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Cosner, Porter W., Pfc.
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Home Town Canaan Valley
Date of Passing Dec 17, 2002
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PRIVATE FIRST CLASS PORTER W. "PETE" COSNER WAS A FARMER BEFORE ENLISTING IN JULY OF 1941. HE SERVED AS A MEDIC (AMBULANCE DRIVER) WITH THE MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 130TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 33RD INFANTRY DIVISION FROM JULY 1941 TO NOVEMBER 1945 WHEN HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT CAMP ATTERBURY INDIANA.
Porter (Pete) W. Cosner, 86, of Thomas, died Dec, 17, at Garrett Memorial Hospital, Oakland.
He was born June 4, 1916 in Canaan Valley, a son of the late Commodore Porter and Eliza Jane Long Cosner, the first permanent settlers of Canaan Valley.
Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Juanita Eye Cosner; three daughters Ruth Ann (and Steven H.) Cooper of Dryfork, Nancy (and Adam R.) Hanshew of Wasilla, AK and Deborah Sharp of St. George, four grandchildren Stephanie Cooper, Steven H. Cooper Jr., Cynthia (and Mike) Street of Anchorage, AK, Dawn (and Kenny) Smith, and four great grandchildren, Jonathan and Kenneth Smith of Parsons, and Michael and Mason Street of Anchorage, AK.
Pete was the last surviving member of the Cosner family.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, nine sisters, a son-in-law John H. Sharp and a grandchild, John H. Sharp, Jr.
Mr. Cosner attended the Cosner school in Canaan Valley. He was a retired farmer and construction worker and he served with the US Army during World War II as a medic with the 130th infantry. He was a member of the NRA, and Mt. Top Hunt Club.
At the request of the deceased, his remains were cremated. Funeral services were held at Buena Chapel United Methodist Church, Canaan Valley, on Dec. 21 with the Rev. Kenneth Plaster officiating. Interment followed in Buena Cemetery.
Description (New Guinea Campaign 24 January 1943 to 31 December 1944) After the loss of Buna and Gona in New Guinea, the Japanese fell back on their stronghold at Lae. Their attempt to reinforce Lae by sea in March 1943 met with disaster when American and Australian planes sank most of the convoy in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Salamaua and Lae then became the objectives for an Allied advance along the northern coast of New Guinea. Fifth Air Force bombers attacked airfields at Wewak, 300 miles west of Lae, to neutralize them. The Allies dropped paratroops at Nadzab, just beyond Lae. Enemy resistance at Salamaua broke on 14 September 1943; Lae fell two days later. In the months that followed, MacArthur’s forces pushed westward, capturing some Japanese strongholds and bypassing others. After taking Hollandia in April 1944, the Allies attacked islands off the northern coast of New Guinea, taking Wakde and Biak in May, Owi in June, and Noemfoor in July. Sansapor on New Guinea also was gained in July. Aerial attacks on the Philippines began in August, and Morotai was seized in October to provide air bases for the invasion of the Philippines. Allied planes also bombed the oil center at Balikpapan and other targets in Borneo and Celebes.
