Benjamin Kaufman

He attacked an enemy machine gun after his arm was shattered

Benjamin Kaufman received the Medal of Honor for attacking a German machine-gun position in the Argonne Forest, France, during World War I. On 4 October 1918, he served as first sergeant of Company K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division.

Born in Buffalo, New York, on 10 March 1894, Kaufman grew up in Brooklyn and attended Syracuse University before joining the Army in 1917. He led a patrol against a gun that had halted his company's advance. Separated from the patrol and wounded in his right arm, he continued alone. Throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, he scattered the crew, captured a prisoner and brought the gun back to the first-aid station.

After the war, Kaufman became a prominent advocate for veterans. He led the Jewish War Veterans as national commander in 1941–1942 and executive director from 1945 to 1959. During the Second World War, he directed New Jersey’s War Manpower Commission, helping balance civilian and military labour needs.

General John J. Pershing presented Kaufman's medal at Governors Island, New York, in May 1920. Kaufman died in Trenton, New Jersey, on 5 February 1981 and was buried in Fountain Lawn Memorial Park. His citation records the determination with which he completed the attack despite a disabling wound.

Official Medal of Honor citation

“He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machine gun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol and a machine-gun 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.”