Harold Cohen's Love Story

Editor's note: The following is the final post of a three-part series on Harold Cohen's experience during the Great Depression, World War II and his life after returning. for the first part on his early life and choice to join the military. for the second part on his deployment to the Philippines. 

Ninety-one year old Harold Cohen survived two World War II campaigns, earning a purple heart, a bronze star for bravery and the prestigious Combat Infantry Badge. It was all worth it, he says, because those experiences lead him to the love of his life, his wife Rose.

“I wouldn’t give up one day of my tribulations because I figure if I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have had her. Everything led up to her, and I am very thankful,” said Cohen quietly.

Cohen was honorably discharged in 1947 and returned to his hometown of Revere. He went to work at his cousin’s produce store. He kept in touch with another veteran he met while in the hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the Philippines.

“One day my buddy said to me, ‘You want to go out? I know a girl and she has a sister.’ That’s how I met Rose,” explained Cohen. “I never went out with anyone else.”

New cars were scarce because all the factories had been converted over to produce war machinery.  There was a program however that gave disabled veterans priority status for new cars.  Cohen bought a 1947 Oldsmobile for $1600.

“I could have sold it the next day for $2,600, but I kept it, and that’s how I took Rose out,” explained Cohen.  He saw her every day.

Rose also served during World War II. She enlisted in the Navy and worked in Philadelphia. Her last job was discharging veterans.

Cohen’s family was poor, but Rose’s was poorer still. However, Cohen had an unlikely savings account from his war experience. In New Caledonia, the soldiers played poker.

“Money meant nothing to us because we thought we were going to die,” said Cohen. “We bet whatever we had.”

And Cohen won. He sent over $1,000 home and he used that money to by Rose a ring. It also paid for her wedding dress and hat, and the wedding itself. They married on January 9, 1949 in a ceremony at the home of Rose’s mother.

The weather was terrible that winter, Harold explained.

“I figured no one would come, so I invited everyone,” laughed Cohen. “They all came. We were packed in like sardines.”

Cohen hired two women from Winthrop to cater the wedding. They provided an abundance of food for all the guests. They served and cleaned up.  The cost for their services was $90.

Harold and Rose were married for 53 years. They had three children: Larry, Barbara and Susan. Larry Cohen is currently serving Burlington as Chairman of the Conservation Commission.

“My father was always so devoted to my mother and our family,” Larry Cohen told Burlington Patch. “He never spoke of his war experiences. If it came up, he changed the subject. He was proud of his service, but I believe that he felt strongly that war was a terrible thing. He didn’t want to talk about it.”

Instead, said his son, Cohen loved to work around the house and in the yard.

“Even now, he is always trying to help out the family in any way he can,” added Larry.

Cohen’s wife Rose succumbed to pancreatic and liver cancer in 2002.

“My Rose was the highlight of my life. I miss her every day,” said Cohen. “I never thought I’d live to be 90 years old. If I had a lawyer, I’d sue.”

Harold Cohen celebrated his 91^st birthday this week, on October 10^th.