Private First Class Israel Cohen was captured, along with thousands of other American troops, during what became known as “The Battle of the Bulge” in December 1944. He was imprisoned in Stalag IX-B in Bad Orb, Germany. From there, the Germans separated 350 U.S. soldiers for being Jewish or “looking like Jews,” including Cohen. In February 1945, these 350 were sent to Berga an der Elster, a subcamp of the Buchenwald Concentration Camp where he was forced into slave labor. 47 American POWs died in the camp as a result of the appalling conditions that included malnutrition, cold weather, beatings, and executions. In early April 45, Cohen and fellow prisoner Bernard "Jack" Vogel (also buried at this cemetery) tried to escape. The Germans quickly captured them both and as a punishment forced them to stand in front of their barracks at Berga, with no food or water. Cohen, along with 36 other American POWs died on a 2 ½ week forced march to escape the approaching Allies. 

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Biography courtesy of the Ardennes American Cemetery