Howard John Snyder Jr. was born on August 6, 1915, in Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska. He was the son of Howard John Snyder Sr. and Minna E. Zuelow Snyder. He was married to Ruth Irene Hempel Snyder.

Captain Howard J. Snyder, a 29-year-old pilot, joined the 306th Bombardment Group on October 21, 1943, and named his B-17 “Susan Ruth” after his wife and daughter. On February 8, 1944, during a bombing mission over Frankfurt, the "Susan Ruth" was heavily attacked by German fighters and suffered severe damage. Despite the intense flak and the plane catching fire, Snyder put the plane on autopilot and ordered his crew to bail out.

Snyder parachuted to safety, narrowly escaping German gunfire and landing in a tree. He was rescued by local farmers and, after a period of hiding and evading capture, joined the French Maquis as a guerrilla fighter. He was liberated by the U.S. Army on September 2, 1944, and returned to London by October. Snyder later described the terrifying experience of the mission and his escape, noting the stark contrast between the chaos in the cockpit and the peace he felt after parachuting. His ability to remain calm under extreme pressure likely contributed to his survival. He died on April 25, 2007, and is now buried in the Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Garden, Sedona, Coconino County, Arizona, USA.

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