ASHLAND — When Jeff Snook was 14, an out-of-town visitor pulled him aside at a house party and showed him pictures of people that the man kept safely tucked in his wallet.
“None of these people would exist without your dad,” the visitor told Snook. “In Saipan, [Northern Mariana Islands,] he saved my life in a foxhole, and these are my kids and grandkids.”
The man was John Lewis, a World War II veteran from the Army National Guard, who fought on the front lines against the Empire of Japan alongside Snook’s father, William “Ed” Snook.
Jeff Snook never forgot that moment. In fact, it inspired him to one day write a book about his father’s experience during the four years he fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Ashland native and published author Snook did just that in his 16th book, “From Ohio to Okinawa,” which published on Veteran’s Day.
“I had access to the best source on World War II: my own father. He lived it, fought it and breathed it. He wasn’t a bystander; he believed in the cause,” Snook said.
In 2018, Ed passed away from leukemia at 99 years old in Ashland, but not before he sat down with his son to record over 70 hours of life stories, primarily from his time serving in the 27th Infantry Division overseas.
“We always heard stories of the war growing up,” Snook said.
So, he wanted to share his father’s stories to preserve the history of war veterans from “the greatest generation.”
“They sacrificed so much; 407,000 men never came home, and dad could’ve been part of that number. I wouldn’t exist, my kids wouldn’t exist,” Snook said.
What’s in the book?
Photo provided by Jeff Snook.
The 298-page book shares Snook family history, the father-son relationship, and of course Ed’s stories.
Ed was drafted in the fall of 1941, nearly two years after Hitler invaded Poland and just months before Pearl Harbor, according to the World War II Foundation timeline.
Chapters 4 through 11 recount Ed’s time overseas, which included his year-long station on the Island of Hawaii waiting for a Japanese invasion, his near-death experiences in the Battle of Saipan and Okinawa and returning home after the war ended.
When Japan surrendered in August of 1945, Ed had the opportunity to be part of a peacekeeping mission in Tokyo, Japan.
“He said, “no I’m ready to go home,” and it was the biggest regret of his life, because it was the only time he would’ve seen Japan [not during war]. He said ‘I was worried someone was still gonna take a shot at me,’” Snook said.
Ed was one of seven siblings, three of which served during the war. Ed’s sister Frances was an Army nurse. His brother George was a flight engineer in the 445th Bombardment.
There is a chapter dedicated to George. It includes his role in saving nine soldiers’ lives and his experience with actor Jimmy Stewart as his commanding officer. Snook considers this to be one of the best chapters in the book.
“It was the greatest generation, they won the war and conserved peace throughout the world,” Snook said. “Patriotism flowed like a river back then from coast to coast.”
Snook said there is a stigma surrounding veterans of wars not speaking about their experiences, but his dad would tell anyone who wanted to listen.
Snook said his only regret in writing the book was that he did not finish it sooner for his dad to read.
The book is available for purchase on Snook’s website and at Amazon.com. To buy this book via check, make it out for $24.95 paid to “From Ohio to Okinawa,” PO Box 3432, Lantana, Florida, 33465. Shipping is free.
AloJapan.com