WILLIAM WARREN SNAPP was born on 17 Sep 1918 in Oakley, Summit, Utah. He was a son of William Alexander and Lilith (Mitchell) Snapp who married in Kamas, Summit, UT on 01 Jan 1906. William's siblings were; Ursula, Nathan Judd, Edward Nolan, Gladys Ora, and Doris Naomi Snapp. Oral Hymas Snapp was the son of Ursula Snapp and Raby James Hymas. Oral was raised by her parents and was considered their seventh child. Nathan served in the US Army in WWII. Edward also served in the Navy in WWII. He was killed in action on 1 Mar 1942 in the sinking of the USS Edsall (DD-219). After William and Edward were killed, the US War Department kept Nathan in-country for the remainder of the war.

William's father died unexpectedly on 08 May 1931 from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever caused by a tick bite. With the loss of his presence and income, circumstances seemed bleak. With five of the six children still at home and the tsunami of the Great Depression building in intensity, it was more than most single mothers could handle. But Mrs Snapp persevered and for the next 3 years, the family hung on - but barely.

After Edward enlisted in the Navy in 1934 he provided additional income that helped keep the family afloat. Soon it was William's turn to help out. As his seventeenth birthday approached William submitted an application for enlistment in the US Navy in late 1935. After completing qualifying examinations, administrative paperwork, background checks and a physical examination, in addition to securing his mother's permission, William Warren Snapp was accepted for enlistment.

William enlisted in the US Navy (NSN:368-33-00) a day after his seventh birthday as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) on 18 Feb 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah for three years. After completing 12 weeks of recruit training at the San Diego Naval Training Station, AS Snapp detached on 10 Mar 1936 and received an assignment to the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). His brother, Edward N Snapp (NSN:368-27-47), a Coxswain, was also assigned to the West Virginia. Edward had reported for duty on West Virginia on 18 Dec 1934. AS Wm Snapp advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2/c) and then Seaman First Class (S1/c) over the next several years. On 16 Feb 1939, S1c Wm Snapp advanced to Signalman Third Class (SM3). SM3 Wm Snapp was honorably discharged at the expiration of his enlistment on 15 Sep 1939.

After his discharge from the navy, William was enumerated in the 1940 US census in Clarinda, IA working as a salesman of ladies garments and also with his mother and siblings in Rupert, ID (He was double counted in the census). William did not take to being a salesman so he gave his notice to the store. He left Clarinda, IA and set his course back to Rupert, ID and employment with the Covey Gas and Oil Company in Rupert. It was there that William registered for the draft on 16 Oct 1940. Six months later, William decided that he wasn't cut out to be an oil man. So, he reenlisted in the US Navy on 07 Mar 1941 in Salt Lake City, UT and retained his previous rate as Signalman Third Class (SM3). He reported to the US Naval Receiving Ship at San Francisco, CA on 09 Mar 1941.

Several weeks later on 22 Mar SM3 Snapp transferred back to the battleship, USS West Virginia (BB-48). He reported on board for duty on 09 April 1941. His brother, Edward, now a Boatswains Mate First Class (BM1), was still on board. Later that summer both Snapp brothers received new orders directing them to detach from the West Virginia and report to Asiatic Station for duty. On 21 Aug 1941, SM3 William Snapp and BM1 Edward Snapp were detached from West Virginia and transferred to the Asiatic Fleet with headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

The brothers crossed the Pacific as passengers on board the transport ship, USS Henderson (AP-1), island hopping from Pearl Harbor to Midway to Guam then on to their destination at Manila. William and Edward arrived in Manila on 16 Sep 1941. The same day they were assigned to Destroyer Squadron 29 (CDS-29) ship's USS Stewart (DD-224) and USS Edsall (DD-219) respectively.

The threat of hostilities between the United States and Japan grew closer to the boiling point as the year 1941 began. Admiral Hart, Asiatic Fleet CINC, determined it was time to send all of the families of his sailors home. There was push-back from the resentful spouses who initially declined to leave their husbands. It was only a threat to indefinitely restrict their spouses to their ships without leave that finally convinced the families; it was time to comply with orders and return to the continental United States (CONUS). Admiral Hart's directive probably saved many family members from internment by the Japanese or worse. For many of the married sailors, it was the last time they would ever see their families.

Then, in July 1941, as Japanese aggression intensified with their move south into lower Indo-China, Admiral Hart warned his officers that he had no doubt that war would come although he didn't know how or when it would start. Hart trained his destroyer crews hard keeping them on a war-footing for extended periods and away from Cavite naval base as much as possible exercising his "defensive deployment." Ordered south to comply with the Adm. Hart's "defensive deployment," units of the Asiatic Fleet including destroyer tender USS Blackhawk (AD-9), Edsall , Stewart and other ships of Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 57, got underway on 25 Nov 1941. They steamed into port on the morning of 29 Nov 1941 in Balikpapan, a major oil port on the eastern coast of Borneo.

During the last weeks of 1941, Stewart provided escort services to naval auxiliaries steaming from the Philippines to Port Darwin, Australia. During January 1942, Stewart continued to provide escort services until 30 Jan when she joined with the light cruiser, USS Marblehead (CL-12) and steamed to Bunda Roads. On 4 Feb, both ships attempted to intercept Japanese forces at the south entrance to the Macassar Strait. However, Marblehead received a number of hits by air attacks during the day and was badly damaged. Stewart escorted her back to port at Tjilatjap, Java.

