John Finzer Presnell Jr. was born on November 2, 1914, in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. He was the son of John Finzer Presnell and Frances Farwell Presnell. He graduated salutatorian from Portland High School in 1932 and went on to Bowdoin College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in 1936. During his college years, he received several academic honors, including the Goodwin French Prize, Smyth Mathematical Prize, Brown Memorial, and Kling Scholarships, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also worked as an undergraduate assistant in Mathematics and Chemistry. After spending several years in the National Guard, Presnell received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point from Senator Hale in 1936. There, he distinguished himself both academically and militarily, graduating third in his class in 1940 and earning several prestigious honors, including the Sons of the American Revolution Cup, the General Pershing Sword, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial Sword for excellence in mathematics.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Presnell was sent to the Philippines in 1940 and assigned to the 14th Engineer Regiment (Philippine Scouts). Captured during the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, he endured the Bataan Death March and was imprisoned at Camp O'Donnell and later Cabanatuan. He spent nearly three years in captivity, one of the longest recorded durations among POWs.

Maj Presnell was among the prisoners transferred on the Hell Ship and survived the bombing of the Oryoku Maru, but he later died aboard the Brazil Maru on January 19, 1945, following extreme mistreatment and exposure. His body was thrown into the East China Sea two days before the ship reached Japan. His name is commemorated on the Courts of the Missing in the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA. He also has a cenotaph in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) William Paul Snyder, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Snyder distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Commanding Officer of the 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action against the enemy in 1967 and 1968. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Snyder, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com