FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Matej Kocak ~ 07 January 2019

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Matej Kocak

Info from this website.

           

Matej Kocak (December 3, 1882-October 4, 1918), a United States Marine Corps sergeant, was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, for "heroism above and beyond the call of duty" in action against the enemy on July 18, 1918. Almost three months later, on October 4, 1918, he was killed in action by enemy gunfire in the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in France while serving as a member of the 66th Company, 5th Regiment.

Matej Kocak was born in Egbell, Kingdom of Hungary (today Gbely, Slovakia), in 1882. He emigrated to the United States in 1906, and on October 16, 1907, enlisted in the Marine Corps in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began his 11-year Marine Corps career at Marine Barracks, League Island, Pennsylvania. He was discharged on October 16, 1911 at the expiration of his first enlistment but reenlisted in New York City on December 26, 1911 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, New York, for duty. For some time he lived in Binghamton, New York, where large Slovak community used to live. He was member of Slovak Catholic Sokol in this town.

During his second enlistment, he served with the U.S. Army at Verz Cruz, Mexico, from April 30, to November 23, 1914. His enlistment ended on December 25, 1915 at Marine Barracks, New York, New York, but he again reenlisted and transferred to Marine Barracks, Naval Station, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The following year, he was ashore in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he participated in skirmishes with native bandits in Las Canitas, Azua Province, Dominican Republic. Appointed to the rank of corporal March 23, 1917, he then returned to the United States where he joined the 12th Company at Quantico, Virginia.

By December 31, 1917, he was again overseas, this time at St. Nazaire, France. The following January 23, 1918, he joined the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, and on June 1, 1918, was promoted to sergeant and then took part in the attack against the enemy in Bois De Belleau Bouresches sector northwest of Chateau Thierry, France. On July 18, 1918, he participated in the attack at Villers Cotteret Wood south of Soissons, France, and it was on this day he performed the act of heroism for which he was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor.

1– October 4, 1918 found him taking part in the Allied drive against the enemy in the Argonne Forest between the Moselle and Forest of Argonne in the vicinity of Blanchmont in Champagne, France, and in the attack against the enemy in the St. Mihiel sector in the vicinity of Thiaucourt, France. He was killed in action on October 4, 1918, and is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

Medal of Honor Citations

Navy citation

    For extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixty-sixth Company, Fifth Regiment, Second Division, in action in the Viller-Cottertes section, south of Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. When a hidden machine gun nest halted the advance of his battalion, Sergeant Kocak went forward alone unprotected by covering fire and worked his way in between the German positions in the face of heavy enemy fire. Rushing the enemy position with his bayonet, he drove off the crew. Later the same day, Sergeant Kocak organized French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in attacking another machine gun nest, which was also put out of action.

Army citation

    When the advance of his battalion was checked by a hidden machine-gun nest, he went forward alone, unprotected by covering fire from his own men, and worked in between the German positions in the face of fire from enemy covering detachments. Locating the machine-gun nest, he rushed it and with his bayonet drove off the crew. Shortly after this he organized 25 French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in attacking another machine-gun nest, which was also put out of action.

SS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK 3005)

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[mylife]

I love you guys, I know a lot of folks that got them ribbons,
they say it aint all grand, usually you do something stupid and think about that forever.

God Bless

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It was a very pretty day today and the kitties all loved it. It will start to gradually cool down, but I don’t think the nighttime temps will get close to freezing.

Peaches was actually good last night and was fairly still. It was the getting up early that was the killer. LOL! I’m already sleepy tonight, unfortunately.

How was your day? Did it finally quit raining for a change? How is Bella doing? Still breathing well?

[mylife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs6PwDkEQjI

[mylife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGt-rTDkMcM

[radu]

Glad you had another pretty day. We did too! Kinda nice after the gloomy, wet weather we had last week. Warm the next couple of days, then back into the 40s Wed. We’ll have cold nights - 20s and 30s - but it could be a lot worse this time of year.

Good for Peaches behaving himself for a change. LOL! But that getting up early thingie hurts no matter what. You get to sleep in tomorrow!

Bella’s still doing well with the new med, bless her lil heart. She gets a little wheezy close to time for the next dose but not too bad. She’s much happier now, and I am too.

[mylife]

now I am gonna think of Smetana and Dvorak all night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3RKInASZFM.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...are you feeling any better today? Knees ok? Hand?

Weather seen any improvement?

We are -4 right now. In the low teens to below zero for the next week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...quite a hero, and 2 Medals of Honor!

[luvie]

What a relief that the meds she is taking is working so well. I’ll bet she almost looks forward to her next dose.

Peaches is out now. It’s 61 degrees, so he can stay out. Unless I hear him climbing the screen and then I’ll be the sucker and let him back in. LOL!

[luvie]

What a relief that the meds she is taking is working so well. I’ll bet she almost looks forward to her next dose.

Peaches is out now. It’s 61 degrees, so he can stay out. Unless I hear him climbing the screen and then I’ll be the sucker and let him back in. LOL!

[luvie]

Oops. Double click isn’t good for posting. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless them all...stupid or intentional, they did it! I’m glad we can recognize them.

[radu]

A huge relief for her and for me too. It was killin’ to hear her wheezing and have to wait til enough time had passed for the next shot. It got pretty bad sometimes. Now, not bad at all and just for maybe an hour.

61 degrees? That sounds fabulous! Wish it was that warm here tonight. We got up to 65 but it’s 41 now.
Peaches might take advantage of the warm night and stay out to prowl after so many cold nights.

[radu]

LOL! Yup, one click will do.

[luvie]

I have heard no sounds from him so I assume he is having a nice cat night out. As long as he doesn’t get into any fights that might cause infections, he’s good to go.

I’m glad you had balmy weather this afternoon. Must have felt so good after all the wet chilly weather you’ve had. Enjoy while you can! Even 41 isn’t awful if the wind isn’t blowing.

[radu]

Fingers crossed for luck that you don’t hear any noise from him before going to bed. LOL

It felt really nice outside today. Won’t feel quite as nice tomorrow because it’ll be windy.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

I hope you had another nice day for a lake trip. Gizmo seems to really enjoy those trees stumps. :-)

We had a beautiful day here. Wish days like that could stick around.

[MoochPooch]

Hi Kathy! How quickly we forget WWI and its heroes!

[E.G.C.]

Weather was nice yesterday. It’s raining a little in some places but I think we have another good day coming.