World War II Honoree

Frank Cohn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Alexandria, Virginia

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

HIS JEWISH FAMILY ESCAPED FROM GERMANY IN THE LATE 1930S. HE WAS DRAFTED INTO AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR ENTRY-LEVEL ‘BASIC TRAINING’ AND THEN FOR ADVANCED MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) QUALIFICATION. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH THE 12TH ARMY GROUP. THE ARMY GROUP WAS SUBORDINATE TO AN ARMY. THE ARMY GROUP WAS A COMMAND, CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF FORMING UP DIFFERENT ECHELONS INTO BALANCED COMBINATIONS OF COMBAT POWER. THE ARMY GROUP CONSISTED OF FORCES (E.G. CORPS, DIVISIONS) THAT MIGHT BE ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED FOR THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION. IT WAS NOT A COMBAT "FIGHTING" HEADQUARTERS BUT USED PRIMARILY AS A PLANNING AGENCY. HE SERVED IN THE INTELLIGENCE FIELD. THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS HIS FIRST COMBAT EXPERIENCE. HE THOUGHT OF IT AS FRIGHTENING IN THE BEGINNING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE ENTERED SERVICE TO SHOW HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HIS NEW NATION PROVIDED HIM AND HIS FAMILY, AND TO DEMONSTRATE HIS PERSONAL ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR, WAS COMMISSIONED, AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED, AND RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.