was promoted to the rank of captain in July 1936 and attached to the staff of 2nd Marine Brigade under Colonel Emile P. Moses as Brigade's communications officer. World War II Snedeker later attended Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and graduated in December 1940 and meanwhile received promotion to the rank of major in September of that year. He was then appointed transport quartermaster aboard the attack transport ship USS Barnett for next six months. His next assignment ordered him to Marine Corps Base Quantico in June 1941, where was appointed Signal Officer of 1st Marine Division under Major General Philip H. Torrey. Snedeker participated with the division in the landing exercise in New River, North Carolina, and was responsible for the combat readiness of 1st Division signal troops. Following the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he sailed with the division's advanced echelon to New Zealand in May 1942 and subsequently took part in the amphibious landing at Tulagi at the beginning of August 1942. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel one month later and participated in the actions against Japanese garrison on Guadalcanal. On the night of 13 October 1942, salvos of gunfire from Japanese warships interrupted all wire circuits on the division switchboard, Lieutenant Colonel Snedeker, realizing that the security of the beachhead was threatened by the probability of a land attack, personally took charge of a wire repair crew. With utter disregard for his own safety, he fearlessly exposed himself during more than one hour of intensive naval bombardment in an effort to restore communications. For his actions during the night attack, he was decorated with the Silver Star for valor. Snedeker subsequently took part in the defense combat on Guadalcanal until December 1942, when 1st Marine division was withdrawn to Australia for rest and refit. For the later part of the campaign, he also received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V". While in Australia, Major General Alexander Vandegrift, commander of 1st Marine Division, was appointed commanding general of I Marine Amphibious Corps in July 1943. Vandegrift, who was aware of Snedeker's qualities as signal officer, appointed him corps signal officer. Snedeker was then ordered as an observer with army units during Battle of Vella Lavella in August and September 1943. He rejoined the I Marine Corps at the end of September 1943, but was reassigned as assistant