Beginning this day in 1944, one courageous American infantryman from Tennessee led his unit in four days of continuous combat against a numerically superior force. They emerged victorious.
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, 2427 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.
Charles H. Coolidge, age 90, lives in Chattanooga, TN. He still works every day at his family's business.
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