Posted on 04/07/2021 2:35:44 PM PDT by Borges
He was Chattanooga’s hero of World War II. He was a symbol for all of the heroic sacrifices of the city’s service men and women in the 1940s. He was Tennessee’s bravest man, who refused to surrender.
Those are not Charles Coolidge’s words. He was humble to a fault. But he was undeniably proud of his place in our city’s history, and that of our nation.
Charles H. Coolidge died Tuesday, April 6 at the age of 99. He was four months shy of his 100th birthday on August 4. His death leaves only one surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient, 97-year-old Woody Williams of West Virginia.
The praise that Coolidge received from his peers in the military, from journalists, and from those who admired him was hard earned.
The shy young man who had been described as the best rock-thrower in the neighborhood, blossomed into a leader of men. At the age of 23, he found himself, unexpectedly as the senior enlisted man, leading a group of young recruits against a German infantry. Coolidge’s troops were outnumbered 4-1.
It was in France, on October 24, 1944, and the standoff would continue for three days. Despite a German commander’s demands for the Americans to stand down, Coolidge would not surrender. Calling it self-preservation, Coolidge led his band of 30 soldiers, and he wouldn’t back down.
“Come and get me,” he said.
He dodged German tanks, hiding behind tree trunks, tossing hand grenades along the way. Coolidge and his men killed 26 enemy soldiers, wounding 60 others. Coolidge was the first to approach the Germans, and the last to leave.
Ten months later, he received a hero’s welcome at a packed Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium. It was Charles Coolidge Day in Chattanooga honoring the city’s only Medal of Honor recipient, and we still celebrate him every day, at the park and the highway named in his honor. Had fate not intervened, he would have been perfectly happy as an anonymous book binder at his family’s printing company, still in business, 111 years after its founding.
Instead, he became a larger than life symbol of heroism, courage, and patriotism. The Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center stands as a lasting tribute, sharing Charles Coolidge’s story with those who remember the sacrifices of the greatest generation, and those who are too young to recall a nation truly united in its quest for freedom.
Charles Coolidge’s life spanned almost a century, surprising no one more than Coolidge himself. He never forgot staring down near certain death during those days in France, and throughout two years of constant danger. He often said he was lucky to be alive. Maybe so, but we are really the lucky ones.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 16, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, April 15, from 4-6 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.
What a HERO!
ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAND SALUTE...................
TWO..............................
PRESENT ARMS
Go to your rest soldier. You have earned it.
How stupid and pompous could the Germans have been? They fought Americans in WW I and were shocked by American ferocity. What did they expect when they declared war on America? Mr. Coolidge war rightly decorated but there were many, many more like him who went unrecognized. Yet have to wonder how many like him and his comrades that America has left. Have my doubts about pajama boys going to war led by transgenders and other such creatures. Nor would a rational, decent person be comfortable with a liberal in the next foxhole.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Medal of Honor recipient passing ping.
Charles H. Coolidge died Tuesday, April 6 at the age of 99.
And now there is only one MoH recipient of WW II living.
“What did they expect when they declared war on America? “
God bless and thank you, sir. You will be missed, but not forgotten!
How many World War II veterans are still alive? It is almost 76 years since the end of the war so the youngest are about 93 or 94 years old now.
There is one living a couple of blocks from me, must be about 96 or so by now. He turned 93 a few years back. His name is Hanson or Hansen. Still drives his Prius to the grocery store, very remarkable man.
By the time he found out how wrong he was it was too late, at least for him.
RIP, hero.
May God bless all men like you.
RIP, hero.
May God bless all men like you.
Ditto and amen!
I've seen it written that FDR was just looking for an excuse to get involved and that Pearl Harbor gave him that excuse.
I’ve seen it written that FDR was just looking for an excuse to get involved and that Pearl Harbor gave him that excuse.
The American public was fully on board on us paying the Japanese back. But Germany and Italy really hadn’t done anything to provoke the American people. Likely a majority weren’t in favor of getting involved in Europe. My point was, Hitler could have bought himself some time. Yes by declaring war the U-boats could (and did) attack shipping right off of our coasts, but I think that advantage was bought at a pretty great cost.
What Mussolini was thinking I have no idea. We would have eventually declared war on Italy as we did on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, but why make Italy a target any sooner than necessary?
“one tank unsuccessfully fired 5 separate rounds at Coolidge personally”
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