World War II Honoree

Wallace E. 'Pete' Snelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Grandfalls, Texas

Honored By

John C Burkhardt, SVC MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

WHILE ATTENDING THE TEXAS COLLEGE OF MINES IN EL PASO, TEXAS, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS. ACTIVE DUTY CAME IN APRIL 1943, FOLLOWING A CALL-UP FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NATION-WIDE. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO CAMP MAXEY, NEAR PARIS, TEXAS. HE WAS THEN SELECTED FOR INTENSIVE STUDY OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE, CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. UPON COMPLETION, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY B, 324TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION, CURRENTLY ON MANEUVERS IN LOUISIANA. HIS FINAL TRAINING BEFORE BEING SHIPPED OVERSEAS WAS TO CAMP PHILLIPS, NEAR SALINA, KANSAS, IN PREPARATION FOR DUTY IN THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN. SOON HIS UNIT WAS SENT TO NORMANDY, FRANCE AND INTO COMBAT WITH THE 7TH ARMY, FIGHTING IN NORTHERN FRANCE. ON NOVEMBER 14, 1944, HE WAS WOUNDED IN COMBAT AND HOSPITALIZED FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. WHEN HE RECOVERED FROM HIS WOUNDS, HE WAS RE-ASSIGNED TO THE 307TH COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CORPS. ONE OF HIS ASSIGNMENTS INVOLVED THE DISCOVERY AND RETENTION OF THE BLOODIED UNIFORM WORN BY ADOLF HITLER ON JULY 20, 1944, DURING THE ATTEMPTED ASSIGNATION BY A GERMAN MILITARY OFFICER WHO HAD PLACED A BOMB NEAR WHERE ADOLF HITLER HAD BEEN SITTING. HE SERVED IN BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS OF NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE; AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; BRONZE STAR; PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN FRANCE ON NOVEMBER 14, 1944, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.