WWII 43rd Infantry 172nd Lt Colonel Snyder Bronze Star CIB Pacific Paper Group For Sale

IMPORTANT NAMED WWII U.S. ARMY OFFICER DOCUMENT GROUP
Original military paper grouping centered on Lieutenant Colonel Joe Stephens Snyder, O-1 291 191, a WWII officer of the 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, with an exceptional documented Pacific combat record.
This is much more historically significant than a generic WWII discharge certificate because Snyder\'s surviving separation record identifies his actual regiment, division, campaigns, decorations and military specialty.
JOE STEPHENS SNYDER
The large period Military Record and Report of Separation / Certificate of Service identifies:
JOE S. SNYDERService No. O-1 291 191Lieutenant ColonelInfantry172nd Infantry, 43rd Division
Entered Active Duty: August 24, 1942Released From Active Duty: February 2, 1946
Military Occupational Specialty:Supply and Evacuation Staff Officer – 4010
CAMPAIGNS RECORDED ON THE DOCUMENT:
• New Georgia• New Guinea• Luzon
DECORATIONS / COMBAT DISTINCTIONS RECORDED:
• Bronze Star• Combat Infantryman Badge• Philippine Liberation• Asiatic-Pacific service with 3 Battle Stars• 1 Bronze Arrowhead
The Bronze Arrowhead is an especially interesting entry because it denotes participation credit connected with an assault landing operation.
Snyder\'s record shows approximately three years of overseas service during WWII.
THE 172ND INFANTRY & 43RD DIVISION
The 172nd Infantry Regiment was part of the 43rd Infantry Division, the famous “Winged Victory” Division, and fought extensively in the Pacific.
The regiment participated in the New Georgia campaign, including operations associated with Rendova and the difficult drive toward Munda Airfield. The division later fought in New Guinea and then on Luzon in the Philippines.
Snyder\'s separation document therefore provides a remarkable direct connection to three major chapters of the 43rd Division\'s Pacific combat history.
Of additional interest, Snyder is specifically identified as a Supply and Evacuation Staff Officer. Logistics and evacuation were critical during the brutal jungle fighting on New Georgia, where the 43rd Division and 172nd Infantry experienced serious difficulties maintaining supply routes through jungle terrain.
The documents establish Snyder\'s unit and specialty; no claim is made that he personally participated in any particular undocumented individual action.
ADDITIONAL SNYDER DOCUMENTS INCLUDE:
• Large ornate Presidential U.S. Army commission appointing Joe Stephens Snyder as Major, Infantry, with appointment dated October 20, 1945
• Large Honorable Discharge certificate identifying Joe Stephens Snyder as Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, USAR, honorably discharged April 1, 1953
• Period Certificate of Service / separation material
• Associated military correspondence / paperwork as photographed
The documents together follow Snyder from his wartime Pacific service through his postwar Army Reserve career.
The group also contains period military discharge/separation material belonging to another serviceman:
FRANCIS J. BURKECorporal, Regular ArmyHonorably discharged September 3, 1949
Burke\'s document retains a reverse ink stamp identifying “Francis J. Burke – Special Agent” with a Washington Street address partly visible.
IMPORTANT: Francis J. Burke is a separate serviceman represented within this mixed group. We have found no evidence that Burke and Snyder served together, and no such connection is claimed.
Joe Stephens Snyder has also been independently identified in period/biographical records as a Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania native. His military document itself gives his birth date as July 25, 1916.
A compelling original archive for collectors of:
• WWII U.S. Army officer material• 43rd Infantry Division “Winged Victory”• 172nd Infantry Regiment• Pacific Theater militaria• New Georgia / Munda campaign• New Guinea campaign• Luzon / Philippines campaign• Bronze Star recipients• Combat Infantryman Badge recipients• WWII amphibious assault history• Named military archives and ephemera
Original named WWII combat paperwork with this much service information preserved on the documents has become increasingly difficult to find as intact groups.
All documents shown in the photographs are included. Please use the photographs as part of the description for exact contents and condition.
From Echoes of WWII — carefully researched original military history and ephemera.