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{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person

|name=Wilburn L. Snyder​<br>

|name=Wilburn L. Snyder​<br>

(Baptist clergyman who survived the Bataan Death March, 1942)

(Baptist clergyman who survived the Bataan Death March of 1942)

|birth_date =January 23, 1923 ​

|birth_date =January 23, 1923 ​

|birth_place=Plain Dealing, [[Bossier City|Bossier Parish]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

|birth_place=Plain Dealing, [[Bossier City|Bossier Parish]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

|death_date=May 13, 2008 (aged 85)​

|death_date=May 13, 2008 (aged 85)​

|death_place=[[Houston, Texas|Houston]],  [[Texas]]​

|death_place=[[Houston, Texas|Houston]],  [[Texas]]​

|residence=[[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]], Texas​

|residence=Baytown, Texas​

|spouse=(1) Florence Marie Arnold Snyder (deceased)<br>​

|spouse=(1) Florence Snyder (deceased)<br>​

(2) Lan'l Snyder​<br>

(2) Lan'l Snyder​<br>

'''Children''':<br>

'''Children''':<br>

'''Wilburn L. Snyder''' (January 23, 1923 &ndash; May 13, 2008) was a [[Baptist]] [[pastor]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]], and a survivor of the 1942 Bataan Death March and internment in the [[Philippines|Philippines Islands]] during [[World War II]].​

'''Wilburn L. Snyder''' (January 23, 1923 &ndash; May 13, 2008) was a [[Baptist]] [[pastor]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]], and a survivor of the 1942 Bataan Death March and internment in the [[Philippines|Philippines Islands]] during [[World War II]].​

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Snyder was born in Plain Dealing in northernmost Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]] to Mary and G. A. Hammer. He graduated in 1940 from Lee High School in [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]], and attended Lee College, a [[community college]] in Baytown, and then the University of Houston.<ref name=chron>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/deaths/5784295.html|title=Wilburn Snyder obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=May 15, 2008}}</ref>​

Snyder was born in Plain Dealing in northernmost Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]] to Mary and G. A. Hammer. He graduated in 1940 from Lee High School in Baytown, Texas, and attended the two-year Lee College, a [[community college]] in Baytown, and then the University of Houston.<ref name=chron>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/deaths/5784295.html|title=Wilburn Snyder obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=May 15, 2008}}</ref>

 

==POW years==​

==POW years==

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Snyder was so eager to join the [[United States Army]] that he claimed to have been a year older than his actual age. In June 1940, he wanted to "get in on the ground floor” of a second world conflict which seemed imminent to many. "I was seventeen. I went by myself and enlisted," Snyder said. His parents were reluctant to give their consent and regretted having done so when Snyder was declared [[missing in action]] at Bataan.<ref name=baytown>{{cite web|url=http://baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e5d6249f2275ced2|title=Wilburn Snyder|publisher=''The Baytown Sun''|accessdate=May 30, 2007}}</ref>​

Snyder was so eager to join the [[United States Army]] that he claimed to have been a year older than his actual age. In June 1940, he wanted to "get in on the ground floor” of a second world conflict which seemed imminent to many. "I was seventeen. I went by myself and enlisted," Snyder said. His parents were reluctant to give their consent and regretted having done so when Snyder was declared [[missing in action]] at Bataan.<ref name=baytown>{{cite web|url=http://baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e5d6249f2275ced2|title=Wilburn Snyder|publisher=''The Baytown Sun''|accessdate=May 30, 2007}}</ref>​

After serving fifteen months at Fort Crockett in [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Snyder was deployed to the Philippines as a combat [[medic]] in the 3rd Battalion of the 31st Infantry. From that outfit of twenty-nine men, he was one of five who returned to the United States.<ref name=baytown/>​

After serving fifteen months at Fort Crockett in [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Snyder was deployed to the Philippines as a combat [[medic]] in the 3rd Battalion of the 31st Infantry. From that outfit of twenty-nine men, he was one of five who returned to the United States.<ref name=baytown/>​

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On Snyder’s death at the age of eighty-five, ''The Houston Chronicle'' quoted his daughter, Theda Cuellar of Houston: "He had no hatred towards those people. As a [[Christian]], he put away all that hatred, but he wanted people to know what they went through." Cuellar said that her father suffered twice from [[malaria]] during the internment and was left for dead, but a [[United States Army]] friend stole [[medicine]] from the Japanese invaders and nursed Snyder to health.<ref name=chron/>​

On Snyder’s death at the age of eighty-five, ''The Houston Chronicle'' quoted his daughter, Theda S. Cuellar of Houston: "He had no hatred towards those people. As a [[Christian]], he put away all that hatred, but he wanted people to know what they went through." Cuellar said that her father suffered twice from [[malaria]] during the internment and was left for dead, but a [[United States Army]] friend stole [[medicine]] from the Japanese invaders and nursed Snyder to health.<ref name=chron/>​

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After American forces under General Edward P. King, surrendered on April 9, 1942, Snyder, along with some 12,000 American and 68,000 Filipino defenders of the Bataan peninsula, was forced to march sixty-eight miles over fourteen days to the prison camp. On this journey, a large number of the soldiers, denied food and water by the Japanese, perished.<ref name=chron/> In surrendering, King disobeyed orders, but Snyder and other captives contended that the general had no alternative. Snyder said that the surrender was respected by the men who were afflicted from a lack of food, quinine, medicine, and ammunition.<ref name=baytown/>​

After American forces under General Edward P. King, surrendered on April 9, 1942, Snyder, along with some 12,000 American and 68,000 Filipino defenders of the Bataan peninsula, was forced to march sixty-eight miles over fourteen days to the prison camp. On this journey, a large number of the soldiers, denied food and water by the Japanese, perished.<ref name=chron/> In surrendering, King disobeyed orders, but Snyder and other captives contended that the general had no alternative. Snyder said that the surrender was respected by the men who were afflicted from a lack of food, quinine, medicine, and ammunition.<ref name=baytown/>​

