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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>​

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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 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/>​

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/>​