Charles L. Snearly, Jr.

Taken from a document typed by Charles L. Snearly:

I joined the Enlisted Reserve on June 23, 1942 at Texas A&M College. I went on active duty at the Engineer Basic School at Ft. Belvoir, VA in October 1942. After finishing basic I went to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Belvoir and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in April 1943. I was assigned to the 1st Engineer Regiment (Airborne) at Westover Field, MA.

In January 1944, I was sent to Richmond Field, VA to help organize and train the 806th Engineer Aviation Battalion. The 806th was sent to Vancouver Barracks, WA and from there to Wheeler Field, Hawaii. The 806th was a construction battalion. I was the Motor Officer in charge of all dump trucks, bulldozers, cranes, power shovels, graders, generators, etc.

I was then sent with 12 senior sergeants all of our construction equipment to Saipan where we landed on D Day. The equipment was unloaded and we were ready to start work when the rest of the battalion arrived several weeks later. The 806th Engineer Aviation battalion build roads, a fighter field, B-24 field and various other projects. Our main job was to build a B-29 field so U.S. bombers could begin bombing Japan as soon as possible.

In April 1945, the 806th landed on Ie Shima just across the channel from Okinawa, Japan. I. was very near Ernie, Pyle, the famous war correspondent when he was killed. Two days later the 806th was sent to Okinawa to begin construction of roads and an airfield. General Joseph Stilwell was sent to Okinawa to take command of the 10th Army in preparation for invading Japan. He loved to ride the bulldozers and often did so in spite of the objections of his staff.

Immediately after the fighting stopped in August 1945 it was learned that the Japanese diplomats who were going to Manilla to arrange peace terms with General MacArthur would change from a Japanese plane to an American plane on Ie Shima. Several thousands of us were at Ie Shima to witness this transfer. When the plane took off we realized that the war was finally over.

I came home in March 1946. The major awards that I received were the Asiatic - Pacific Ribbon with 2 battle starts, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Chinese Liberation Medal from the Chinese Government.

When I retired from the Army I had 40 years, nine months and 26 days of service which included 4 years active duty with 2 years of foreign service. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Charles Leroy Snearly, Jr.