When John D. Biss of Wilton was captured by Japanese forces on Corregidor Island, Philippines and became a prisoner of war in 1941 during World War II, his siblings knew they couldn't sit home and do nothing. One by one, Stephen, Julia and Michael Biss enlisted in separate branches of the military.
"Realizing that only through victory over the enemy would John gain his
freedom," said U.S. Navy Veteran Gene Corsale. "The Biss family did not
want to wait for the government's call to military duty. Two brothers
and their sister all volunteered for military service, each in a
different branch of service."
In 2008, the last living Biss sibling, John, passed away at the age of 88, and all four of them were honored at the Saratoga County Deceased Veterans Ceremony Tuesday.
"This is an unbelievable story of service, honor and sacrifice," said Assemblyman James Tedisco during the ceremony. "This family represents everything that is good and great about veterans. Everything in the Constitution - our freedom - everything is because of them and what they did for our country."
John Biss was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippine Islands when his troop was overrun by Japanese forces. While the troop was forced to surrender, John and four of his comrades made an attempt to escape to Australia using a catamaran boat. This attempt proved to be fruitless and John would spend to remainder of the war as a prisoner of war.
Stephen Biss enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. Julia Biss enlisted in the Women's Army Corps and became a Staff Sergeant. She participated in pilot training but worked at The Pentagon and was involved in the early stages of data processing. Michael Biss left Saratoga Springs High School in his junior year to volunteer for service in the United States Navy and participated in the D-Day battle. While all four Biss siblings were involved in World War II, each one made a safe return home.
After his release, John Biss decided to make military service his career and retired as an Air Force Sergeant after 25 years of service. Following their military duties, Stephen Biss became a businessman, Julia Biss become involved with her church and Mike Biss returned to farming. Never having graduated from high school, Mike Biss was awarded a high school diploma from Saratoga Springs High School in 2001 after special legislation was passed that allowed WWII veterans who left school to support the war effort to receive a diploma.
"John, Stephen, Michael and Julia are members of the greatest generation of Americans who left a legacy of patriotism, determination and the will to defend the freedoms we cherish," Corsale said. "They were a special family - an All-American family."
Family of the Biss siblings received American flags in their honor, the New York State Senate Liberty Award and proclamations from Saratoga County. John Biss' flag will fly above the Saratoga County buildings for the next month in his honor.
The Saratoga County Deceased Veterans Ceremony generally takes place on the third Tuesday of each month as a way to remember local veterans and the services they provided during their military duty and for the rest of their lives.
According to Nathan Biss who accepted a flag in honor of his grandfather, Michael Biss, this ceremony meant much more than honoring his late grandfather, great uncles and great aunt. He said he learned a lot about his family and never knew that his uncle Stephen fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
"They didn't really talk about it. If it wasn't for ceremonies like this people would never know what they did for our country," he said. "It's important to honor the veterans and all they did. It seems like sometimes they are overlooked, but this shows that they were not forgotten."
In 2008, the last living Biss sibling, John, passed away at the age of 88, and all four of them were honored at the Saratoga County Deceased Veterans Ceremony Tuesday.
"This is an unbelievable story of service, honor and sacrifice," said Assemblyman James Tedisco during the ceremony. "This family represents everything that is good and great about veterans. Everything in the Constitution - our freedom - everything is because of them and what they did for our country."
John Biss was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippine Islands when his troop was overrun by Japanese forces. While the troop was forced to surrender, John and four of his comrades made an attempt to escape to Australia using a catamaran boat. This attempt proved to be fruitless and John would spend to remainder of the war as a prisoner of war.
Stephen Biss enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. Julia Biss enlisted in the Women's Army Corps and became a Staff Sergeant. She participated in pilot training but worked at The Pentagon and was involved in the early stages of data processing. Michael Biss left Saratoga Springs High School in his junior year to volunteer for service in the United States Navy and participated in the D-Day battle. While all four Biss siblings were involved in World War II, each one made a safe return home.
After his release, John Biss decided to make military service his career and retired as an Air Force Sergeant after 25 years of service. Following their military duties, Stephen Biss became a businessman, Julia Biss become involved with her church and Mike Biss returned to farming. Never having graduated from high school, Mike Biss was awarded a high school diploma from Saratoga Springs High School in 2001 after special legislation was passed that allowed WWII veterans who left school to support the war effort to receive a diploma.
"John, Stephen, Michael and Julia are members of the greatest generation of Americans who left a legacy of patriotism, determination and the will to defend the freedoms we cherish," Corsale said. "They were a special family - an All-American family."
Family of the Biss siblings received American flags in their honor, the New York State Senate Liberty Award and proclamations from Saratoga County. John Biss' flag will fly above the Saratoga County buildings for the next month in his honor.
The Saratoga County Deceased Veterans Ceremony generally takes place on the third Tuesday of each month as a way to remember local veterans and the services they provided during their military duty and for the rest of their lives.
According to Nathan Biss who accepted a flag in honor of his grandfather, Michael Biss, this ceremony meant much more than honoring his late grandfather, great uncles and great aunt. He said he learned a lot about his family and never knew that his uncle Stephen fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
"They didn't really talk about it. If it wasn't for ceremonies like this people would never know what they did for our country," he said. "It's important to honor the veterans and all they did. It seems like sometimes they are overlooked, but this shows that they were not forgotten."
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