Paul L. Cosgriff was born on September 4, 1948. Although born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he had lived in the West Chester, Pennsylvania area most of his life, at 1515 E. Strasburg road.

Army Specialist 5 Cosgriff was a 1967 graduate of Bishop Shannahan High School, West Chester, where he played football for two years. Prior to entering the Army, he worked for Thomas Supplee in the grocery business, and for Warner Schmidt & Son contracting firm. He was a member of SS. Simon and Jude Church, Westtown, Pennsylvania. This hero was survived by his parents, Joseph B. and Veronica McGoldrick Cosgriff, and a brother Joseph B. III, also living at home in West Chester. 

Paul entered the Army in August, 1967. He received basic training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and helicopter training at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He went to Vietnam in April, 1968. While stationed at Phu Loi, South Korea, he was promoted to Specialist 5 in the U. S. Army in August, 1968. He served as crew chief for combat helicopters. This young soldier was previously awarded the Army Commendation Medal in June 1968 when he single-handedly put out a fire on board a helicopter. On October 21, 1968, Specialist 4 Cosgriff’s helicopter was downed by enemy fire. There were no other details of the incident or the nature of the action, except that the craft was on a combat operation when it crashed and burned. This young hero was only 20 years old when he was declared killed in action on October 21, 1968.

The body of Specialist 5 Cosgriff arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport on October 30. 1968 accompanied by Sgt. Andrew Rowbotham of the 6^th Army escort detachment of Oakland, California. On November 1, 1968, members of the West Chester Veterans Council under Commander Courtland Hammond of American Legion Post 134 formed an honor guard for the slain soldier that evening at the Lawrence J. Reilly Funeral Home in West Chester. The recitation of the rosary was by Father McNamara. A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated on November 2, 1968 at the SS. Simon and Jude Church in Westtown. The Rev. Donald P. McNamara was celebrant, with Rev. Joseph A. Cavanaugh as deacon and Rev. William Wright, sub deacon. Interment with military honors was in St. Agnes Cemetery. A detachment of soldiers from Valley Forge General Hospital under Major R. A. Johnson formed the firing squad and acted as casket bearers. Honorary bearers were James Jenkins Jr., Thomas Supplee, Fred Pettit Jt., John Plunket, Albert Miller, Salvadore Baldino, Thomas Cook, and David Lamb.