Criss was born in Iowa to John and Kate (Heffner) Biery in September of 1899. He moved to South Dakota with his family in 1914. He married Grace Swink in 1930. He registered for the draft in WW1 and WW2. He was granted a purple heart for his service in the US Army.
Over 1 million Purple Hearts were awarded to U.S. military personnel during World War II.
The Purple Heart is the oldest active U.S. military decoration, originally established as the Badge of Military Merit by George Washington in 1782 and revived in 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur. During World War II, it was awarded to service members who were wounded or killed in action, recognizing their sacrifice and bravery in combat. It is a purple, heart-shaped medal featuring a bust of George Washington and the inscription "For Military Merit" on the reverse.
