Holmes County couple honors vets with memorial
PRAIRIE TWP. – The life-changing experiences and memories of three tours of duty in Vietnam more than 50 years ago have stayed with Holmes County veteran Gary Snyder.
As a tribute to fallen friends and family who were killed in action or died as a result of serving in Vietnam, Snyder and his wife of more than 50 years, Karen, built a memorial in the yard of their Township Road 346 home.
“When I retired from the co-op, I wanted to do something to honor the guys we lost who were over there with me, and I thought some kind of memorial that would be pleasant to see and might give somebody else some closure,” Snyder said.
His wife added, “The main reason we did this was to provide closure and healing for other people. This was for all the Holmes County guys, our family members and friends who went through that time.”
The Snyders had an octagonal patio built
Snyder worked as a utility lineman for Holmes-wayne Electric Cooperative for 43 years, beginning as an apprentice when he returned from the service. When the pandemic closed everything down, he decided the timing was right to do something he had long wanted to pursue.
He found Todd Bowman of Stonehenge Landscaping in Ashland, who designed the octagonal-shaped patio with a fire pit in the middle and two benches. One wall is raised in order to put up a black marble granite plaque from Thompson Memorials in Millersburg that displays the names of fallen friends.
Snyder procured two other stones, one commemorating the 58,000 MIAS who didn’t make it back and another for those suffering from Agent Orange.
Five cement disks representing each branch of the service are part of the display, along with flags, a helmet, gun and boot monument and other memorial rings.
“Everybody who has helped with this project did a really good job,” Snyder said. “We added this other walkway for people in wheelchairs or who need a walker like myself. People seemed to enjoy themselves. We received a lot of compliments.”
The Snyders have three grown children and six grandchildren. Their project began in the spring of 2019.
A Memorial Day dedication last May drew around 40 people.
The Millersburg American Legion Auxiliary held a meeting at the Snyder residence and presented him with a check to give to Holmes-wayne Electric for the next honor trip to Washington, D.C. The Shreve American Legion Women’s Auxiliary also held a meeting at the memorial.
Why build a memorial in your yard?
“When I’m out here by myself, I can think about them. I can see their faces, and you know it’s just like they’re with me,” he said. “They never got to become husbands; never became fathers or grandfathers. I try to live my life to honor them, and I hope I did a good job of it.”
The names on the memorial plaque include Frederick Miller, who was killed in April 1967. Miller was the first Holmes County resident killed in action in Vietnam.
Snyder’s best friend from high school, Larry Barton, is another honoree, as well as his cousin Jerry Spitler. Miller and Spitler have sections of Holmes County highways dedicated to them.
Thomas Fisher, James Clark and James Grissinger of West Salem were all killed in 1969. Grissinger, who was in Karen Snyder’s graduating class, was killed while on patrol in Korea.
Gary Snyder joined the Air Force in 1967 after graduating from West Holmes High. He was a crew chief when he started, and his backseat pilot was Maj. James W. (Bill) Reed of Cambridge.
Reed was shot down over Cambodia in 1970 on his 17th mission, according to Snyder. No remains were found until a crew went into Cambodia, found the wreckage site, and the remains of both pilots were in the aircraft, and identified through their dental records.
“They were found in 2017,” Snyder said. “His family finally had some closure. We’ve had two families from Cambridge who knew his family real well stopped by here. He gave me an MIA bracelet with Bill’s name on it. They have a memorial for him in Cambridge.”
The other names on the plaque: Lowell Hartzler, Robert C. Snyder, Donald Snyder, Robert C. Snyder Jr., Kenneth Hartzler, Terry Mayle, Bruce Shaw, Michael Foxx and Thomas Smail are in memory of family members.
Some died from effects of Agent Orange.
“Agent Orange was sprayed from the start of the war to the end of it,” Snyder said. “It got into the water table, and affected crops. It lays in the fat cells for years and when it gets triggered, it causes cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease. They are still learning more about it.”
Reflections from his time in Vietnam
The first base he served at was at Cam Ranh Bay, before being sent south to Bien Hoa Air Base toward Saigon. He flew special missions into Cambodia and Laos.
“Bien Hoa was a crazy base,” he said. “We had rocket alley there, going on every night. There were B-52s that bombed the area to close in the supply trails. If you happened to be in your rack at night, it would vibrate you right out of bed.”
Snyder recalled how the Army was low on troops and volunteers from the Air Force were recruited to provide relief, relocating some servicemen as well as transporting and providing good will services for locals.
“That was interesting. We got to see a lot of country,” Snyder said.
Some other experiences he’ll never forget, although he would like to.
“There were some bad days to see. Here you are, 18-years old ... sometimes I’m surprised I made it back,” he said. “I’m amazed I’m still alive after all I’ve done and all I’ve been through. Through this, it’s my way of paying something back.”