Donald C. Bohn
Donald Chant Bohn of Westmont (Haddon Township), NJ.
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Serial Number: O-1061320
Unit: 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division (“Timberwolf” Division)
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Burial: Locustwood Cemetery, Route 70 & Cooper Landing Road, Cherry Hill, NJ
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart
First Lieutenant Donald Chant Bohn was born on October 2, 1923, the son of Frederick H. and Ruth M. Bohn of 216 Burwood Avenue in Westmont, NJ. He was a 1942 graduate of Collingswood High School, where he was an all-around athlete who quarterbacked the football team, played basketball, and was an outfielder on the baseball team. He attended one semester at Western Maryland College before entering the service in February of 1943. He went overseas in December of 1944.
While serving as an infantry platoon leader with the 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry (“Timberwolf”) Division, First Lieutenant Bohn was killed on April 19, 1945, at Halle, Germany. He voluntarily left his position and moved across fire-swept terrain to give first aid and evacuate five wounded members of his platoon. While performing this self-assigned task he was mortally wounded, but refused treatment until he was certain his men had been removed to safety. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for this action.
He was survived by his parents and a brother, Sergeant Frederick H. Bohn Jr., who served with Company A of the 835th Engineer Battalion in North Africa and Italy for 31 months during the war.
Donald C. Bohn is memorialized on the War Memorial on Haddon Avenue in Westmont (Haddon Township), NJ.
Enters W. Maryland
Camden Courier-Post —
DON BOHN
Collingswood High all-around athlete who will enter Western Maryland University this Fall. Bohn, who quarterbacked the football team for the past three years, also played two years of basketball and was an outfielder on the baseball team.
Lt. Donald C. Bohn Rites Tomorrow
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for First Lt. Donald C. Bohn will be held tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in Foster’s funeral home, Haddon and Lees avenues, Collingswood. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial park.
Lieutenant Bohn was killed in action April 19, 1945, at Halle, Germany, at the age of 21. He left his position in the captured German town and moved across a fire-swept terrain to give first aid and evacuate five wounded men of his platoon. While performing this self-assigned task he was wounded fatally, but refused aid until he was certain his men had been moved to safety.
For that action, a posthumous award of a Silver Star was sent to his parents, Frederick and Ruth M. Bohn, 216 Burrwood avenue, Collingswood.
He was a member of the 413th Infantry of the Perry Allen Timberwolf division of the First army. He was graduated from Collingswood High school in 1942, where he played on the football team. Before entering the service in February, 1943, he attended Western Maryland college. He went overseas in December, 1944.
He is also survived by a brother, Frederick H. Jr., who was a sergeant in the army with 31 months service overseas.
Memorial
Lieutenant Donald C. Bohn
October 2, 1923 – April 19, 1945
Joined First Church May 5, 1935
A young man of sterling character, of keen intellect, a lover of God. Beloved by all who knew him. An athlete, who “carried the ball” on the football field. A soldier, who “endured hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” and who gave himself as a last “full measure of devotion” to the cause of freedom in the world. It can be said of him:
“I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith;
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.”
Photos
Donald C. Bohn (group photo); and the Bohn family home at 216 Burwood Avenue, Westmont (Haddon Township), NJ (July 2004).