Who Saved Their Lives 55 Years Ago.
Alan Ace Cozzalio was born in Ashland, Oregon in 1946. For most of his life, Ace, as his family called him, was raised on the Cozzalio family ranch nestled along the scenic Klamath River in Hornbrook, CA, just seven miles from the Oregon border. Ace was a cowboy, riding horses from an early age โ a Western lifestyle he proudly lived his entire life.
Background:
On January 25, 1969, over ninety Soldiers of Charlie Company were engaged in a fierce battle
with a battalion of the North Vietnamese Army near the village of Phu My in the Mekong Delta
of South Vietnam. In the early moments of battle, Charlie Companyโs commander and four other
Infantry Soldiers are dead โ many others wounded. Pinned down for over two hours by a
fortified enemy machine gun bunker, the Soldiers cannot maneuver against their aggressors.
When the beleaguered Soldiers were running low on ammo, First Lieutenant Ace Cozzalio
arrived in a small scout helicopter to aggressively attack the bunker with machine guns blazing.
Then Cozzalio lands his helicopter on top of the bunker while his gunner tosses a hand grenade
in the bunkerโs rear entrance. The brave Lieutenant pulls in power, and his helicopter lifts into
the air as a massive explosion destroys the bunker and its enemy combatants โ the battle is over,
saving the lives of over ninety Infantry Soldiers.
2 Comments
I was in the same troop as Ace cozzilio 1968/69 in vietnam
1/25/69 was just another day for Ace in vietnam he was a hero many time over and over. He had no fear! He would give his life for our country any day and it’s a wonder he lived to come home from the war
I was a door gunner
He should be awarded The MEDAL OF HONOR. How much braver and personal sacrifice does it take. This man was a HERO and he earned it.