Chester Biggs, Jr.

On December 7, 2011, Chester Maxwell Biggs Jr. surpassed this physical world, following the angels of mercy to his heavenly home. One of God’s most near-perfect creations, he returned to his Father’s side, leaving behind a legacy of love to fill the hearts of all who knew him and enough memories to bless his family and friends for generations to come. Whether you knew him as Biggs, Chester, Dad, Daddy, Mr. Biggs, Mick, Papa or Papa-San, it is safe to say you were truly blessed just to have known him. When asked to describe such a man, his grand-daughter replied: “humble, modest and inspirational.” His relationship with God, strong and unwavering; his love for his family, deep and unconditional; his devotion to his country, unparalleled; his insatiable thirst for knowledge, never ending; he was a man whose very presence invoked a sense of peace in any situation. He was a Marine first and foremost, then with retirement from the Corps an Elementary School Teacher, an AV Director, a published Author and a regular Jack of all Trades. A truly valiant, yet modest man, he was known more for his kindness, than his success as a survivor of captivity and his later action on the battlefield. However, to know the man, you must have known his past: exactly 70 years prior to his passing, on December 7, 1941 Chester Maxwell Biggs Jr. was taken as Prisoner of War (POW) by the Japanese while serving on embassy duty in Peiping, China during WWII. He was repatriated on September 17, 1945 by President Harry S. Truman, who would later award him three Presidential Citations for his service during the Korean War (campaigns as follows: North Korean Aggression, Communist China Aggression, Inchon Landing, First UN Counter Offensive, Communist China Spring Offensive and UN Summer-Fall Offensive). While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from October 27, 1939 to April 30, 1959, he was awarded the following decorations and citations: Three Presidential Unit Citations, Five Marine Corps Good Conduct Awards, The American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Victory Medal WWII, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Two Korean Presidential Unit Citations, The Oklahoma Cross of Valor and China War Memorial Medal. Since 1995 he was extremely active in the SERE Program at Camp McCall, sharing his experience as a North China Marine POW with today’s Military. He is survived by: The light of his life and loving wife of 53 years, Betty May Biggs; One daughter, Greta & Ray Pierce of Matoaka, WV; Three sons, Walker & Emily Biggs of Castle Hayne, NC; Mickey Biggs of Lumberton, NC and Maxwell & Kimberly Biggs of Florence, SC; 12 grandchildren, Michael Mathis, Christopher Biggs, Katherine Biggs Bryant, Shanna Hardin, Kristina Biggs Davis, Melissa Mathis, Walker Biggs Jr., Brandi Biggs Britt, Lauren Biggs Gray, Donovan Biggs, Samantha Biggs, Steven Biggs; 17 great grandchildren, Courtney Mathis, Sydney Mathis, Jovan Biggs, Alice Lewis, Zachary Mathis, Andrew Biggs, Quinton Biggs, Norah Mishue, Nicholas Mathis, Alden Davis, Chloe Buckingham, Kaylei Biggs, Colton Britt, Hunter Bryant, Kiera Davis, Zackary Bryant and Audrina Biggs; One sister, Marjorie Greer, of Pilot Point, TX; One brother, Bobby Biggs, Oklahoma City, OK; Preceded in death by his oldest son, Thomas Mathis. Memberships and Associations: Marine Corps League Shawn Kinsley Det., Life Member VFW Post 10630 Hope Mills, Life Member Greater Fayetteville Chapter One American Ex-POW, Marine Corps Historical Foundation, China Marine Association. Visitation will be held at McNeill Mackie Funeral Home in St. Pauls, Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 4-6 pm. Church Services will be held at Bladen Union Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 2 pm. Interment Services will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the: St. Pauls Public Library, 223 W. Broad Street, St. Pauls, NC 28384. Arrangements by McNeill Mackie Funeral Home, St. Pauls.