Medal of Honor: Charles H. Coolidge, World War II

Name: Charles H. Coolidge
Rank: Technical Sergeant
War: World War II
Date of Action: October 24–27, 1944
Unit: Company M, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Born: August 4, 1921 – Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Entered Service From: Signal Mountain, Tennessee

Summary of Action
In the dense, rain-soaked forests east of Belmont-sur-Buttant, France, Technical Sergeant Charles Coolidge led a small machine-gun section tasked with holding the right flank of his battalion near Hill 623. On October 24, while scouting ahead, Coolidge and a sergeant stumbled upon an entire German company. Coolidge boldly demanded their surrender — and when they refused, he calmly opened fire. Taking command of the scattered American force, many of them green replacements, he moved fearlessly along the line under fire, steadying his men and directing their defense.

For the next four days, Coolidge’s handful of troops beat back repeated German attacks. On October 27, the enemy returned with tanks. When one rumbled to within 25 yards of his position, Coolidge grabbed a bazooka and took aim — but it misfired. Undeterred, he tossed the launcher aside, gathered grenades, and charged the advancing infantry alone, hurling explosives until his position was nearly overrun. Only after ensuring every man had withdrawn safely did he fall back himself — the last to leave the line.

His humor, courage, and unbreakable will turned chaos into order and made an impossible defense hold for four long days.

Medal of Honor Citation
COOLIDGE, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division.
Place and date: East of Belmont sur Buttant, France, 24–27 October 1944.
Entered service at: Signal Mountain, Tenn.
Birth: Signal Mountain, Tenn.
G.O. No.: 53, July 1945.
Citation: Leading a section of heavy machineguns 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 3d 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 machineguns. 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, machinegun, 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.