William Paul Cohn, Jr

The database page for William Paul Cohn, Jr

30 May 2006 Bill Cohn was a special person, he had great sense of humor. He was gentle, laid back and kind, thoughtful and loving. He had just graduated from Wentworth Institute in Boston with a degree in engineering. He had applied for a position in a large firm in Boston. Ten days after graduation he recieved his draft notice. He joined the Army, much to his fathers dismay - his father was a Captain in the Navy. He was engaged and married before going to Vietnam. His wife and family did not want him to go as they feared for his safety in such a dangerous place. He had three siblings, Robert, Cathy and Rick with whom he was very close, he being the oldest. He and his father shared the same birthdate and temperment. Bill served in Vietnam from January 4, 1968 to go on R&R in Hawaii with his wife, Janice, of eight months. While there he told her that the whole experiance seemed unreal, like a movie or TV show similar to "Combat". He decided to go into the Army Black Berets Special Forces unit. He said he was hopefully safer in a small group of men in the jungle than a large group (easier to hide). He told of being in Cambodia when the Government said they had no forces there. Of search and distroy missions he was on and his experiences with his unit. He was killed on October 21, 1968 in a helicopter crash. It was hit after rescuing his unit on the ground. The copter was hit by enemy fire and crashed and burned. All 11 aboard were killed. Our lives changed that day forever. Our son, brother and husband was gone. All that remains is memories of his handsome face, wonderful smile and unforgetable personality. He will always remain in our hearts and minds, this wonderful man who gave everything for us all. From his wife, Janice M. Cohn Wells jmwmoonbeam@hotmail.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 21 Oct 1968 "A" Company, 1st Aviation Battalion, had a Huey shot down while carrying a part of a Long Range Recon Patrol from F Company, 52nd Infantry. Very little is known about the incident, which apparently involved either UH-1D tail number 66-01090 or UH-1D tail number 65-09849 and which took place in Tay Ninh Province. The ten men killed in the incident were Aircrew, A Company, 1st Avn Bn: 1LT Robert R. Wright, Hatboro, PA, pilot WO Richard W. Strong, Greenacres, WA, copilot SP5 Paul L. Cosgriff, West Chester, PA SP4 James P. Gulie, San Diego, CA F Company (LRRP), 52nd Infantry: SGT William P. Cohn, Old Mystic, CT SP4 Lester A. Doan, Butte, MT PFC Edwin E. Carson, Fairmont, MN PFC Gerard Coyle, Scranton, PA PFC Michael A. Randall, Warsaw, IN PFC Steven P. Sorick, Cypress, CA

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his wife, Janice M. Cohn Wells jmwmoonbeam@hotmail.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 30 May 2006
Last updated 06/10/2006