John Paul Bisset honorably served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1953. He began his military career with Boot Camp training in Newport, Rhode Island, and received his first duty assignment at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, where he served with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic (FAWTULANT). His second duty station was at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where he was assigned to Patrol Squadron 7 (VP-7).

Bisset was later deployed to Japan, stationed at Atsugi and Iwakuni. There, he became a member of Air Crew 8 and flew in the Lockheed P2V Neptune aircraft. His missions took him into the Korean Air Defense Zone (KADZ) during the Korean War, where he flew patrols along both the east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula. His duties included monitoring shipping lanes, identifying radar installations, and conducting surveillance over active combat zones. The aircraft were also equipped for anti-submarine warfare, providing critical intelligence and security.

For his service and dedication during several key missions in the KADZ, Bisset was awarded the Air Medal. Following the Korean War ceasefire, he continued flying reconnaissance missions above the 38th parallel to monitor and help enforce the armistice, ensuring it held — which it did.

After completing his service, Bisset returned to the United States and was honorably discharged. In civilian life, he remained active in veterans’ affairs and, in 1973, was elected head of the American Legion in New Hampshire, an organization representing 29,000 members.