 Charles (John) W. Cozort was born in Hammond,Oklahoma in 1916. He was raised along with 7 brothers who helped support the family, mostly with farm work. At age 18, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was assigned to Wyoming. His folks moved to California in '36, so he left the Corps, coming to work near San Jose, CA
A year later, he followed his brother who had gone to work in the lumber mill in Westwood, CA. Cozort initially waited tables in a mess hall that served 50-80 mill workers. In '37, Cozort was hired as a lumber straightener for Red River Lumber Co. He learned the skills for several jobs in the next five years and had been promoted to millwright in the dry kiln before going to join the war effort.
Inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Cozort joined the U.S. Navy in January of '42. Boot Camp in San Diego lasted only 3 weeks due to wartime conditions. Men were bused to S.F. and shipped out on a transport to Pearl Harbor. Cozort was assigned to the U.S.S. Ralph Talbot DD390, a destroyer which had survived the bombing. It was one of the first ships out of the channel. It escorted ships back to Mare Island where it was retrofitted with radar and more guns for war duty.
The Ralph Talbot was deployed to patrol the islands in the Pacific Theater. These included Guam, Midway, Australia and New Zealand. The destroyer chased enemy ships and escorted Allied ships transporting men and supplies. Fourteen battles were credited to the Talbot's record.. Cozort, who advanced through six ranks from Apprentice Seaman to Watertender 2nd Class, recalls the biggest skirmish in the Solomon Islands.
He was at his watch station when a shell hit close to the water line and his bunk. He later found his mattress embedded with shrapnel. He and the ship were lucky to survive. The bay in Guadal Canal was nicknamed Iron Bottom for all the ships entombed there on the ocean floor. After the Battle of Iwo Jima, Cozort returned to the states after serving exactly three years on the Ralph Talbot. He was in Philadelphia for schooling and to have his hearing checked when the armistice was signed.
Cozort was discharged and returned to his position as millwright at Fruit Grower's (Red River sold out during the war). A new wife accompanied him to Westwood. The marriage did not last, but Charles (Chuck) W. Cozort, Jr. was born. John went on to meet Rose Cobo, an elementary school teacher who was working in Chester. They dated for a year and married in 1949. Two children, Colette and Everett, came along after a few years. Rose adopted Chuck and he came to join his
mountain family full-time. When the mill closed in '56, Cozort accepted the position of millwright for the planing millat Collins Pine, Co. and the family moved to Chester.
Serving in WWII was really the seminal event in Cozort's life. It led to a lifetime of service commitments. He joined The American Legion immediately after discharge, adding VFW membership a year later. Rose was also interested in the veteran's programs and became an auxiliary member in both organizations. Work with veteran's organizations and the community became the primary social activity for Rose and John. They held offices of some sort, from district commander and president on down every year after joining.
Both were proud of their lifetime membership. Rose passed away in 2003, but at age 88, John is still active. He is the Sergeant at Arms for The American Legion Harry Doble Post 664 in Chester and also the District. Cozort also contributes to the Disabled American Veterans and Westwood VFW,and attends meetings for the Forty & Eight and Cooties, which are social organizations for The American Legion and VFW, respectively.
Cozort could be called the "Flag Man"of Chester. He was instrumental in getting the flag pole for the Chester Memorial Hall and kept it flying during daylight hours for nearly ten years before the light was installed to permit 24 hour display. Cozort is very involved with the big flags displayed around the cemetery drive on Memorial Day. For the Fourth of July Parade, he squeezes into his original Navy uniform and sells flags in front of the Fire Hall. One year, the Lion's Club honored him as the Grand Marshall for the parade.
Cozort likes to stay involved in the community in behind-the-scenes activities. He volunteers to help people with projects. He enjoys helping at the senior citizen nutrition sight, maintaining yards for his neighbors, and with church maintenance. For years after their retirement, John, Rose, and another neighbor, Eldon Lay, ran the Senior Bingo program in the community. Rose was active in various teacher service organizations and the Plumas County Commission on Aging. People in the community say that Rose and John could be counted on to help any time with anything they could.
In their retirement years, John and Rose also began attending Ralph Talbot ship reunions which were held in different places around the country. In March of '04, John enjoyed a month long tour of New Zealand with other Ralph Talbot fans.
John was the adjutant for the Harry Doble Post for 17 years. He gave up the position when Rose became ill. John and Rose both recruited veterans for the posts when they met people in activities around town. That's how Chuck was recruited to the Chester post. After Rose passed, Chuck and\ his wife Kathy joined John on a Ralph Talbot reunion in Daytona Beach. As John slows down a bit, he is still pleased to help with local projects. He is honored when people remember to call on his services.
If you see Cozort selling flags next 4th of July, throw in an extra donation for the vets and show that everyone can serve the United States of America in this way.
Wave the colors high to give John a thrill.
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