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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Marine Corps

Matej Kocak

Sergeant Matej Kocak, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on July 18, 1918 in Soissons, France during World War I.

World War I July 18, 1918PosthumousDouble recipientBorn in Slovakia

Sergeant Matej Kocak, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on July 18, 1918 in Soissons, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d Division. Kocak was 35 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 11, 1920, 2 years after the action. Kocak is one of the few people to receive the Medal of Honor twice; see his other award (July 18, 1918).

Kocak was born on December 31, 1882 in Gbely — one of 1 recipient born in Slovakia. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Kocak died on October 4, 1918, at the age of 35. He is buried at Meuse Argonne Cemetery in Romagne Meuse.

Kocak is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

[Received both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same deed.]

Navy Medal of Honor: For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d 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, Sgt. 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, Sgt. Kocak organized French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in an attack on another machine-gun nest which was also put out of action.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Matej Kocak received:

Purple Heart

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

1918 · World War I

Battle of Belleau Wood

Result: Allied victory

9 Medal of Honor recipients

 1918 · World War I

Battle of Soissons

Result: Allied victory

4 Medal of Honor recipients

 1918 · World War I

Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge

Result: Allied victory

6 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Gbely — map
  • Died: Champagne — map
  • Buried: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. December 31, 1882
    Born in Gbely
  2. July 18, 1918
    Act of valor — Soissons, France
    Age 35. 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d Division
  3. October 4, 1918
    Died
    Age 35.
  4. November 11, 1920
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
  5. Resting place
    Meuse Argonne Cemetery

Biography

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. Less than three months after his act of heroism 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.

From the Wikipedia article “Matej Kocak”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Second Medal of Honor

Matej Kocak Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 ✦

Also honored for actions on July 18, 1918

Louis Cukela Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 Louis Cukela Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 GD George Dilboy Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ DE Daniel Richmond Edwards Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 Samuel Iredell Parker Second Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from New York

CH Charles F. Hoffman Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 FG Frank J. Gaffney Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 George G. McMurtry Captain · Army World War I · 1918 Wilbur E. Colyer Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918 William Joseph "wild bill" Donovan Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.