East Palestine-

Arthur "Ack-Ack" Cozza, 94, a resident of New Waterford and of East Palestine where he resided the majority of his life, passed away April 10, 2021 at Covington Skilled Nursing.

Arthur was born September 22, 1926 in East Palestine, son of first-generation Italian immigrants, Fortunato (Fred) Cozza and Saveria (Sarah) (Bozzo) Cozza.

Art left High School at the beginning of his senior year to enlist in the US Marine Corps. He was in K Company, Third Battalion, 5 ^th Marine Regiment, First Marine Div., where he fought in WWII on the island of Okinawa.  One day, while in his tent cleaning his rifle, he looked up and saw a man walking towards him smiling, it was his older brother Frank, who was a member of the Marine Air Wing.  His division was later sent to Peking, China where he marched in review of Chiang Kai-shek. In 2008 he was invited to go on the Honor Flight. He was interviewed by HBO for the 2010 miniseries "The Pacific". Following the release of the Pacific, he was invited as a special guest to go to Washington DC on the Honor Flight once again. The second Honor Flight coincided with the premier of "The Pacific".

Ack-Ack was a devout catholic and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. He was also a life member of the East Palestine VFW and American Legion Combined Post and the Youngstown Marine Corp League and the Teamsters # 428.  Prior to retirement from Kaplan Trucking in 1989, he drove truck for various companies throughout his career. He was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns.

Art was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Frank Cozza and three sisters, Mary Mancini, Jean Orlando and Louise Rouggie.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marion "Midge" Maple Cozza, whom he married December 8, 1950. He is also survived by nine children, Richard, John and Dixie Cozza, Debbie (Charles) Murray, James Cozza, Randy (Lisa) Cozza, Vicki (Allen) Gorby, Robert and Dan Cozza, all of East Palestine as well as 20 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5-8 PM at the Linsley-Royal Funeral Home in East Palestine. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with military honors and interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

The family wishes memorial contributions to be made in Arthur's name to either the East Palestine EMT's PO Box 101 East Palestine, OH 44413 or East Palestine Social Concerns 375 E. Grant St. East Palestine, OH 44413

A special thank you to Fire Chief Joshua Brown and the EMT's, Dr. Blasko and Katie at the Wound Center as well as the Covington Skilled Nursing Facility for all the care that was shown to Arthur.