Francis H. Dohs
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

Francis H. Dohs was born on 13 January 1907 at Newburgh, NY, the son of Francis and Gertrude Ellen Dohs. He was raised at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where his father, an internationally-recognized gymnast, taught physical education to the Cadets.

Dohs attended the Academy, graduated with the Class of 1930, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His early service included assignments at Madison Barracks at Sackets Harbor, NY, where he was a company commander in the 28th Infantry Regiment, and at Fort Jay, NY, where he commanded a company in the 16th Infantry Regiment for two years. He then attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA, graduating on 8 June 1934.

His next assignment was at Schofield Barracks, HI, in August 1934. There, he served as a company commander, Assistant Regimental Supply Officer, and Utilities Officer with the 21st Infantry Regiment. In August 1935, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In June 1937, he again went to Fort Jay for duty with the 16th Infantry Regiment. He served as a company commander and Battalion Communications Officer with the 16th Infantry and, in 1938, attended the Basic Course at the Chemical Warfare School at Edgewood Arsenal, MD.

The first wave of reorganization and expansion prior to World War II impacted Dohs in 1940 when he was ordered to the 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jackson, SC. His almost continuous duty with troops paid off and he became known as an outstanding training officer. He spent a total of three and a half years at this work, moving with cadres from one camp to another. He served at Camps Gruber; Phillips; Custer; Forest; and McCain among others. In 1942 he was Battalion Executive Officer for the Second Battalion of the 305th Infantry Regiment in the 77th Infantry Division. In August 1942, he joined the 94th Infantry Division and took part in its initial organization at Fort Custer and Camp Phillips. During the winter of 1942-43 he was selected to command the Second Battalion of the 301st Infantry Regiment. After almost two years of organization and training the 94th Division was alerted for deployment to England. As a member of the advance party, they proceeded to Fort Wadsworth, NY, where his group boarded the troopship U.S.S. John Ericson for England.

The advance party arrived at Chippenham, Wiltshire, England in June 1944 and took up the arduous task of bivouac planning for the Division. Dohs' Second Battalion arrived at Chippenham on 13 August 1944 and from this time on the activity was intense. By 10 September 1944 the 2nd Battalion had moved to France and gone into the line on a Sunday morning before the German-held seaport of Lortent, a static sector marked by trench warfare, artillery, and mortar fire. It provided valuable training. The 94th Division was relieved on New Year’s Day 1945 by the 66th Division and moved east to take part in the final phase of the Battle of the Bulge. The initial sector was in front of the Siegfried Switch Line in the Saar-Mosel Triangle east of Remich, Luxembourg. This position was occupied on 6 January in bitterly cold weather.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Francis H. Dohs (0-18233), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 301st Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 19 to 24 February 1945. Lieutenant Colonel Dohs' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 94th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 100 (May 11, 1945)

Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Francis H. Dohs is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg in Plot I, Row 9, Grave 29.

[This biography contains some excerpts from a memorial whose author is unknown, but it can be found at https://externalapps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/9002/]