Edward Weiss

Edward W. Weiss, age 95, of Millcreek, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at the VA Medical Center, Erie.

He was born in New York City on December 5, 1921, son of the late Louis and Elizabeth Whiddon Weiss. He graduated from Lawrence High School in New York City.

Ed served in the U.S. Army for 7 years, which included all of WWII attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served in the Pacific Theater and participated in combat operations in defense of the Philippines as a member of General MacArthur’s radio communications staff. Edward was a prisoner of War of the Japanese for 37 months in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia). His decorations and citations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Badge with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 4 Bronze Battle Stars and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge. Ed was presented with a certificate of recognition from the Prime Minister of Australia for contributing to the defense of Australia during World War II.

Edward retired after 32 years as a Supervisory Air Traffic Control Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, mainly at Erie International Airport.  Edward was a member and Elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Board Member of Presbyterian Homes for 25 years and was a former Co-Director of West Millcreek Food Pantry. He held life memberships in The American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Disabled American Veterans and Center for Internee Rights.

He was author and publisher of “Under the Rising Sun”, War, Captivity, and Survival, 1941-1945, a personal account as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese.