Charles CoolidgeChattanooga's Charles H. Coolidge is 90 years old today! But it's a miracle that he survived October 1944!
As we enthusiastically wish him a happy birthday, we recall the amazing events when Coolidge, a technical sergeant in the Army, distinguished himself in World War II battle against German forces in France.
His heroism led to his being awarded our nation's highest military decoration: the Medal of Honor.
Let us allow the Medal of Honor citation of Charles Coolidge to describe the circumstances more than six decades ago:
"Leading a section of heavy machine guns supported by 1 platoon of Company K, he 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 3rd Battalion and supporting its action. T/Sgt. Coolidge went forward with a sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machine guns. They ran into an enemy force in the woods estimated to be an infantry company. T/Sgt. 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, T/Sgt. Coolidge wounded 2 of them. There being no officer present with the force, T/Sgt. Coolidge at once assumed command. Many of the men were replacements recently arrived; this was their first experience under fire. T/Sgt. 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 T/Sgt. Coolidge's able leadership. On 27 October, German infantry, supported by 2 tanks, made a determined attack on the position. The area was swept by enemy small arms, machine gun, and tank fire. T/Sgt. 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. T/Sgt. Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position. As a result of T/Sgt. Coolidge's heroic and superior leadership, the mission of this combat group was accomplished throughout 4 days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods."
Fortunately, Coolidge survived World War II, returned to Chattanooga to marry his wife, Frances, rear a fine family, operate a local printing business, and become an outstanding Chattanooga Christian and civic leader.
Coolidge Park on the North Shore of the Tennessee River downtown is appropriately named for him.
We are thrilled to join with many others in wishing Charles H. Coolidge a happy 90th birthday!