Find a Grave Charles Henry Coolidge Sr (1921-2021)
Find a Grave Charles Henry Coolidge Sr (1921-2021)
Charles Henry Coolidge Sr.
Birth 4 Aug 1921
Signal Mountain, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
Death 6 Apr 2021 (aged 99)
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
Burial
Chattanooga National Cemetery
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient
He received this award from Lieutenant General Wade Haislip during a ceremony at Dornstadt, Germany for his actions during the period of October 24-27, 1944 as a Technical Sergeant assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, near Belmont sur Buttant, France. He lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee and passed away at the age of 99.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: “The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Technical Sergeant Charles Henry Coolidge, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on October 24 – 27, 1944, while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action at East of Belmont sur Buttant, France.
Where is Charles Henry Coolidge Sr.buried?
Charles Henry Coolidge Sr. (1921-2021)
Leading a section of heavy machineguns supported by one platoon of Company K, Technical Sergeant Coolidge took a position near Hill 623, east of Belmont sur Buttant, France, on 24 October 1944, with the mission of covering the right flank of the 3d Battalion and supporting its action. Technical Sergeant Coolidge went forward with a sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machineguns. They ran into an enemy force in the woods estimated to be an infantry company. Technical Sergeant Coolidge, attempting to bluff the Germans by a show of assurance and boldness called upon them to surrender, whereupon the enemy opened fire. With his carbine, Technical Sergeant Coolidge wounded two of them.
There being no officer present with the force, Technical Sergeant Coolidge at once assumed command. Many of the men were replacements recently arrived; this was their first experience under fire. Technical Sergeant Coolidge, unmindful of the enemy fire delivered at close range, walked along the position, calming and encouraging his men and directing their fire. The attack was thrown back.
Through 25 and 26 October the enemy launched repeated attacks against the position of this combat group but each was repulsed due to Technical Sergeant Coolidge’s able leadership. On 27 October, German infantry, supported by two tanks, made a determined attack on the position. The area was swept by enemy small arms, machinegun, and tank fire. Technical Sergeant Coolidge armed himself with a bazooka and advanced to within 25 yards of the tanks.
His bazooka failed to function and he threw it aside. Securing all the hand grenades he could carry, he crawled forward and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy. Finally it became apparent that the enemy, in greatly superior force, supported by tanks, would overrun the position. Technical Sergeant Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position. As a result of Technical Sergeant Coolidge’s heroic and superior leadership, the mission of this combat group was accomplished throughout four days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods.”
Charles Henry Coolidge Sr. Grave Site
Where Was Charles Henry Coolidge Sr. born?
Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest decoration for valor, for his heroism in France during the Second World War. He graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1939 and later worked at his father’s printing business. On June 16, 1942, he was drafted into the United States Army and received his basic training at Fort McClellan in Alabama. After basic training, he was sent to both Camp Butner in North Carolina and Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. His unit later saw action in both North Africa and Italy, where he earned a Silver Star for gallantry in action.
Find a Grave Charles Henry Coolidge Sr (1921-2021)
In October of 1944, his unit was in France, where he found himself, unexpectedly as the senior enlisted man, leading a group of young recruits against a German infantry. He and his outnumbered troops were in a standoff with the Germans and he wouldn’t back down. He dodged German tanks, hiding behind tree trunks, tossing hand grenades along the way. During the battle, he and his men killed 26 enemy soldiers, wounding 60 others. He was the first to approach the Germans, and the last to leave.
For his bravery during the battle, he earned the Medal of Honor. After the war, he went back to live in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he was honored with a highway and park named after him. He also continued working at his family’s printing business.
