05/25/2026
On this solemn and reflective Memorial Day, the Members of the Snyder Fire Department pause to honor and remember the United States Service Members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation, our Constitution, and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
Today, we also remember our brother, Firefighter John L. Burgoyne.
Firefighter Burgoyne served his country as a Coxswain in the U.S. Navy aboard the destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) during World War II. On March 1, 1942, during the Battle of South Java, the Edsall was intercepted by an overwhelming Japanese fleet. Vastly outnumbered, the destroyer skillfully maneuvered and evaded more than 1,400 rounds of enemy fireโearning the nickname โDancing Mouseโโbefore ultimately being disabled and sunk. Coxswain Burgoyne, along with nearly 200 U.S. Navy sailors and Army Air Corps personnel, was lost when the ship went down.
For more than eight decades, the wreck of the USS Edsall remained hidden beneath the oceanโs surface until its discovery by the Royal Australian Navy in late 2024. Resting nearly 18,000 feet below the sea, the destroyer now stands as a protected war grave and lasting testament to the courage and sacrifice of her crew.
Born on December 24, 1916, John L. Burgoyne joined the Snyder Hose Company as a Torchboy (Junior Firefighter) on October 3, 1932. He served as a Snyder Firefighter and was the son of longtime Snyder member Leo Burgoyne.
This Memorial Day, we remember not only Firefighter John Burgoyne, but all those who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
