Korean veteran from LI receives 4 medals

When Army veteran William Cohn came home from Korea in 1954, he wasn't thinking about war medals or badges. He just wanted to get home to his soon-to-be wife.

"I had somebody waiting for me," Cohn, of Atlantic Beach, said. "I wanted to go home."

As a result, Cohn, now 81, had no idea about the four medals he had earned for his service in the Korean War -- the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal and Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea -- until a friend from the Jewish War Veterans suggested Cohn contact his congresswoman, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, and ask her to look into it.

After about six weeks of coordinating with the National Personnel Records Center, McCarthy's office presented the medals to Cohn and his family during an emotional ceremony Monday morning.

"Your country is very grateful for the work you've done," said McCarthy (D-Mineola) at the news conference as she showcased the medals, pinned to a presentation board covered in red felt.

McCarthy's office has done the leg work in matching veterans with their medals for years. When a vet or family member inquires about what honors they might have earned, the research process begins. Sometimes, as in Cohn's case, it can take as little as a few months. But depending on when they served, the process can take much longer.

"Those that served and did their time, no matter what war they were in, should be recognized for being there," McCarthy said.

Cohn's case of initial apathy toward service honors or medals is common, she added.

"A lot of our veterans unfortunately after the war just wanted to get home to their families and loved ones, and nobody can blame them for that," she said. "We have found over the years that veterans have said 'Oh, it wasn't that important to me.' But it is important to the families."

Cohn, who married his wife, Florene, less than two weeks after returning home, said that was true for him.

"When I saw my release papers, there were some medals printed at the bottom and I couldn't even make them out," said Cohn, who was an Army corporal.

It wasn't until he became involved with the Jewish War Veterans a few years ago that he considered the possibility of any accolades for his almost two years in active combat in Korea.

"I didn't expect this," a choked-up Cohn said at the ceremony. "I didn't expect this at all."