William Ellsworth Snyder

What drives a sailor to risk his own life when another is drowning? For William Ellsworth Snyder, the answer came on January 4, 1910, in the freezing waters of Hampton Roads, Virginia. His extraordinary act of courage would earn him the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, and secure his place in American naval history.

Born on February 24, 1883, in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, William Ellsworth Snyder joined the United States Navy in 1903. Through dedication and professional skill, he advanced to the position of Chief Electrician aboard USS Birmingham (CL-2). But it was an unexpected emergency, rather than an encounter with an enemy, that would define his legacy.

On January 4, 1910, while Birmingham lay at anchor in Hampton Roads, Seaman G. H. Kephart fell overboard into dangerously cold water. With his shipmate struggling against the water and the current, Snyder plunged in to rescue him. His courageous intervention saved Kephart from drowning and demonstrated that extraordinary heroism is not confined to the battlefield.

For this lifesaving action, Snyder received the Medal of Honor under Navy General Order No. 58, dated March 2, 1910. His official citation reads: "Serving on board the U.S.S. Birmingham, for extraordinary heroism, rescuing G.H. Kephart, seaman, from drowning at Hampton Roads, Va., 4 January 1910."

On December 13, 1910, President William Howard Taft personally presented Snyder with the Medal of Honor, recognizing his remarkable bravery and devotion to a fellow sailor.

Snyder's naval career continued well beyond that defining moment. Appointed a warrant officer in 1915, he subsequently entered commissioned service during World War I. His qualifying wartime service also entitled him to the World War I Victory Medal, recognizing his contribution to the United States Navy during the conflict. He eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander before retiring in 1930.

William Ellsworth Snyder died on December 30, 1944, at the age of 61 and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

His legacy reminds us that the highest form of military courage is not always found amid gunfire or battle. Sometimes, it is revealed in a single selfless decision to save another human life. Snyder's Medal of Honor stands as an enduring tribute to that courage, his service, and his unwavering commitment to his fellow sailors.