Original Items: Only One Group Available. The United States Navy grew rapidly during World War II from 1941–45, and played a central role in the war against Japan. It also assisted the British Royal Navy in the naval war against Germany and Italy. The U.S. Navy grew slowly in the years prior to World War II, due in part to international limitations on naval construction in the 1920s. Battleship production restarted in 1937, commencing with the USS North Carolina (BB-55). The navy was able to add to its fleets during the early years of the war while the US was still neutral, increasing production of vessels both large and small, deploying a navy of nearly 350 major combatant ships by December 1941 and having an equal number under construction.

This United States Navy uniform and picture grouping is all very nice and clearly marked “QM1c C. Bruce Snyder” on everything but his picture. From what we could find about C.B. Snyder is his service number, 600-26-16, and a few muster dates where he appears on 2 different ships from 1942-1944.  Snyder enlisted in the Navy on April 24, 1942 and is seen to have served aboard the USS Chenango in September 1942, the same month the ship was converted. The Chenango was assigned to the Naval Transportation Service, Chenango steamed in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Pacific as far as Honolulu on tanker duty. Chenango was present at Aruba, N.W.I. on 16 February 1942 when a German submarine shelled one of the island's refineries. She was decommissioned at Brooklyn Navy Yard on 16 March for conversion to an escort carrier. Her conversion complete, she was recommissioned as ACV-28 on 19 September 1942. Carrying 77 P-40 Warhawks of the 33rd Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces, Chenango sailed on 23 October with the Torch assault force bound for North Africa, and on 10 November, flew off her aircraft to newly won Port Lyautey, French Morocco. She put into Casablanca on 13 November to refuel 21 destroyers before returning to Norfolk, Virginia, on 30 November, battling through a hurricane en route which caused extensive damage.

From the looks of it, Snyder served aboard the USS Chenango until mustering on the USS Sarasota in 1944. The Sarasota played a major role during the War in the Pacific during WWII. The Sarasota was apart of the following invasions: Luzon, Okinawa and Le Shima.

This grouping consists of the following:
- M1 Helmet: The helmet is complete with a Front Seam, Fixed Bale McCord shell, heat stamp 271C indicating production in September of 1942. The liner is the correct “high pressure” liner manufactured by Westinghouse. The helmet is in great condition with both chinstraps, the leather shows signs of honest wear but is undamaged on both the sweatband and liner chinstrap. The front of both the shell and liner have “Snyder QM1/c” painted in white.

- Dress Blue Uniform: The uniform consists of a blouse, trousers, white cap and white belt with black buckle. The blouse and trousers both have “C. Bruce Snyder” hand stitched in orange thread on the inside and done very beautifully. There are ribbons present on the left hand side: Navy Good Conduct - Philippine Liberation Medal W/ Star American Campaign - EAME W/ Star - Asiatic Pacific W/ 2 Bronze Stars and 1 Gold Star. The 5 ribbons are a little worn and faded but are still easily discernible. The right hand side has the USN WWII “Ruptured Duck” Honorable Service patch. The left sleeve has a Quartermaster 1st Class patch which appears to be hand sewn on in a “cross stitch” type pattern. All stitching is still present and tight

- The “dixie cup” sailors cover is still white but does have minor staining on the outside and sweat stains are present on the inside, showing signs of definite wear. His name is not on the cover but the size stamp is still present. The size is a 7.

- USN Seabag: The seabag is a regular federal issue heavy white canvas bad and is complete with all brass eyelets and closure rope. As with everything white being used in the Military, especially the Navy during WWII, there is the expected staining to the material. The “USN” is no longer visible, but “ C. Bruce Snyder Qm1/c” is written on the outside twice.

- Official Navy Portrait: The portrait features who we believe to be Snyder wearing his blues and blue cap. We do not know for certain that it is Snyder, but this photograph was with the grouping. 10” x 8”

This is a very beautiful and named grouping belonging to a Sailor who was present for the liberation of the Philippines, the Invasion of Okinawa and survived Kamikaze attacks while on the Sarasota and was present for Ernie Pyle’s death.

