Charles Coolidge, Oldest Medal of Honor Recipient, Dies at 99

[crimsonaudio]

Rest in peace, Mr Coolidge - you certainly earned it.

Sergeant Coolidge had fought with the 36th Infantry Division in Italy before it moved into France, and most of the troops under his command in the fall of 1944 were replacements for those who had been killed or wounded in the division’s long slog. They had little if any combat experience.

His unit was nevertheless ordered to hold off the German forces threatening to attack the right flank of the division’s Third Battalion, 141st Infantry, which was massing with two other battalions outside the tiny town of Belmont-sur-Buttant.

Through the first day of his unit’s confrontation with the Germans and over the next three days, Sergeant Coolidge’s men fought for control of what was known as Hill 623 in the face of repeated attempts by the Germans to overrun them. All the while, Sergeant Coolidge sought to calm them and direct their fire.

At one point, two German tanks came within 25 yards of him. A tank commander shouted, “in perfect English, ‘Do you guys wanna give up?’” Mr. Coolidge recalled in a 2014 interview with the University of Tennessee’s School of Journalism and Electronic Media. His reply: “I’m sorry, Mac, you’ve gotta come and get me.”

Charles Coolidge, Oldest Medal of Honor Recipient, Dies at 99

 

[Toddrn]

They don't make them like that any more.

 

[GrayTide]

Thanks, Brad great article about a great American soldier. Rest In Peace Sgt. Coolidge.

 

[Bamaro]

I think I heard there is only 1 WW2 MoH winner left and he's 97

 

[crimsonaudio]

I think I heard there is only 1 WW2 MoH winner left and he's 97

Indeed, only Hershel "Woody" Williams is the lone MOH survivor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hershel_W._Williams

 

[fireater]

This thread and the links have made me sad, and yet so proud to be an American.