Interviewed by:

Celena Bosetti and Sarah Morse

"... day of INFAMY, and that’s the one word that’s stayed in my mind, about Pearl Harbor."

~ William Cosker; 27:90

William Cosker's Story:

William Cosker, a young man from Hartford Connecticut, was born on the morning of June 24th, 1925. He was born into a family of two sisters and a brother that he was always close with. William attended school and managed to receive high grades until he reached his high school career. Once his grades began to slip, he began to think about his future.

At the age of 18 he was drafted into the armed services. He was stationed in Chicago, as a radio technician. William came to find that a radio technician just wasn't his calling. He flunked out. Shortly after failing, he was transferred to San Fransisco to become a mail man, stationed on a Navy destroyer that sailed all over the country during World War II. He also managed to get out of the country and sail to Treasure Island in the North China Sea. He was a mail man on the boats for the duration of the two years that he served.

Though he did not see any hand to hand combat, he was on the boats with the men, who did indeed see combat, so he was aware of the stories and seriousness of the war. After two years of being away from his family and loved ones, he returned to Hartford in the month of May, to a happy family.

William was reunited with all the things he loved. His family, home, friends, and his mother's home cooking. Now, William is living a happy life in Eastham, MA, on Cape Cod, with a wife, seven children, and several wonderful grandchildren by his side.