Senator Christopher J. Ryan is proud to announce North Syracuse resident John Shott as his 2026 New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame honoree. The annual recognition honors veterans from across New York State whose military service and commitment to their communities exemplify courage, sacrifice, and dedication to the nation.

“John Shott represents the very best of the Greatest Generation,” said Senator Ryan. “From volunteering to take his younger brother’s place in the draft, to surviving unimaginable hardship as a prisoner of war during World War II, his story is one of extraordinary bravery, resilience, and selflessness. John’s service to our country and his continued presence in our community serve as an inspiration to all of us. It is an honor to recognize him as our 2026 Veterans Hall of Fame inductee.”

Shott served as a radioman and gunner for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After completing basic training in North Carolina and studying at Lynchburg College in Virginia, he was deployed to the Pacific Theater as part of a B-25 bomber crew. During the war, Shott flew 12 successful combat missions against the Japanese military in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

On May 17, 1945, Shott’s aircraft was shot down near present-day Taipei by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. The other four members of his crew were killed, leaving Shott alone behind enemy lines. After surviving for three days in the jungle, he was captured and transported to a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines, where he endured four months of brutal conditions, including beatings, solitary confinement, and malnutrition.

Following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, Shott was liberated and transported back to the United States for medical treatment before being honorably discharged from the Army. After the war, he fulfilled a promise to visit the wife of his fallen comrade, William J. Kozak. Shott later married Helen Kozak, and the couple shared a life together until her passing in 2000.

Shott and his family eventually settled in Syracuse, where he worked for American Airlines until retiring in 1983. At nearly 104 years old, Shott remains an active and respected member of the community, frequently participating in the North Syracuse Memorial Day Parade and gathering with fellow veterans at the local VFW Post. 

The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony took place on May 26, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in Albany.