LTCOL DOUGLAS L. SNEAD, USMC
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1953 Lucky Bag:
DOUGLAS LEE SNEAD
Loss
Douglas was lost on December 28, 1969 when the C-117 aircraft he was piloting crashed in South Vietnam. He was the commanding officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 13.
On 28 December 1969, the squadron’s C-117D crashed into the side of a mountain approximately 10 miles southwest of Chu Lai while checking out a piece of Chu Lai Air Base navigation equipment. The aircraft was piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas L. SNEAD, the squadron Commanding Officer and Captain Donald J. BERGER, the squadron Flight Officer. Sergeant William L. BUNCH was the crew chief and Corporal Ronald F. LISCUM of Marine Air Base Squadron-13 was the radio operator.
Other Information
From the March 1970 issue of Shipmate:
LCol. Douglas L. Snead, USMC, died 28 December in Quang Tin Province, Vietnam, as the result of an aircraft crash. Services were held in Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church of Newport News, Va., followed by interment in Peninsula Memorial Park, with military honors.
A native of Newport News, LCol. Snead attended Randolph Macon College and was graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1953. Upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and had instruction at Basic School and flight training. During his career, LCol. Snead was executive officer of Marine Air Base Squadron 24; aide-de-camp, CG Second Marine Air Wing, and comptroller, Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan. In 1965 he returned to the Academy for duty in the Naval Science Department and was subsequently executive assistant to the Dean. Stationed in Vietnam since July 1969, LCol. Snead was commanding officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 13, Marine Air Group 13, First Marine Air Wing at the time of his death. He held a Master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University.
Survivors include his widow Ann of 878 Cascade Dr., Newport News, Va. 23602; two children Douglas Jr. and Nancy; his parents Mr. and Mrs. John H. Snead of 19 Laurelwood Rd., Newport News; a brother; two sisters, and his maternal grandmother.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Douglas graduated from Newport High School in 1945 where he played trumpet in musical plays and performances. He attended Randolph Macon for 2.5 years and did one year at Hilder School in Washington. He served for one year in the Marine Air Corps and then was a member of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Douglas’ primary flight instructor was at Pensacola. He was Executive Officer of Marine Air Base Squadron 24 and comptroller of Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan. He was a jet pilot in Taiwan during the Formosan crisis in 1954-55.
In 1962 Douglas was an aide-de-camp to Lt. General Richard Mangrum, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Air Wing. He was an instructor at the Naval Academy and was Executive Assistant to the Academic Dean in 1967.
Since November 15, 1969, he was serving as commanding officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 13, Marine Air Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing, Vietnam. Prior to that, he was inspector for the 1st Marine Air Wing, Da Nang.
He received an M.B.A. degree from George Washington University.
His father, John Henry Snead “Jack,” was a railroad machinist. His mother was Iola, brother Jack, and sister Vivian.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
I enjoyed working for him at MCAS Beaufort SC in 68/69. Rest well, Marine GEORGE BLAKE, SSGT, USMC, 8/16/14
Photographs
Legion of Merit
His widow, Ann, accepted the Legion of Merit and Air Medal on Douglas’ behalf. (Information from September-October 1970 issue of Shipmate.)
Memorials
Doug is among those names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. As his loss was not due directly to hostile action, though, he does not appear in the Vietnam War section of the Killed In Action panel in Memorial Hall.
Douglas is one of 62 members of the Class of 1953 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
