25
AUG
2012

Ex-POW’s Thankful Heart

Comments : 23



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87-year-old Leonard Cozby of Tulare, CA appears on episode #227 of Hometown Heroes, debuting August 25, 2012. Cozby was captured while serving with the 80th Infantry Division in Europe, and was held in Stalag IV-B.

87-year-old Leonard Cozby on the day of our interview.


Letter sent home by Leonard Cozby from Stalag IV-B

  1. Sarah Reply

    I had the privilege of meeting Leonard Cozby today while shopping. I will forever be thankful for all of our men and women who serve and have served our great country. Thank you again Leonard! Hopefully I’ll see you again!!!!

  2. Sandra Hughan Reply

    I met Mr Cozby today at Tractor supply. It was an honor to meet you, sir. THANK YOU for your service. I listened to the entire interview.

  3. Jack Hefflefinger Reply

    I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Cozby way back in the 60″s working as a newspaper boy. One thing that I remembered about Mr. Cozby was the kindness and respect that he always showed to me and others. I did not know anything about his military service and becoming a POW until recently. Thank you for serving our country and sharing your story.

  4. Melissa A. Janes Reply

    Outstanding! I was blessed to meet Mr.Cozby in the parking lot at Lowe’s yesterday. So appreciated this amazing story about his part in World Word II history. Thank you for honoring him for his patrotic service to our country. I recently toured Luxembourg. They are forever grateful for the USA’s participation in their freedom from the Germans.

  5. Rita Tutino Reply

    Today while shopping at Target i met Mr Cozby. What a wonderful man he is. He gave me a slip of paper to read about his story in world war ll. .. He had a smile that could light up a room . Thanked him and shook his hand. But then I gave him a hug , he said thank you , just made my day . God bless our veterans .

  6. Nora Zamora Reply

    Thank you for your service, I had the pleasure of meeting you..you are one most memorable person I’ve meet in many very long time..thank you once again

  7. Brenda Myers Reply

    I met Leonard and his son Kevin while putting valentine “snax” on the shelf at Apple Annie’s. I loved chatting with both of them and especially Leonard. I went home to look up his story. It was an honor to meet you..thank you!

  8. Berenice Pintado-Bueno Reply

    I met Leonard in the Panda Express, is a very sweet and kind person with a nostalgic look, brave and proud at the same time. <3 #HONORTOMEETYOU I hopefully see you again.

  9. Nicole Serrato Reply

    My daughter and I met Mr. Cozby today at Starbucks and Im so thankful that we did decide to stop in for for that random frappuccino or I may never have met this courageous man nor heard his story. Mr Cozby Thank you again for your service sir, it was truly an honor and privilege to have met you today. God bless!

  10. Kari Gilbert Reply

    I met Leonard today at the bank. He is a joy to talk with. I feel privileged to have met him. He also gave me a piece of paper to use to hear about his story. Such a nice man and he is so proud to be an American as am I. ❤️ God Bless America and thank you to all of the men and women who have and are serving our country. Thank you Paul Loeffler for taking time to capture these veteran’s stories. Such a nice thing to do.

  11. Howard McMullen Reply

    I met Leonard at the Red Lobster on Aug 24th. I had my Navy Retired hat on and he came over to thank me for my service and he was wearing a WW2 hat and of course I thanked him for his service. We talked about his service and he told me he was a former POW held by the Germans until the end of WW2. He gave me this slip of paper with instructions on how to get the interview by Paul Loeffler on the computer. I listened to the complete interview and enjoyed it very much. Your a hero Leonard and again this “Old Sailor” says thank you and your family for there service to our country.

  12. Melissa Lane Reply

    I met Mr. Cozby last week in Target, I’m so glad he stopped me and told me to smile. I thanked him for his service and shared this website with friends on Facebook.

  13. Wesslen Orthodontics Girls Reply

    We just met Mr. Cozby today at Wendys. He greeted my co-workers and I with a great big smile! He is the sweetest thing! Thank you for serving our country!

  14. chris perez Reply

    I had the privilege of meeting this man yesterday in the Apple Annies parking lot in Tulare,CA. It was an honor to shake his hand.

  15. Ronald B Culbertson Reply

    I met Mr Cozby as he and his son were leaving a building as I was waiting to enter. As I waited for them pass by Mr Cozby introduced himself and handed me a slip of paper and explained what the paper was about and how it was a podcast of his experiences during WWII. I thanked him for his service and shook his hand. He introduced his son. I could tell by his eyes he was proud of his son and his son was just as proud of his dad. I did listen to his story and it was my good fortune to have met him and hear his story. Good men like Mr Cozby is why we have our freedom today.

  16. Nayely Rodríguez Reply

    He is so nice… My brother and I met him at Staples and just pass next to him and he told me can you smile and I instantly smile and then he handle me the little paper to listen his histoy of serving in the WW2… It was an honor meeting him💓

  17. Jim Hazlett Reply

    My granddaughter and I met Mr. Cozby today at Rite Aid . What a nice man !
    My wife and I try and thank all the veteran’s that we see. I told him my dad was a WWII veteran also and he gave me a slip of paper to go to this sight . He reminded me so much of my dad ,both proud American’s !!! I hope I meet him again sometime !

  18. JORGE HERNANDEZ Reply

    I met Mr. Cozby Jun 30,2020. I must say it was an honor to meet a man that has been through so much. Thank you Mr. Cozby for your service. I am listening to your story as I write this.

    • Amber H. Reply

      I ran into Mr. Cozby while out and about in Visalia. He was so sweet and I love hearing war stories, so of course I had to give this a listen! I’m glad I ran into him. Thank you Mr. Cozby for your service!

  19. Angelina Reece Reply

    I met Mr.Cozby at rite aid in Tulare with my son. We were both honored to meet such an amazing man and beyond thankful for his service. And we’re so moved by his interview we plan to continue to share his story.

  20. Erica Del Val Reply

    I met Mr.Cozby in downtown Visalia last night and he gave me the information on his interview with Paul Loeffler. It was great to listen to his story. My father was also 19 years old when he served in the army and unfortunately he was never really able to tell us much about his service. He is now passed and listening to Leonard’s story reminds me of what a great generation and how thankful I am for the freedom we have today.

  21. Merideth D Moreno Reply

    I met this kind man earlier this year at Smart & Final, where he was shopping with his son. What an outstanding human being! I was instantly drawn to him and appreciated his stories! Thank you Mr. Cozby and all who served our country!

  22. Norma Rosas Reply

    I met Mr. Cozby today and he made me tear up. I am truly thankful for all of our veterans. As I thanked him for his service he told me “For people like you it was worth it.” Such a blessing to have met him. Thank you for sharing your story.

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