Comes ready to display in your WWII United States Navy collections!

Measurements:
Collar to Shoulder: 9”
Shoulder to Sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to Shoulder: 15”
Chest Width: 16”
Waist Width: 15”
Hip Width: 18”
Front Length: 22”
Inseam: 30”
Waist: 32”

USS Chenango
Her conversion complete, she was recommissioned as ACV-28 on 19 September 1942. Carrying 77 P-40 Warhawks of the 33rd Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces, Chenango sailed on 23 October with the Torch assault force bound for North Africa, and on 10 November, flew off her aircraft to newly won Port Lyautey, French Morocco. She put into Casablanca on 13 November to refuel 21 destroyers before returning to Norfolk, Virginia, on 30 November, battling through a hurricane en route which caused extensive damage.

Quickly repaired, Chenango was underway for the Pacific by mid-December, possibly alongside USS Taylor as part of Task Force 13. Arriving at Nouméa on 18 January 1943, she joined the escort carrier group providing air cover for supply convoys supporting the invasion and occupation of the Solomon Islands. One of her air groups was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal to give close support to U.S. Marine Corps forces ashore. One of Chenango's duties during this period was to stand sentry off the fiercely contested island. As part of her Solomons operations, Chenango's planes formed an air umbrella to escort to safety St. Louis and Honolulu after the cruisers were damaged in the Battle of Kolombangara on 13 July. Redesignated CVE-28 on 15 July, Chenango returned to Mare Island on 18 August for an overhaul, then acted as training carrier for new air groups until 19 October. She steamed from San Diego to join the Gilbert Islands invasion force at Espiritu Santo on 5 November. During the invasion of Tarawa from 20 November-8 December, her planes covered the advance of the attack force, bombed and strafed beaches ahead of the invading troops, and protected off-shore convoys. On 29 November 1943, at 21:57, her Avenger TBFs (Air Group 35) found and sank a Japanese submarine, probably I-21. She returned to San Diego for another period of training duty.

Steaming from San Diego on 13 January 1944, Chenango supported the invasion landings on Roi, Kwajalein, and Eniwetok in the Marshalls operation. After protecting the service group refueling fleet units engaged in the Palau strikes, Chenango arrived at Espiritu Santo on 7 April. She sortied for the landings at Aitape and Hollandia (now Jayapura) (16 April–12 May), then joined Task Group 53.7 (TG 53.7) for the invasion of the Marianas. Her planes crippled airfield installations, sank enemy shipping, and hammered harbor facilities on Pagan Island, as well as conducting valuable photographic reconnaissance of Guam. From 8 July, she joined in daily poundings of Guam, preparing for the island's invasion. She returned to Manus on 13 August to replenish and conduct training.

From 10–29 September, Chenango joined in the neutralization of enemy airfields in the Halmaheras in support of the invasion of Morotai, stepping-stone to the Philippines. After preparations at Manus, Chenango cleared on 12 October to conduct softening up strikes on Leyte in preparation for the invasion landings on 20 October. Chenango and her sister ship Sangamon were attacked by three Japanese planes on the afternoon of D-Day, and shot down all three, capturing one of the pilots. Sailing to Morotai to load new aircraft, Chenango was not in action waters during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but returned on 28 October to provide replacement aircraft to her victorious sister escort carriers, who had held the Japanese fleet off from Leyte. The next day, she sailed for overhaul at Seattle, Washington until 9 February 1945.

After the overhaul period, she again sailed west, arriving at Tulagi in the Solomons on 4 March. Chenango conducted training, then sortied from Ulithi on 27 March for the invasion of Okinawa. She gave air cover in the feint landings on the southern tip of the island, then was assigned to neutralize the kamikaze bases in Sakashima Gunto. On 9 April, a crash-landing fighter started a raging fire among the strike-loaded aircraft on Chenango's deck. Skillful work by her crew saved the ship from serious damage and she remained in action off Okinawa until 11 June. After escorting a tanker convoy to San Pedro Bay, Chenango sailed on 26 July to join the logistics force for the 3rd Fleet, then engaged in the final offensive against Japan.

USS Sarasota
Following shakedown, Sarasota embarked Naval Construction Battalion units and departed California on 21 October. On 9 November, she arrived in Seeadler Harbor, Manus.

Explosion of Mount Hood
The next day, ammunition ship USS Mount Hood carrying approximately 3,800 long tons (3,900 t) of ordnance material, exploded, causing damage to ships and men within 2,000 yd (1.8 km; 6,000 ft). Immediately afterward, Sarasota's small boats carried first aid parties to stricken ships and craft, and her sick bay took in more seriously wounded personnel for emergency treatment.

Invasion of Luzon
Two days later, the APA steamed to Hollandia and during the next week, transported troops and equipment to Biak, Mios Woendi, and Milne Bay, then returned to Manus. On 27 November, she sailed again, and after calling at Finschhafen, put into Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, to load units of the 2d Battalion, 129th Regimental Combat Team, 37th Infantry Division. Landing exercises at Lae followed; and, on 21 December, she returned to Manus to stage for the invasion of Luzon.

As flagship of Transport Division 8, Sarasota got underway with TU 79.3.3 on 31 December. On 8 January 1945, having survived Japanese kamikaze attacks, she approached her destination. On 9 January, she rode in Lingayen Gulf as her boats took the troops into "Crimson Beach" near the town of Lingayen.

After the landings, Sarasota steamed to Leyte, transferred casualties she had received from the beaches of Lingayen Gulf; and, on 21 January, loaded troops of the 34th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division, in preparation for Operation Mike VII, the landing in Zambales Province, Luzon.

On 26 January, Sarasota again sailed north. Three days later, she landed the assault troops on "Blue Beach", west of San Antonio, then departed the area.

Invasion of Okinawa
Returning to Leyte, she remained through February. In March, she embarked men and equipment of the 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, 96th Infantry Division; conducted training operations, and, on the 27th steamed from Philippine waters.
On 1 April, she stood off the Hagushi beaches of Okinawa as her LCMs and DUKWs (popularly pronounced "duck") landed the troops on the "White Beaches". Their equipment followed and, by 4 April, Sarasota had completed offloading. She then shifted to Kerama Retto, assisted in offloading the damaged attack transport USS Henrico and prepared for the assault on Ie Shima.

Invasion of Ie Shima
(Iejima (伊江島) is an island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, lying a few kilometers off the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa Honto.) On the 16th, she landed units of the 305th Regimental Combat Team on that island off the Motobu Peninsula. Manny Espinoza, Seaman, of Sarasota was wounded on the Beach, and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. US journalist Ernie Pyle died there. There is a monument dedicated to his memory on the southern part of the island. Every year on the weekend closest to his death, 18 April, there is a memorial service.

Return to US West Coast
Three days later, she returned to the Hagushi anchorage and, on 22 April, departed the Ryūkyūs for the Marianas.

At the end of April, Sarasota disembarked Okinawa casualties at Saipan. On 2 May, she sailed for the Solomons, whence she carried general cargo, Marines, Army hospitalmen, and Navy passengers to Guam. From there, she transported casualties to Pearl Harbor; then continued on to San Francisco.

Return to Okinawa
After availability at Seattle, she embarked Army troops and, on 18 July, again headed for Okinawa. She arrived in the Hagushi anchorage on 12 August and began disembarking her reinforcement troops and, offloading her cargo. Three days later, hostilities ceased.

Operation "Magic Carpet"
On 29 August, the APA shifted to Naha to load her first contingent of occupation troops, units of the XIV Corps. On 8 September, she disembarked those troops at Jinsen, Korea. On 14 September, she returned to Okinawa, whence on 1 October, she delivered marines to Chinwangtao. Following offloading, she assumed station ship duties in the Tientsin-Taku area; and, at the end of November, she was reassigned to transport duties, this time with Operation Magic Carpet to carry servicemen back to the United States.

Sailing to Sasebo in early December, she embarked units of the 5th Marine Division and got underway for San Diego, arriving on 24 December. Between 9 January and 19 February 1946, she completed a second "Magic Carpet" run; then prepared for inactivation.