Captain James E. Cohn, U. S. N.
Captain James E. Cohn, USN, assumed command of the U. S. S. Helena (CA-75) on February 5, 1953.
Captain Cohn has a long back ground of cruiser duty. From 1937 to 1939 he served as a Gunnery Department officer on the U. S. S. Northhampton.
During World War II, from July 1944 until December 1945, he served as Chief of Staff to Vice admiral (then Rear Admiral) C. Turner Joy aboard the cruisers U. S. S. Wichita, San Francisco, Nashville, and Saint Paul.
Captain Cohn served as Commanding Officer of the U. S. S. Yancy, AKA-93, from January 1946 until August 1947. While in command of the Yancy he took the ship to Little America, Anartica, during "Operation High Jump".
From September 1950 until January 1952 Captain Cohn was in command of the U. S. S. Tanner, AGS-15, and the Hydro Surveu Group Two. During this period he conducted a survey of the Bahama Islands in connection with establishment of the long range missle program. While he was in command of the Tanner, the ship participated in "Operation Blue Jay" during the summer of 1951. This operation was in support of the establishment of the Air Force Base at Thule, in Northwest Greenland.
Captain Cohn, a qualified submariner, reported to the Helena from the Bureau of Ordnance where he was Assistant Director of the Research and Development Division.
Captain Cohn was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927 and was commissioned as an ensign that year. His wife, Mary Felice, and daughter of the same name reside at 2854 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C.
(This short bio was copied from the USS Helena CA-75 1953 cruise book)