World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Charles E. Cozby
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
HIS UNIT SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE TEXAS AND LOUISIANA MANEUVERS. MOVED TO FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS ON APRIL 22, 1942, AND PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942. TRANSFERRED TO CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA ON JANUARY 27, 1943. STAGED AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 26, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 3, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 700TH ORDNANCE LIGHT MAINTENANCE COMPANY, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. TRAINED AT ARZEW, ALGERIA IN PREPARATION FOR OPERATIONS IN SICILY. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, AND NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGNS. HIS DIVISION ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 10, 1943 AND SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1943. SERGEANT COZBY WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 15, 1943 WHILE HIS DIVISION WAS OPERATING IN THE CALORE RIVER BRIDGEHEAD, TITERNO CREEK, AND VOLTURNO RIVER AREAS IN ITALY. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICES, AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION IN ITALY.