Private Cohen was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. On 4 June 1953, he was in a bunker near Chohanggol, North Korea, when a hand grenade he was carrying accidentally exploded.

Cohen was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.