Charles H . Coolidge Charles Henry Coolidge ( born August 4 , 1921 ) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Coolidge joined the Army from his birth city of Signal Mountain , Tennessee in June 1942 , and by October 24 , 1944 , was serving as a technical sergeant in Company M , 141st Infantry Regiment , 36th Infantry Division . During an enemy attack on that day and the following three days , east of Belmont - sur - Buttant in France , Coolidge assumed command of his group and showed conspicuous leadership . For his actions during the battle , he was awarded the Medal of Honor in July 1945 . Coolidge currently resides near Chattanooga , Tennessee , where a 27 and park have been named for him . He still goes to work every day at the family business , Chattanooga Printing and Engraving , which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010 . On September 15 , 2006 , he was belatedly awarded the Légion d ' honneur by officials of the French consulate at a ceremony in Coolidge Park . Medal of Honor citation . Technical Sergeant Coolidge ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : 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 October 24 , 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 October 26 , 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 October 27 , German infantry , supported by 2 tank s , 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 grenade s 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 .