The idea for veteran journalist's Rita Cosby's poignant new memoir about her war hero father began with the discovery of a dusty old suitcase full of forgotten treasures.
"I did this book as a tribute to my dad and to so many heroes,'' Cosby told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
"I had discovered this old suitcase with mementos in it and found I had someone who was a real hero in my own family.
"Not only did I feel like I wanted to share the story about my dad, I wanted to share the story of how lucky we are as Americans.''
Cosby's book,
"Quiet Hero: Secrets from my Father's Past,'' published by Threshold Editions, tells the story of Richard Cosby, who joined the Resistance movement in Poland as a teen, was captured and sent to a German POW camp, then launched a daring escape plan.
"My dad was 90 pounds and 6 feet tall when he escaped from POW camp, one of the more healthy guys. He had to walk 15 miles,'' Cosby said.
"My dad came to a riverbed, and there were American GIs on the other side, my dad on the other, and my dad couldn't even speak English. They said, 'Your nightmare's over, you're free.'''
Cosby, a special correspondent for the CBS show "Inside Edition,'' said a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to American troops and their families.
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