Sidney Cohen was born on January 27, 1931, to Louis and Sara Cohen. His home of record is Camden, NJ. He had one brother, Robert, and two sisters, Pearl and Sissy. His special interests were baseball, bowling, cooking and gambling. He and his wife, Ruby Mae, had two children, Ricky and Sherry.
Cohen enlisted in the US Army in 1949. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT). As a career soldier, he served around the world, including stints in the United Kingdom and Hawaii, before going to Vietnam.
Cohen served with 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Company C.
Cohen was killed in action in the fighting at Ia Drang Valley on November 15, 1965, when he was shot in the chest. He was the first Camden resident to be killed in Vietnam.
Cohen was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with V for Valor, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, The Army of Occupation Medal, The Combat Infantry Badge, The Military Merit Medal of the Republic of Vietnam and the Gallantry Cross with Palm of the Republic of Vietnam.
Information provided by Sherry Cuadrado (daughter) and NJVVMF.