Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Warrent Officer 2nd Class

Unit:

A Company, 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 6 June 1944 (D-Day) at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, “A” Company was right assaulting company, touching down at H Hour where 1st Battalion The Regina Rifle Regiment assaulted the beaches. L27240 CSM (then Sergeant) John Alexander Snyder was commanding a platoon as the company was one officer under strength. Very heavy machine gun fire from buildings on the promenade and a large pillbox at the mouth of the river swept the whole company beach and caused severe casualties.
CSM (then Sergeant) John Alexander Snyder seeing that to hesitate would only cause more casualties, led the balance of his platoon across the open beach into the protection of the sand dunes. He then proceeded to carry out the task given his platoon by personally leading his men along the edge of the promenade to the buildings where the machine guns were situated and silencing them.
CSM (then Sergeant) John Alexander Snyder was promoted Company Sergeant Major, in which capacity he continues to display outstanding leadership and personal bravery. On 15 August 1944 at Falaise, France “A” Company in an attack ran into strong opposition in the form of dug-in enemy tanks. In the face of concentrated mortar and machine gun fire he personally took the message to all platoons to form up for another attack on a different axis. His gallantry and leadership did much to make the attack a success.
His many examples of leadership and courage, until he was wounded, were an inspiration to the men who served under him.

Awarded with silver star.
Periodic Award.