With the end of the war, Sndyer and 105 other prisoners were liberated on August 15, 1945. Years after his captivity, Snyder attended a military reunion in the Philippines. Donald Knox, in his book ''Death March: The Survivors of Bataan'' (New York: Harcourt Brace Inc., 1981), recalls Snyder having asked his Filipino guide why a particular group of  children was holding the “V” for victory sign to the visiting American veterans. “What do those little kids know about that sign?”, Snyder asked. The guide replied, “They may not know how to read and write, but they know about Bataan.”<ref>Michael Botson of Houston, Wilburn Snyder obituary guest book, ''The Houston Chronicle.''</ref>​

With the end of the war, Sndyer and 105 other prisoners were liberated on August 15, 1945. Years after his captivity, Snyder attended a military reunion in the Philippines. Donald Knox, in his book ''Death March: The Survivors of Bataan'' (New York: Harcourt Brace Inc., 1981), recalls Snyder having asked his Filipino guide why a particular group of  children was holding the “V” for victory sign to the visiting American veterans. “What do those little kids know about that sign?”, Snyder asked. The guide replied, “They may not know how to read and write, but they know about Bataan.”<ref>Michael Botson of Houston, Wilburn Snyder obituary guest book, ''The Houston Chronicle.''</ref>​

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Snyder was [[chaplain]] for the Gulf Coast chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of Wa], a veterans service organization founded in [[Arlington, Texas]|Arlington]], Texas, in the wake of Bataan.<ref>[http://www.axpow.org/ American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Snyder was [[chaplain]] for the Gulf Coast chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of Wa], a veterans service organization founded in [[Arlington, Texas]|Arlington]], Texas, in the wake of Bataan.<ref>[http://www.axpow.org/ American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

 

==Ministry==​

==Ministry==

After the war, Snyder returned to the Houston area and worked as a pipefitte] for Ethyl Corporation. A co-worker conducted a [[Bible]] study group in which Snyder agreed to participate.<ref name=chron/> He had not been a Christian during his military service and had identified his personal anger as essential to having overcome the odds against survival at Bataan. On being converted to Christianity and called to the ministry, Snyder said that he believed that [[God]] instilled anger in him to bring him through Bataan.<ref name=baytown/>​

After the war, Snyder returned to the Houston area and worked as a pipefitte] for Ethyl Corporation. A co-worker conducted a [[Bible]] study group in which Snyder agreed to participate.<ref name=chron/> He had not been a Christian during his military service and had identified his personal anger as essential to having overcome the odds against survival at Bataan. On being converted to Christianity and called to the ministry, Snyder said that he believed that [[God]] instilled anger in him to bring him through Bataan.<ref name=baytown/>​

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First unable to forget the suffering that he endured as a prisoner, Snyder harbored a strong hatred for the men who showed no mercy to him and other captive Americans and Filipinos. "When I got back [to the United States], if I had the power to push a button and sink every island in Japan, that’s what I would have done. But since the Lord’s been in my life, I’ve been back to Japan four times to preach to them. I love them."<ref name=baytown/>​

First unable to forget the suffering that he endured as a prisoner, Snyder harbored a strong hatred for the men who showed no mercy to him and other captive Americans and Filipinos. "When I got back [to the United States], if I had the power to push a button and sink every island in Japan, that’s what I would have done. But since the Lord’s been in my life, I’ve been back to Japan four times to preach to them. I love them."<ref name=baytown/>​

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==Death==​

==Death==

 

Snyder died in the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence. In addition to daughter Theda Cuellar, survivors include his second wife, Lan’l Snyder of Baytown; sons, Kyle Snyder of [[Goliad, Texas|Goliad]], David Smith of [[Crosby, Texas|Crosby]], and Gregg Smith of Baytown; other daughter, Renae Haskins of Pasadena, Texas; three brothers, Alva John Hammer of Baytown and C.J. Snyder and Michael Snyder of Louisiana; and three sisters, Margaret A. Selzler of Raeford, [[North Carolina]], Judy Marie Snyder Knippers (born ca. 1950) and husband William C. “Buddy” Knippers of Dry Prong in Grant Parish, and Faye Harris of Louisiana.<ref name=chron/>​

Snyder died in the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston. He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Florence Marie Arnold (1927-1982), who was also born in Plain Dealing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60525&h=146155788&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EOs584&_phstart=successSource|title=Florence Marie Snyder|publisher=Ancestry.com|accessdate=October 1, 2019}}</ref>

 

In addition to daughter Theda S. Cuellar, his survivors included his second wife, Lan’l Snyder of Baytown; sons, Kyle Snyder of Goliad, Texas, David Smith of Crosby, Texas, and Gregg Smith of Baytown; other daughter, Renae Haskins of Pasadena, Texas; three brothers, Alva John Hammer of Baytown and C.J. Snyder and Michael Snyder of Louisiana; and three sisters, Margaret A. Selzler of Raeford, [[North Carolina]], Judy Marie Snyder Knippers (born ca. 1950) and husband William C. “Buddy” Knippers of Dry Prong in Grant Parish, and Faye Harris, a Louisiana resident.<ref name=chron/>​

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Services were held on May 15 at the First Baptist Church in Galena Park. Interment was at San Jacinto Memorial Park Cemetery near Baytown.<ref name=chron/>​

Services were held on May 15 at the First Baptist Church in Galena Park. Interment was at San Jacinto Memorial Park Cemetery near Baytown.<ref name=chron/>​