2nd Lieutenant, 827th Engineer Aviation Battalion, IX Engineer Command. He was shot and killed while performing his duty by Private David Cobb, Company C, 827th Engineer Aviation Battalion. Cobb was later executed by hanging on March 12, 1943, for causing the death of Lieutenant Cobner, and is the first American soldier executed for crimes during World War II. Cobner's military awards include the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle East Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Born at Edgewood, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, he was the first-born child of Charles E. and Anna Cobner, a mill worker in a steel mill in Pittsburgh, PA. He enlisted into the US Army on July 11, 1941 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. His records indicate that he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 120 pounds, and was not married. In his military records, he listed his occupation as Draftsman (Electrical or Mechanical Engineering). With one year of college completed, he was sent to Officer Candidate School, and upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 827th Engineer Aviation Battalion, which deployed to Cambridge, England in December 1942. The Battalion's mission was to construct airfields for the 8th US Air Force. About 10:30 am, on the morning of Sunday, December 27, 1942, Lieutenant Cobner was performing duty as Battalion Officer of the Day, when he went to the guardhouse to have some of the guards move beds and to perform general police (cleaning up) of the guardhouse. Private Cobb, who had served the night shift and was expecting to be relieved about 6:00 am, had been held over for an additional four hours of guard duty. When Lieutenant Cobner directed Cobb to assist in the moving of the beds, Cobb refused, and disrespectfully complained that he had already worked an additional four hours longer than the other guards. Cobb was carrying his rifle draped across his shoulders in an casual manner while addressing Lt Cobner, and Lt Cobner then ordered him to stand at attention while addressing an officer, and to put his uniform into proper order (Cobb had been working all the previous day and serving guard shift all that night, and his uniform looked it). Cobb disdainfully replied back that he didn't care if he was restricted for six months, he wasn't going to do it. Lieutenant Cobner then ordered Cobb to be arrested, and directed Cobb to surrender his rifle. When Cobb refused, Lieutenant Cobner ordered the Sergeant of the Guard to take his weapon. Cobb then pointed the rifle at the Sergeant of the Guard, who immediately backed off, and when Lieutenant Cobner approached him, Cobb turned the rifle on the lieutenant, firing one shot and killing him instantly when the bullet penetrated his heart. Following a court martial in January 1943, Private Cobb was convicted of murdering Lieutenant Cobner while the lieutenant was performing his official duties, and was sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out on March 12, 1943, after being reviewed and approved by the theater commander.