Cohen, Yosef (Joe)
Son of Deborah and Isaac, was born on August 21, 1908 in the city of Philadelphia, United States. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, finished high school and did business. In 1941 he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Intelligence Department of the 26th Infantry Division. He took part in all operations on the Far East fronts and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (First Sergeant). After the war, he returned to Los Angeles. The destruction of the Jews in Europe and the blocking of the redemption of their remains touched him, and in July 1947 he appeared in the National Liberation League, which was founded by veterans of the Revisionist movement in Washington and said: “I am a soldier, I have fought wars of other nations. When the ship “Altalena” was bought, he served in guarding, shopping and obtaining parts for repair. Participated in her first trips as a sailor and outsourcer. In January 1948, he moved to the Etzel in Paris, where he came into contact with the members of the anti-Nazi underground in France and was involved in the purchase, packing and sending of weapons to Palestine. In this operation he was arrested but managed to be released and returned to the ship before sailing to Israel and served as commander of the military police, but refused to accept ranks. After the fratricidal war on the shores of Kfar Vitkin and Tel Aviv, he spent a few days in Tel Aviv and then fought in the ranks of the Irgun in Jerusalem, where he participated in the “Kedem” On July 17, 1948, two hours before the truce began, he fell in battle. He was buried in Sheikh Bader Aleph. On the 28th of Elul 5710 (10.9.1950) he was put to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
