Harold (Har) Marshall Snoddy

On Dec. 1, Wrangell lost our special brother-in-law, close friend, fishing buddy and military hero. As Har would have said, “It’s time to go.” At the age of 82, it was time to rest and join his loving wife, Carol, with the angels.

Born in Oregon to Betty May (Truxall) and Hubert Texas Snoddy, Harold Marshall attended the public school system while spending extensive time in the outdoors, hunting, which would have a major impact on coming home safe and sound later in life. In 1963, he moved to Wrangell to start a new life. He worked as a boom-man on the logging tug Chester, as a sorting foreman for the Wrangell Lumber Company, and finally as a gillnetter on his boat, the “Tern.” Regarding the last, Har and Carol truly enjoyed fishing and just spending quiet time on the boat, not really concerned with being a highliner!

Drafted into the military in 1968, he served as an Army paratrooper for 12 months with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). After coming home, and like many soldiers during that time, he kept quiet about the details of his Vietnam War action. In 1970, Wrangellites and Alaska residents became aware for the first time that due to his extraordinary heroism, Sgt. Snoddy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest award for bravery in battle. Only the Medal of Honor is the nation’s higher award.

During public receptions and ceremonies that followed in Wrangell and Juneau, attended by governors, military commanders and officers, American Legion officials, state legislators and others to honor him, they were informed of the details regarding Sgt. Snoddy’s actions near Tay Nihn, South Vietnam, on May 12, 1969, that resulted in his receiving the DSC medal.

“During an enemy rocket attack at a landing zone, Sgt. Snoddy eliminated a rocket position and subsequently took an enemy-held bunker, using that position to route hostile soldiers from a nearby fortification. Despite sustaining a fragmentation wound, he continued to advance and killed two of the Vietnamese before they reached the bunker. Fearing that the position contained injured American personnel, he refrained from employing grenades and single-handedly charged the bunker to silence the remainder of the enemy force. Inside the bunker, he discovered a wounded comrade whom he treated and evacuated to safety.”

After stating that it was the first time an Alaskan had received the Distinguished Service Cross, Gov. William Egan proclaimed March 2, 1971, as Harold M. Snoddy Day throughout Alaska. In addition to the DSC, Sgt. Snoddy also received two Commendations for Valor, two Air Medals and two Bronze Stars.

During his early years in Wrangell, Harold met and married Carol Dailey “Aquaati,” who passed in 2017.

For 60 years, he enjoyed the friendliness and quietness that Wrangell is known for — he was truly grateful for living here. He was an active member of the American Legion Merlin Elmer Palmer Post of Wrangell.

Those left to remember all the good times and, yes, the arguments with Har include his in-laws: Tis (Joel) Peterman, Christie (Bruce) Jamieson, Jackie (Ken Cesar) Dailey, Robert (Kathy Andresen) Dailey and Richard (Jane Rinehart) Dailey. First-generation nephews and nieces, which Har truly loved in his quiet way include: Celly Young, Mark Peterman, Marshall Peterman, Tasha Peterman, Nicole Feuerhelm, Cameron Jamieson, Kendri Cesar, Dacia Dailey, Larisa Lewis and Mackenzie Peterman. Also Ron Simmons, Michele Garlick, Fred Simmons, Kyle Simmons, Tara Dailey and Tammi Dailey. One must not forget his gillnetter friends and coffee klatch buddies, discussing the problems and solutions of the world — he enjoyed your friendship!

Harold is survived by children Rick Snoddy, Mary Ann Snoddy and Kevin Snoddy.

Those that predeceased Har include his wife, Carol Dailey Snoddy, father and mother in-law Marc and Mae Dailey, Paige Dailey Simmons, Dave Dailey, niece Leslie Simmons, his parents Betty and Hubert Snoddy and brother Jack Snoddy.

Harold, we are not going to say goodbye but look forward to meeting up