Sidney Cohen

Staff Sergeant Sidney Cohen was born on January 27, 1931 to Louis Cohen and his wife, the former Rose Myeroff. He grew up in the 400 block of Liberty Street in Camden, NJ, alongside four older brothers, Irving, David, Norman “Nunny,” and Morton “Porky”; one younger brother, Robert; and two sisters, Pearl and Sissy. He had attended Cooper B. Hatch Junior High School on Park Boulevard in the Parkside section of Camden prior to enlisting in the Army. His special interests were baseball, bowling, cooking, and gambling.

Sidney Cohen enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949 from his hometown of Camden, NJ. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. As a career soldier, he served around the world, including stints in the United Kingdom and Hawaii, before going to Vietnam. His MOS was 11B40, infantry non-commissioned officer. Army records indicate that he had been awarded the Bronze Star prior to his service in Vietnam, most likely in Korea.

Staff Sergeant Cohen served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed in action in the fighting at Ia Drang Valley on November 15, 1965 when he was shot in the chest. Sidney Cohen was the first Camden, NJ resident to be killed in Vietnam. Also lost that day was Private First Class George J. Stephens of Camden, New Jersey, a member of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

Staff Sergeant Sidney 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.

Staff Sergeant Sidney Cohen was survived by his wife, Ruby Mae, and children Ricky and Sherry.

Sidney Cohen is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 03E, Row 53.

For more on the battle where Sidney Cohen fell, visit the Landing Zone X-Ray site and The Virtual Wall’s Ia Drang Memorial.

To my uncle who I never knew and was named after. Our family will always remember you.

— Scott Cohen, Southaven, MS — November 23, 2001

SSG Cohen was one of the best squad leaders I had at B Company, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. So long, Sgt. Cohen. I will always remember you.

— John Fletcher, Knoxville, TN — September 3, 2000

A tribute to Sidney, one of the 234 young Americans who died in three days of fighting in LZ-Xray & Albany, November 1965, in the Valley of Death, the Ia Drang. Lest we forget our fallen heroes, those who gave the last measure of devotion. May their souls be cradled in the Arms of the Lord forever.

— Doug Connor — April 26, 2000

American Legion Post 274 of Camden NJ remembers SSGT Sidney Cohen and its other fallen heroes. A memorial initiated by a neighbor, Phil Cohen — March 17, 2002.

I recently saw We Were Soldiers and saw my uncle’s name listed at the end of the movie. It was a proud moment for me and my family. Though I was only 2 when he was killed, my father, one of his older brothers, spoke proudly of him throughout his life. G-d Bless you, Uncle Sid, and for giving your life for us.

— Kathie Cohen-Foxwell, niece — September 28, 2002

I never knew my Uncle Sidney; I was named after him in his memory. I would like to share my cousin Kathie’s words mentioned in her message. I would love to hear from anyone who had the honor to serve with my uncle.

— Scott Joel Cohen, Southaven, MS — October 2, 2002

My name is Lynn Cohen and I am married to Sidney’s son. I never knew him but I have heard enough from the family to know he was a great man. I am proud to be his daughter-in-law, and I wish he was here to see his son — he would be proud. We love you, Sid, and miss you very much. May God keep you close till we meet in Heaven.

— Lynn Cohen — October 27, 2002

Hello to all, my name is Sherry (Cohen) Cuadrado; SSGT Sidney Cohen is my Father. He was a great person and I’m very proud of him and the other fallen heroes that died in the Viet Nam war. I was only 8 years old when he died and I have so many wonderful memories of him, but there is only my brother and I that are left and he was only 5 years old, so it is good to know that there are other people that are remembering him and his fellow soldiers. I would like to thank everyone involved in the new Memorial, as it has brought a much needed healing for my brother, Rickey Cohen, and myself. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God bless you and yours.

— Sherry (Cohen) Cuadrado, daughter — October 30, 2002

Sidney was my uncle. His older brother Porky (my father) always bragged about how much he loved his brother Sid. How tough he was. How great he was. I never saw my father cry, until he found out “Uncle Sid” was killed. I always felt like I knew my Uncle Sid, because my father never let me forget him!

— Jeff Cohen, Mount Laurel, NJ — May 21, 2003