World War II Honoree

Marcus Cohen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cordele, Georgia

Honored By

John C Burkhardt, AAG MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

Relationship

Patriot

HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AT AGE 28, WHILE LIVING IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. ON MARCH 17, 1942 HE ENTERED INTO DUTY AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. THE UNITS BEING FORMED WERE THE 82ND AND 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISIONS. HE WAS SENT TO COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION, 401ST INFANTRY. LATER REDESIGNATED AS THE 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. THEY WERE SENT TO FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA IN OCTOBER 1942 FOR UNIT TRAINING AND THEN 7 WEEKS OF MANEUVERS IN TENNESSEE. IN THE SEPTEMBER OF 1943 THEY WERE MOVED TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK. THERE THEY WERE TAKEN BY THE TROOPSHIP SS JOHN ERICKSON, ARRIVING IN READING, ENGLAND IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF EUROPE. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY INVASION ON D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944. AFTER 35 DAYS HE RETURNED TO ENGLAND AND PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION MARKET GARDEN GOING INTO EINDHOVEN ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1944. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MARMELON, FRANCE AND BASTOGNE, BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ON CHRISTMAS DAY THE GERMANS ATTACKED JUST BEFORE DAYLIGHT. EARLY IN THE FIGHTING HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE SHOULDER, THE BULLET KILLED HIS FOXHOLE MATE. AFTER HIS TRIP TO THE AID STATION, THE WAR WAS OVER FOR HIM. HE SPENT TIME IN AN EVACUATION HOSPITAL, AMERICAN HOSPITAL, PARIS, FRANCE AND THEN BACK TO AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND. ON MARCH 23, 1945 HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. ARRIVING ON THE QUEEN MARY. HE WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT MCPHERSON IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA AUGUST 1945.