Biros Square
| Square Location | Orange and Curtis St. (click link for map) |
t Commander Edmund W. Biros, a native of 5 Orange Street, served in the US Navy as an aviator during World War II. He was born on November 1st, 1915 in Salem and attended the Phillips School, Salem High School, and the State Teachers College at Fitchburg. Lieutenant Commander Biros initially enlisted in the Navy Reserve on September 8th, 1936. He was later appointed an Aviation Cadet on November 3rd, 1936 and commissioned an officer in the Naval Reserve on December 1st, 1937. Edmund transferred many times during his career, first on November 28th, 1936 to Pensacola, Florida to begin his flight training. He then transferred February 1st, 1938 to the Fleet Air Detachment, Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia where he served on the USS Honolulu; on September 14th, 1939 to the USS Phoenix as part of the Cruiser Scouting Squadron; on January 4th, 1941 to Headquarters, First Naval District, Boston, Massachusetts where he flew in the scouting squadron from Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Washington D.C.; and on June 1st, 1942 to Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington, where he was ordered to fly with a scouting squadron that operated in the Atlantic Area. He took part in sinking a German U-boat on June 4th, 1943. He was again transferred on September 4th, 1943 to the USS Wasp, a ship operating in the Pacific Theatre.
Edmund was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on July 1st, 1943. Tragically, he was killed in action on July 8th, 1944 during an air attack in Guam. His awards include the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Commendation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War Two Victory Medal. He was the son of John and Anna (Jelin) Biros. His remains are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery Honolulu, Hawaii. The square was approved by the City Council on November 29th, 2001, which is located at the corner of Orange and Curtis Streets, dedicated in his honor.