyder were deployed to Afghanistan to serve as mentors to an Afghan company, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents on June 4, 2008. With little chance of survival, they exposed themselves to great peril and retaliated against the enemy while encouraging the Afghan soldiers to do the same. Captain Snyder seized control of the situation and ensured that the Afghan soldiers retrieved their wounded comrades. Corporal Ball led a two-man team across broken terrain to secure an extraction route that allowed for the execution of a fighting withdrawal by Captain Peel and corporals Bancarz and Baker. Because of their dedication, leadership and valour, many Afghan and Canadian lives were saved.
*Thanks to Mike Thompson, Doreen Steidle, and Chichikov for the photos.
*Sincere thanks to Thom Painter for the generous sponsorship of this memorial.
Inscription
N21 142 400 CAPT
Jonathan S. Snyder SMV
Princess Patricia's Canadian
Light Infantry
20 December 1981 - 7 June 2008
