How Charles Coolidge Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor in Normandy

Feb 06 , 2026

How Charles Coolidge Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor in Normandy

The Smell of Gunpowder That Day Was Like No Other

Bullets shredded the air. Machine-gun nests spat death down the bocage hedgerows of France. The night was soaked in mud and blood, but Charles Coolidge Jr. did not falter. He stepped up when others froze, pulling his men through hell to grasp a foothold where the enemy swore none would stand. This was the defining moment of a man forged in fire.

Born Out of Grit and Grace

Charles Coolidge Jr. came from a modest Midwestern town defined by tough winters and quiet resolve. Raised in a family where faith was the cornerstone, he carried with him more than just a rifle into war—he bore a code written in scripture and sacrifice.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) echoed in his mind through the chaos.

He was no glory seeker. Every inch forward was a brother’s life on the line, every decision weighed by honor and duty.

The Battle That Defined Him

It was July 15, 1944, in the thick hedgerows near La Croix-Avranchin, Normandy. Captain Coolidge led Company E, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division—a unit carved from Texas grit and bound by battle-hardened trust. The German defenses were ruthless, fortified in trenches and bunkers that had turned the landscape into a slaughterhouse.

Under brutal mortar fire, Coolidge moved among his men, rallying and reorganizing squads that were pinned down by withering enemy machine-gun fire. He scouted exposed flanks, personally neutralizing hostile positions with calculated bravery that few possess.

His Medal of Honor citation reflects a truth borne in blood:

“Captain Coolidge, by his intrepid leadership and personal courage, was responsible for the success of the company in overcoming obstacles that had earlier held up other units.”[1]

When ammo was low, he refilled his men’s belts. When casualties mounted, he stayed resolute, refusing to yield ground vital to the Allied advance.

Every step taken was won against a storm of lead—every breath a prayer whispered for the man beside him.

Honors Earned in the Shadow of Death

Coolidge’s Medal of Honor wasn’t handed for flawless heroics on parade. It was carved from sheer presence under fire. His ability to inspire and endure was noted by General Alexander Patch himself, who praised Coolidge’s leadership as pivotal during the Normandy campaign.[2]

Comrades remember him as a leader unafraid to expose himself, sharing danger instead of issuing commands from behind the lines.

“He never asked a man to do what he wouldn’t do himself,” said Staff Sergeant Leonard Biggs.

His Silver Star and Purple Heart joined the Medal of Honor in a display telling only part of the story. The true record was etched in the faces of the men he brought home alive.

Legacy Forged in Blood and Redemption

Charles Coolidge Jr.’s story is not just a tale of valor; it is a lesson for all who bear scars of battle—visible and invisible. Courage under fire is not reckless valor. It’s deliberate sacrifice for something greater: comrades, country, and conscience.

His faith was a weapon alongside his rifle, a shield when all else failed. This is the enduring truth veterans live by—no matter the darkness, there is light beyond the smoke.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

In remembering Coolidge, we honor more than medals. We honor the souls who met the worst humanity could offer and still carried hope forward. His legacy whispers this solemn call: Stand firm. Lead with heart. And never forget the cost paid for freedom.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation: Charles Coolidge Jr. [2] Stephen Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944–May 7, 1945