During the battle of Bandoeng Strait, 21-22 Feb 1942, Stewart was badly damaged during an intense battle with Japanese destroyers. After returning to Surabaja for repairs, she was placed in a floating dry-dock. She fell off her improperly placed keel blocks causing additional damage. She was deemed irrepairable. Her crew was transferred to other ships in the area. Petty Officer Snapp was transferred on 22 Feb 1942 to the USS Pillsbury (DD-227) for duty.

As the collapse of Netherlands East Indies to Japanese invaders became more of a reality, the and many other allied vessels made a mad dash across the Indian Ocean toward safety in either Australia or Ceylon. At mid-afternoon on Sunday, 01 Mar 1942, Pillsbury left Tjilatjap bound for Australia. For the first twenty-one hours, her fortunes seemed bright. Yet, sometime during midday on 2 March, Pillsbury was spotted by a Japanese reconnaissance plane that misidentified her as a light cruiser. Contact information was forwarded to Vice Admiral Kondo's main body. Kondo decided to try an intercept with his two heavy cruisers, Takao and his flagship Atago. About five hours later, Japanese lookouts spotted a small ship in the dark about 10 miles away. Japanese records indicate that Pillsbury seemed to turn toward the two heavy cruisers. Her actions, according to witnesses, came as quite a surprise. As Pillsbury got to within about 3 miles, the Japanese ships illuminated her with their powerful searchlights. Pillsbury transmitted frantic recognition codes.

Several minutes later Japanese 8 inch main battery guns commenced point-blank fire upon Pillsbury at a range of about 2.5 nautical miles. In a span of 340 seconds, no fewer than 170 8-inch projectiles were fired at her, one shell every two seconds. For a few moments 's gun crews returned several rounds but the fatal damage to her was done. Pillsbury sank less than six minutes after the first salvos hit the hapless destroyer. The Japanese made no effort to search for survivors. Their records simply show the "enemy light cruiser of the Marblehead class" was attacked and sunk at 2102 hours.

The Japanese recorded the location although their ship identification was incorrect. The coordinates where Pillsbury sank were, in fact, very close to coordinates recently messaged to Allied ships fleeing Java who were instructed to rendezvous in that vicinity and proceed together to Exmouth Gulf. In the darkness, it seems possible that Pillsbury had mistaken the Takao and Atago for Allied ships. Pillsbury's fate has remained a mystery for almost 70 years until Japanese records became available.

SM3 Snapp was listed as missing in action on 02 Mar 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was declared dead on 15 November 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, US Navy Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive from 1969), American Defense Service Medal with "Fleet" clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two battle stars, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Defense Medal, US Army Presidential Unit Citation and the World War II Victory Medal.

---------------------------------------------------

A commemoration in honor of SM3 Snapp's service from President Harry S. Truman reads:

In Grateful Memory of William Warren Snapp, Who Died In The Service Of His Country At Sea, Asiatic Area, attached U.S.S. , 25 November 1945 (presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

Signed,

Harry Truman

President of the United States of America

-------------------------------

Citation of Units of Both Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Philippine Governments.

--489--

As authorized by Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. II, Bull. 11, W.D., 1942), a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, is awarded to all units of both military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments engaged in the defense of the Philippines since December 7, 1941. (Later, it was called the Army Presidential Unit Citation).

By order of the Secretary of War:

G. C. MARSHALL,

Chief of Staff.

------------------------------

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Establishing Authority

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation was established by Headquarters, Philippine National Defense Forces, General Order Number 532 of September 14, 1946, as amended.

Acceptance by the United States

For service during World War II, acceptance is sanctioned by Public Law 80-314, which authorized the acceptance and wear of foreign decoration, medals, and awards in connection with services in World War II between the inclusive dates of December 7, 1941 and July 24, 1948.

Effective Dates

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation has been in effect since September 14, 1946.

Criteria

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is awarded for extraordinarily meritorious service. The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded to United States military personnel who participated in the following:

• World War II

Service in the defense of the Philippines from December 7, 1941 to May 10, 1942.

Service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945.

All U.S. military units and naval vessels that earned any of the Philippine engagement stars are entitled to the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

Certain submarines which maintained physical contact with guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands.

Online: https://rollofhonor.org/public/htmldetails.aspx?Cat=foreignaward&EntID=352

-----------------------------------

Primary Sources:

1) Messimer, Dwight R. Pawn of War; The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1983.

2) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

3) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

4) Winslow, W.G., The Fleet The Gods Forgot: The U.S. Asiatic Fleet In World War II, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. 1982.

5) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

6) Several newspaper articles.

7) Wikipedia page, USS Pillsbury Retrieved online 11 April 2024.

8) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

9) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

10) Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Fighting Ships (DANFS), USS Pillsbury (DD-227), Retrieved online 11 April 2024.

---------------------

Bio #298 composed on 12 Aug 2018 and revised on 07 May 2021 and 11 April 2024 by Gerry Lawton (G47)

Military Hall of Honor ID#163459

Find A Grave Memorial Page#56763537