Frank Joseph Cohen

Frank Joseph Cohen’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Cohen, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Baslieux, France, September 5, 1918. On duty with an officer at an observation post far in advance of the Infantry line, he exposed himself to heavy machine-gun fire to obtain stretcher and bandages when the officer was hit by a machine-gun bullet. The officer's wound having proved fatal, Private Cohen, the following day, volunteered to go out and assist in bringing back the body, being constantly subjected to enemy fire.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 8 January 1898, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: Jewish American
  • Death: 25 February 1967 San Francisco, CA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [HQ]
  • Infantry Regiment: 107th FA
  • Division: 28th
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Frank Joseph Cohen was born on 8 January 1894 or 1898 to Minnie Wasbutsky (1877-1957) and Samuel Cohen, Russian immigrants, (1874-?) in Pittsburgh, Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Cohen was the second of five children; Katie (1897-1964), Anna (1899-1983), Morris (1901-1988) and Bessie (1905-?). Cohen’s early education is unknown; he and his family lived on Robert St. in Pittsburgh into the 1910s. At one time, he also listed his home address as 76 Anthem St.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Cohen enlisted in the U.S. Army on 12 or 18 September 1916 at Fort DuPont, Delaware- he was assigned as a Private to Troop H, 1st Cavalry, Pennsylvania National Guard until 2 November 1917. Cohen was promoted to Private First Class on 1 October 1917. PFC Cohen was then assigned to HQ & HQ Co., 107th Field Artillery until 12 November, when he was moved back to Troop H, 101st Cavalry to 3 December. Finally, he was placed with HQ & HQ Co., 107th Field Artillery, 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania National Guard) once it was mustered into federal service. PFC Cohen was with HQ and HQ Company when they leave Brooklyn, New York aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Saturnia on 18 May 1918.

PFC Cohen received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Baslieux, France on 5 September 1918;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Frank J. Cohen (ASN: 1249864), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 107th Field Artillery, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Baslieux, France, 5 September 1918. On duty with an officer at an observation post far in advance of the Infantry line, he exposed himself to heavy machine-gun fire to obtain stretcher and bandages when the officer was hit by a machine-gun bullet. The officer’s wound having proved fatal, Private Cohen, the following day, volunteered to go out and assist in bringing back the body, being constantly subjected to enemy fire.”

Cohen was promoted to Corporal on 10 April 1919; during the War, he participated in engagements in the Oise-Aisne, Ypres-Lys, and Meuse Argonne sectors.

Cpl Cohen returned to the United States on an unknown U.S. Army Transport Ship on 9 May 1919; he was Honorably Discharged at Camp Dix, New Jersey on 21 May.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Upon his discharge, Cohen lived with his parents and siblings on Miller St. in Pittsburgh. Before 1929, Cohen re-enlisted, and was assigned to HQ & HQ Co., 4th Infantry Regiment for service in Tientsin, China; in the 1930s, Co. H, 31st Infantry Regiment for service in Manila, Philippine Islands.

Pvt Cohen left Fort Slocum, New York on 13 November 1929 aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Cambrai for Tientsin, China. On 7 April 1933, Pvt Cohen left Chinwangtao, China aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S. Grant, arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii. Pvt Cohen remained assigned to the Hawaiian Department and Philippine Department into at least November 1933. He may have returned to the continental-U.S. briefly between assignments.

Throughout this period, Cohen is at the rank of Private. His tenure with each unit is unknown, as are his continuous enlistment and discharge dates; his last known enlistment date is 14 November 1933, discharge 27 April 1935. At some point, he is promoted to Sergeant.

From 1935 until 1950, very little is known of Cohen- where he lives, his occupation, or any related details. In 1950, Cohen is living at the Veterans Home of California (Yountville) in the Napa Valley region.

Cohen dies in San Francisco on 25 February 1967 due to an unknown cause; he is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. He never married and had no children.