All six Snyr brothers of Belleville went off to war during the 1940s and ‘50s from the family homestead at 7014 Belleville Road, at the northwest corner of Ecorse Road.
Five brothers were in World War II at the same time and their little brother was drafted shortly after the Korean War.
The story of the family’s military service was put together by Leonard Snyr, and presented to the Belleville Area Museum earlier this year. He said longtime friend Emmy Keene urged him to record the story so it is not forgotten.
Leonard begins the tale with: “In August of 1941, just three months and 21 days prior to Pearl Harbor, the lives of Joseph and Helen Snyr changed drastically. The military draft was in full force and most of the six Snyr brothers were at their prime age.”
Over the next months and years, Edward, Walter, Matthew, Chester, and Henry were drafted.
In 1955, Leonard was the last Snyr brother to be drafted into the Army. Leonard remembers his mother’s words on the day he left: “My God, I have given five sons to the service and now they are taking my youngest.”
The parents were worried sick during the war years, not knowing if their boys were OK. Every evening their mother sat in her rocking chair and recited the Holy Rosary.
The family also had four daughters – Sophie, Jenny, Helen, and Lillian – who helped by writing letters and sending CARE packages to their brothers.
Blue stars hung in the window of the Snyr family home, one for each off serving their country. The blue stars never had to be exchanged for gold stars, which signified a fallen solider.
Three brothers saw active combat (Edward, Chester, and Matthew), with Matthew and Edward being wounded in battle. But all five returned from that war to find careers, marry, and raise families.
Matthew, Walter, and Edward lived to ripe old ages and have since passed on.
Remaining are Henry, 84; Chester, 87; and Leonard, 79.
Leonard and his wife of 50 years Priscilla have been involved in the ownership and operation of Devils Lake Golf Course in the Irish Hills for more than 40 years and continue with that work. Leonard and Priscilla live near Addison.
Chester resides in Clinton and Henry lives in Manitou Beach.
Leonard said another family in Belleville who sent multiple brothers to serve in World War II was the Suliman family, who sent four brothers to war.