Posted Online: 2007-08-13
STREATOR: Acres Of Memories Veteran was rescued by actor during World War II

CRAIG WIECZORKIEWICZ, craigw@mywebtimes.com, 815-673-6374

When Dean Snyder attends the United States Second Marine Division Association reunion in Washington, D.C., later this month, he likely will tell the story of how he was saved by future "Green Acres" star Eddie Albert.

He also may talk about the 30 harrowing hours that led to that moment, which consisted of hiding underwater from enemy troops following the Battle of Tarawa, one of the bloodiest World War II battles in the Pacific.

"It was a scary 30 hours," Snyder, 90, told The Times at his Streator home last week. "You had no communication. You had no food. You had no idea what was going to happen."

Pfc. Snyder was serving as a scout and observer in the intelligence division of the Second Marine Division when the battle occurred in November 1943. About 1,000 Marines died at Tarawa, including 14 of the 29 men in Snyder's division. Nearly 2,300 other Marines were wounded in the battle.

During the battle, Snyder was shot through the lower left torso. As the situation grew worse, U.S. soldiers were ordered to hide in the 8-foot-deep water, where they remained until help arrived 30 hours later.

Rescue crews pulled survivors out of the water and brought them to the destroyer USS Schroeder. Among the rescuers was Edward Albert Heimberger, a U.S. Navy lieutenant whose stage name was Eddie Albert. The actor rescued 45 men at Tarawa, earning him a Bronze Star commendation.

"I was the last one the Navy found that he rescued," Snyder said.

Snyder was made an honorary member of the USS Schroeder, and he subsequently attended many of the ship's reunions.

During the war, Snyder also served as a radio operator at Saipan and Tinian. He was still stationed in the Pacific when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively ending the war.

He knew U.S. troops took Okinawa and Iwo Jima in order to better the country's position for air strikes, but was surprised when he learned of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.

"We were at Saipan," Snyder said. "We were planning an invasion (of Japan). We knew nothing about that bomb."

Three weeks after the atomic bombs were dropped, Snyder was transferred to Okinawa. Although the war was over by then, Snyder and his fellow soldiers had to be on guard for snipers and hand grenades. They also did their part in helping win over hungry Japanese children by feeding them leftover food at the end of each day, he said.

Years later, the Navy paid for Snyder to fly to Santa Monica, Calif., to attend multiple functions where Eddie Albert handed out miltary awards.

"He didn't know me, but of course I remembered him," Snyder said of meeting Albert again.

Over time they became friends, and in 1994 Albert invited Snyder to his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Albert paid all the expenses for Snyder's trip.

Albert, who died in 2005 at age 99, invited Snyder to visit his home several times, but never came to Streator.

"I never could get him to come here," Snyder said.

Snyder plans to be in Washington, D.C., later this month for a reunion of Marines who were stationed in New Zealand during World War II. A reception for the United States Second Marine Division Association will be Thursday, Aug. 23, at the New Zealand Embassy.

Ellie