National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Mourns the Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Charles H. Coolidge
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 7, 2021) – The Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center mourns the passing of Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge. More details will be shared in the coming days about special tributes being planned at the Heritage Center to honor his legacy.
The Heritage Center is releasing the following statements for publication:
Today, our city, state, and nation lost a great American hero with the passing of Charles H. Coolidge. Mr. Coolidge was beloved by all who knew him, and his heroism was legendary. He received the Silver Star for his bravery in combat in Italy and the Medal of Honor for his amazing defense of Hill 623 east of Belmont sur Buttant, France against overwhelming odds in October 1944. Many also remember Mr. Coolidge for his battle against multiple sclerosis, a disease that he refused to allow to define him, for more than half a century.
Coolidge was, above all, a model of integrity, honor and determination who is memorialized by a park, a highway, and the many institutions that bear his name. However, his greatest legacy is the hundreds of thousands of lives that he touched during his 99 years on earth.
Coolidge’s legacy will continue to impact the lives of others through the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in downtown Chattanooga that focuses on teaching and building character in future generations and inspiring them to embody the values of Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice, and Commitment in their daily actions in order to make our community and world better.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Coolidge family during this difficult time. May Mr. Coolidge rest in peace, and may God bless the United States of America.
Noah Long
Rear Admiral, US Navy (Retired)
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
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The passing of Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge is an enormous loss for Chattanooga, America, and the world. All free people mourn the loss of this great man. He, along with his fellow Servicemembers, saved our Republic during World War II. I pray that we can live up to his magnificent legacy best espoused in the Medal of Honor character traits — Patriotism, Citizenship, Integrity, Courage, Sacrifice, and Commitment. These traits were Charles H. Coolidge. May he rest in eternal peace. He earned it.
B. B. Bell
General, US Army (Retired)
Chairman of the National Advisory Board
Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
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Our country has lost a great American with the passing of Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge. He was the embodiment of the Greatest Generation, and his legacy has and will continue to shape the lives of countless people and children in our state and across the country. Many people know Charles Coolidge as an American hero from World War II, but I believe he is much more as his legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration for all of us, today and for the future, on how ordinary people can face and overcome an extraordinary challenge in life. My thoughts and prayers are with the Coolidge family during this difficult time.
Bill Raines
Major General, US Army (Retired)
Chairman Emeritus
Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
To learn more about the new Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, please visit www.MOHHC.org or call (423) 877-2525.
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About the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
Opened in February 2020, the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is situated in the heart of the birthplace of the Medal of Honor—Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 19,000 square-foot facility features life-sized, immersive exhibits that memorialize our nation’s highest military award for valor, honor its national heritage and recipients, and educate future generations of Americans about the six character traits embodied by the Medal of Honor and its recipients: Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice and Commitment. For more information, visit www.MOHHC.org.
