TFH 10/4: First Sergeant Benjamin Kaufman, USA

Benjamin Kaufman was born in Buffalo, New York on March 10, 1894 and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He was a student at Syracuse University in 1917 when he answered his Nation's call to service and enlisted in the United States Army.

The 77th Infantry Division was activated in France for World War I combat on August 1, 1918. As a member of the Division's 308th Infantry Regiment, then First Sergeant Kaufman was disabled by an enemy gas attack. He left a military hospital voluntarily to rejoin his unit.

On October 4, 1918, Benjamin Kaufman single handedly destroyed an enemy gun position after a bullet from the gun he took out shattered his right arm. He received the Medal of Honor for his courage.


From Medal of Honor Citations for World War I:


KAUFMAN, BENJAMIN

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: In the forest of Argonne, France, 4 October 1918. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 10 March 1894, Buffalo, N.Y. G.O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919. Citation: He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machinegun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol and a machinegun bullet shattered his right arm. Without hesitation he advanced on the gun alone, throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, taking one prisoner and scattering the crew, bringing the gun and prisoner back to the first-aid station.


Kaufman was mustered out of the Army in 1919. During World War II, he served our Nation as the New Jersey director of the War Manpower Commission. He passed away on February 5, 1981 at age 86 in Trenton, New Jersey. He rests in peace at the Fountain Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Trenton.

Today's 77th Sustainment Brigade carries on the lineage of the 77th Infantry Division and is stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.