Zero Ward

About the Book

A soldier’s courage brings him to his sweetheart. A wife’s love brings his story to life.

Zero Ward is the autobiographical account of Lt. Sneddon’s experiences in WWII, and contains his illustrations of the horrors he saw and lived through during his time as a POW.

Army Air Corps pilot Second Lt. Murray Sneddon was stationed in Manila on the Phillipines Islands when the Japanese bombed the airfields at Pearl Harbor, marking the beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II.

With no relief available, the Air Corps units became infantry troops, sent to Bataan to defend the Phillipine coast. As supplies, food, and ammunition were depleted, Japanese troops invaded the island of Luzon and took thousands of U.S. prisoners. Thus began the infamous Bataan Death March. Under inhumane conditions, U.S. prisoners were forced to march to prison camps, only to endure even greater atrocities.

In 1944, with American forces on their way, surviving prisoners were loaded in to "Hell Ships." On these unmarked ships, the conditions were even more deplorable than in the prison camps. Many were torpedoed by American submarines. More men died than lived.

Completed and published after his death from leukemia by his wife, Fiona, Zero Ward is an incredible story of captivity, escape, courage, faith, and ultimately, of love.

About the Author

Murray Sneddon was born in Canada, but lived in California from the age of 4. After attending UCLA and taking art classes, he decided that joining the Army Air Corps would be much more exciting.

After training, he was shipped to the Philippines where he worked as a reconnaissance pilot with the 2nd Observation Squadron flying single-engine Thomas Morris biplanes. Japanese bombs destroyed their airfield, so they were sent to Manilla and then to Bataan. There, the American forces were forced to surrender, and Sneddon became a POW. This began his 2 years of living hell; which began with the Bataan Death March, and ended more than 2 years later with a narrow escape from the sinking Shinyo Maru. He was finally rescued by the submarine Narwhal, and began his journey back home to his family and his sweetheart, Fiona, whom the thought of had given him the courage and strength to live through all of the atrocities he witnessed.

After his arrival back home in the States, he married Fiona, and was awarded a honorable discharge shortly afterward. He then returned to college at USC on the GI Bill where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. After working at several jobs, Murray returned to his first love, art, and earned another Bachelor's Degree from the Art Center School of Design. He worked for an architectural firm and later did freelance illustrations. He went back to school again and earned his teaching credential and taught junior high art for 19 years.

He continued his work in art and design, and became a public speaker. He and his wife had 3 children, daughters Laurie and Wendy and son Tom. He died of leukemia before this book was totally finished, leaving behind many friends and family members who will always remember his love for life and his courage.