Frank Florian Liss was born the day before Christmas in 1916, in Peru, Illinois, to Frank and Anna (Budziak) Liss. He was the third son born to the couple. Frank Sr. worked as a machinist and ultimately a sheet metal worker at the cement mill. By 1930 when Frank Jr. was 14, the family was living in a home they purchased at 715 Fifth street in Peru.
Frank’s upbringing was possibly influenced by his maternal grandmother, Josephine Budziak, who lived just a few blocks away. His paternal grandmother, Josie Liss, also resided in the area living in 1930 in LaSalle with her daughter and son-in-law, Stella and Anton Kaczmarek, along with their children. Tragically, Frank’s maternal grandfather, Martin Liss, passed away when Frank was just 12 years old. His paternal grandfather, Martin Budziak, had sadly passed two years prior to Frank’s birth.
In early 1940, Frank was the only son remaining at home with his parents. He was employed by Westclox—a local clock factory while his father at age 49 was still working at the cement mill. Both he and his father reported making $1300 in 1939. Frank Jr.’s brother Chester had married and moved to Ottawa. And while Frank’s older brother William also married and moved out, William and his wife remained in Peru where he worked at the National Sheet and Metal Company.
Frank registered for the draft at age 23 on 16 October 1940. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 134 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. That same day many other local men registered including 20-year-old Albin Pocivasek, who Frank most likely knew. Albin lived within a couple blocks of Frank and worked with him at the clock company.
Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army on 28 March 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, and was assigned to the 13th Regiment of the 1st Armed Division. His regiment was thrust into the crucible of World War II, participating in the North African campaign, the liberation of Sicily, and the intense battles across Italy. The division’s journey through the war zones of Europe was arduous and fraught with danger. Tragically, Frank’s service ended abruptly on 1 July 1944, when an artillery shell struck him, causing severe injuries that led to his death later that day in a field hospital.
S SGT Frank Liss was laid to rest with honors at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Toscana, Italy, his grave a testament to his sacrifice. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW2 Victory Medal, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Back in Peru, Illinois, his family and community mourned his loss profoundly, with a military requiem mass at St. Valentine’s Church, officiated by his cousin, Rev. Valentine Liss.
The year of Frank’s death brought multiple losses to the Liss family, with the passing of both his paternal and maternal grandmothers. His neighbor, Albin Pocivasek, who enlisted in 1943, also fell in battle shortly after Frank, their shared fates binding their families in grief.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.
If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please email feedback@storiesbehindthestars.org.
- SBTSProject/Illinois/LaSalle
- SBTS Historian: Pam Broviak
You can also access this story at the following sites:
Fold3 Memorial: https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664257230/s-sg-frank-florian-liss-service-no-36014000/stories
Sources:
- 1920 U.S. Census, Frank Liss, Ancestry.
- 1930 U.S. Census, Frank Liss, Ancestry.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Frank Liss, Ancestry.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Chester Liss, Ancestry.
- 1940 U.S. Census, William Liss, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Frank Florian Liss, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” William Anton Liss, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Frank F. Liss, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954,” Frank F. Liss, Ancestry.
- “U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949,” Frank F. Liss, Ancestry.
- State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Standard Certificate of Death, No. 10077, Martin Liss, FamilySearch.
- “Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947,” Josephine Liss, Ancestry.
- “Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947,” Josephine Budziak, Ancestry.
- “1st Armored Division,” Combat Chronicles of
- U.S. Army Divisions in World War II.
- Unit History – US, 1st Armored Division, 1944-1945.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56364960/frank-francis-liss
