Charles Henry Coolidge (August 4, 1921 – April 6, 2021) was a United States Army technical sergeant and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in France during World War II.

In April 1943, his unit was shipped overseas to Oran in Algeria, and in September took part in the Salerno landings and then continued to fight in the first half of the Italian campaign.

While serving as a machine gun section leader and sergeant, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy on May 31, 1944, shortly before the capture of Rome.

[2][4] On October 24, 1944, Coolidge was a technical sergeant in charge of a group of machine-gunners and riflemen of M Company, who were to hold a vital hilltop position in France near the German border.

During four days of attacks at Hill 623, east of Belmont-sur-Buttant in the Vosges Mountains in France, Coolidge and his group held off numerous enemy infantrymen, plus two tanks on October 27 using grenades.

For his actions above and beyond the call of duty during the battle, Coolidge was presented the Medal of Honor by Lieutenant General Wade H. Haislip during a ceremony at an airfield near Dornstadt, Germany on June 18, 1945.

[5] For many years after the war, Coolidge went to work every day at the family business, Chattanooga Printing & Engraving,[6] which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010.

[5] Coolidge's military awards and decorations include:[11] Coolidge's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division Place and date: East of Belmont sur Buttant, France, October 24–27, 1944 Entered service at: Signal Mountain, Tenn. G.O.

Coolidge went forward with a Sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machineguns.

Coolidge, attempting to bluff the Germans by a show of assurance and boldness called upon them to surrender, whereupon the enemy opened fire.

Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position.