Alfred J. KOSSMAN

 

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NUMBER OF SERVICE32559428
AGE40 yo
DATE OF BIRTH30 January 1904
ETATKings County (Brooklyn) NEW-YORK
FAMILY

Married : Charlotte Page McCHESNEY KOSSMAN

RANKTechnician Fifth Grade
FONCTIONTroop Armored Car
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT Semiskilled warehousing, storekeeping, handling, loading, unloading, and related occupations,NY
DATE of ENLISTEMENT29 September 1942 Newark NEW-JERSEY
 SQUADRON15th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
 GROUPTask Force A
ARMYVIIIth Corps
3rd Army
DATE OF DEATH10 September 1944kossman alfred j tombe
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHSaint- Efflez
CEMETERYBRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY of St James

Map of St James American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
M59
DECORATION

Silver Star

Purple Heart  

American Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal  

 

ss

Photo FDLM

american campaign medal

victory medal

 

 

us army 3armee 15crs 15crs 1
STORY

 

When he goes to the army Alfred is already the husband of Charlotte "Lottie" Page McChesneyKossman (1890-1980).

He is incorporated on September 29, 1942 and joins the 15th Cavalry Group. After attending training at the Desert Training Center in California, the regiment embarked on the Queen Mary on March 1, 1944 for Scotland. Here, the 15th was reorganized into 15th (mechanized) cavalry group consisting of the 15th and 17th reconnaissance squadrons.

Colonel Reybold's 15th Cavalry Group landed in Utah Beach on July 5th and led patrols on the rear of the 1st US ARMY before participating in the breakthrough following Operation COBRA towards Brittany as part of the Third 

 

libération de Paimpol 17 Aout 1944 15 Th cavalery sur les quais  libération de Ploubazlanec 17 Aout 1944 15 th cavalery route de Pors Even  Libération Lézardrieux   M 8 Greyhound Véhicules 15th Cavalry 
release of Paimpol August 17, 1944, 15Th cavalery on the docks Liberation of Ploubazlanec 17 August 1944 15th cavalery, Pors-Even road Liberation Lézardrieux M-8 Greyhound Vehicles 15th Cavalry

 

 

The Task Force A was created on 1 August 1944 to clean the north coast of Brittany, in liaison with the FFI.

It is commanded by General Earnest, about 3 500 men and 800 vehicles, initially consisting of a staff and the 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade (6th tank destroyer group -15th cavalry group-159th engineer battalion).

This fast force is mostly equipped with M.10 fearsome tank destroyers also effective against infantry positions.

The 30 August all the peninsula of Doualas is in the hands of the Americans and the task force has blocked the entrance of the peninsula of Crozon.

It will participate in the assault in support of the 28th division. Alfred J KOSSMAN will be killed during the operations of cleaning the pockets of resistance on September 10, 1944 in the sector St Efflez Lanvéoc. His bravery in combat earned him the Silver Star Award (General Order 372 of October 1944).

An inscription in his name appears on the Jersey City Pershing Monument.

 


SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOJean Yves TURQUETIL - Abmc.gov - Aad.archives.gov - Findagrave.com - 

L'Enfer de Brest (Floch-Le Berre)- Les Américains en Bretagne (E.Rondel).

PROGRAMMERGarrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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