Max Cohen

2nd Lieutenant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander in Chief, Pacific: Serial 0647
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Max Cohen (MCSN: 0-27474), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands on 23 November 1943.
Pinned down by shattering hostile machine gun and sniper fire, in a position approximately two hundred yards to the rear of our front lines while commanding a party of twenty men carrying vitally needed water and salt to our assault troops. Second Lieutenant Cohen immediately organized and deployed his men for an attack against the enemy.
Fighting relentlessly against fanatic opposition, he valiantly led his unit in destroying a hostile pillbox with the entire crew and in killing five Japanese snipers with minimum loss to his own party. By his skilled and intrepid leadership his daring aggressiveness and courageous initiative in the face of grave peril, Second Lieutenant Cohen insured a safe route for supplying front line troops and contributed immeasurably to the ultimate success of our forces in capturing this vital hostile stronghold. L His zealous devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Cohen his fearless men and the United States Naval Service.