Joseph J. Cozzone was born in 1922 to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Cozzone who lived at 225 Church Street in Downingtown Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of six children: Joseph, Andrew, Ernest, Robert, Anthony Jr. and Mary A. (now wife of Philip Masciantonio). The family later moved to 119 West Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown.

Click each picture to enlarge JV Basketball Team - top row, 2nd from left

Varsity Baseball Team - top row, 2nd from right

Varsity Football Team - 3rd row from top, 2nd from right

Student Council - top row, 4th from left

His mother passed away before he has eight years old.  His father, Anthony, worked as a

 shipping clerk in a box factory – probably Downingtown Manufacturing Company on Washington Ave and Green Street. Anthony’s parents emigrated from Italy.

Joseph attended Downingtown High School which was then located on Manor Ave (Rt. 322) across from where St. Joseph’s Church is today. He was on the Student Council was on both the varsity baseball and football teams, as well as junior varsity basketball. Joseph graduated with the Class of 1931.

After graduation, Joseph obtained employment as a machinist helper at Downingtown Manufacturing Company.

Joseph entered service in the Army Air Corps on August 1, 1942. After basic training, he completed training as an aircraft mechanic at the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command School at Gulfport Field, Mississippi.  Joseph then completed training at the Army Air Force Gunnery School at Kingman Arizona, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Joseph returned home on his only furlough in early July 1943.

He was shipped overseas in July 1943. Joseph was assigned to serve with the 329^th Bombardment Squadron, of the 93^rd Bombardment Group, (part of the Eighth Air Force, 2nd Bombardment Division, 20th Combat Bombardment Wing).

The 329^th was stationed at Hardwick Airfield in southern England (north of London, just south of Norwich).

Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Cozzone was Killed In Action on November 13, 1943 on a mission over Germany.

His Father received the telegram from the war Department on Friday November 26^th, informing them that their son was Missing In Action over Germany.  They still held hope that Joseph would be found alive.  His family and many friends had just received Christmas cards from Joseph, postmarked November 9^th.

In late May, his family received a letter from the War Department that Joseph was Killed In Action over Germany.

Joseph body was returned to his home country for final burial in November 1950.  Friends and family paid their respects at his parents’ home on Lancaster Avenue on Wednesday November 15^th.  A Solemn Requiem Mass was held at 10 a.m. at St Joseph’s Church; which was then located on the 100 block of Bradford Ave   Internment followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with full military honors rendered by local Veteran’s groups.

Joseph’s brother, Andrew served in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific.