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Interviews
Here you'll find an archive of interviews, both professional and personal, that Charles Coolidge did throughout his life after WWII. Some are video interviews that include transcripts, while others are audio only.
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NOTE: Some of the links, videos, or audio files may not work on a mobile phone. Please use a desktop browser if able.
Video Interviews
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2011 - Interview with WBIR Channel 10, Knoxville, TN
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Total Running Time: 26 min, 14 sec.
Charles Coolidge interview with John Becker of WBIR Channel 10, Knoxville, Tennessee in 2011.
2011 - WBIR Channel 10, Knoxville, TN
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2014 - Interview with School of Journalism, Univ. of Tennesee at Knoxville
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Total Running Time: 1 hour, 29 min, 54 sec.
Univ. of Tennessee School of Journalism and Electronic Media graduate student Joe Kuczynski interviewed WWII Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge as part of the Medal of Honor Project's history of the Medal of Honor in Tennessee documentary project. The interview took place in Charles Coolidge's office at Chattanooga Printing and Engraving on 7 February 2014.
2014 - UT Interview with Charles Coolidge
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Living History Interview - Congressional Medal of Honor Society
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Total Running Time: 5 min, 40 sec.
A short video compiled by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society from a longer interview.
(NOTE: This link takes you to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website)
Audio Interviews
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26 Apr 1986 - Interview with Earl Freudenberg in the WDOD 1310 AM studios:
Total Running Time: 26 min, 14 sec.
Charles Coolidge discusses the actions of 24-27 Oct 1944 that earned him the Medal of Honor as well as what it was like to lose fellow soldiers and to see so much death during combat. He recounts many personal stories and details from the 2+ years of being on the front lines in the European Theater of Operations during WWII.
Earl Freudenberg is a 2019 inductee to the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame. He was a longtime radio news director in Chattanooga who began his career in radio at WDOD when he was only 18. From 1971-1974 He was a broadcaster for the American Forces Network Europe, but returned to WDOD in 1974 to begin what would become a 30-plus year career as news director and talk-show host. He also served as a television news director at WDEF (Channel 12) in the 1980s. Earl was also very active in Veteran's recognition programs and was the emcee for Chattanooga's Armed Forces Day Parade for more than 20 years.
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3 May 1990 - Interview with Wade Robbins, Chattanooga Times:
Total Running Time: 35 min, 11 sec.
In this interview by Wade Robbins of the Chattanooga Times (now the Chattanooga Times Free Press), Charles Coolidge discusses his time in the Army during WWII, detailing his training, landings, and the conditions he faced during his 2+ years on the front lines of North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. (Digitized from a cassette).
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The Chattanooga Times was founded in 1878 by Adolph S. Ochs, who later became publisher of The New York Times. It became a leading voice in Southern journalism with a conservative voice. In 1933, the Chattanooga Free Press began as a more left-leaning competitor. After decades of rivalry, the two newspapers merged in 1999 to form the Chattanooga Times Free Press, combining resources while maintaining separate editorial pages for a time to reflect their distinct viewpoints.
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Late 1990s or Early 2000s - Interview with Ruth Hubbard Cousins, at the home of Charles Coolidge, Signal Mountain, TN:
Total Running Time: 1 hour, 37 min, 19 sec
This interview was conducted by Ruth Hubbard Cousins, renowned American psychologist, in the late 1990s or early 2000s. In it, Charles Coolidge and his wife, Frances, talk to Ruth about Charles' time during WWII as well as a visit back to Italy, France, and Germany in 1986. Charles retells many stories from the war and talks about everything from the conditions during different seasons, during the landings, and about how he managed to make it through his years of service on the front lines. (Digitized from a cassette in two parts, Side A & B).
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Ruth Hubbard Cousins (21 May 1920 - 11 Jan 2007) was an American psychologist, best known for her influence in shaping Psi Chi as Executive Secretary and Executive Director from December 1958 to October 1991. She also worked with her daughter, Carol Tracy, to help co-found another psychology honor society, Psi Beta in 1981. After three decades of service, Ruth resigned from her position as Executive Director of the Psi Chi in October 1991. Her departure was monumental enough that preparations for her departure began over a year in advance. After her retirement, Cousins spent her time exploring her interests in history and genealogy and as a result joined the Daughters of the American Revolution. During this period Cousins also conducted 52 interviews with WWII veterans living in Tennessee and created an oral history project that is now stored in the Library of Congress. She passed away on 11 January, 2007 due to complications with Alzheimer's and is buried beside her husband, James F. Cousins in the Arlington National Cemetery.
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2004-2009 - Charles Coolidge, Jr., interviews his father. Recorded at the home of Charles Coolidge, Signal Mountain, TN:
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Total Running Time of all tapes: 4 hours, 17 min, 19 sec
Tapes recorded by Charles Coolidge, Jr., while talking to his father about his life, including his Childhood, WWII, and life after the war
These tapes were recorded by Charles Coolidge, Jr., sometime between 2004 and 2009, while talking to his father, Charles Coolidge. They discussed many things, including his Childhood, his family, school, his time during the war, as well as his time after the war.
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April 20, 2010 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville - An Interview conducted by Cynthia L. Tinker; for the Veteran's Oral History Project, Center for the Study of War and Society, Department of History:
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This interview was conducted on 20 April 2010 by Cynthia L. Tinker of the Department of History, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, as part of the Veteran's Oral History Project. The Veteran's Oral History interviews seek to capture the experiences and memories of veterans, including their lives before combat, motivations to enlist, personal experiences during the war, and their experiences readjusting to civilian life afterwards. There was a follow up interview conducted on 23 June 2011.
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Cynthia L. Tinker is a dedicated historian and veteran who served as the Program Coordinator for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Center for the Study of War and Society from 2001 onward. In this role, she managed the center’s daily operations, oversaw the Veterans Oral History Project, and curated the World War II archival collection, contributing significantly to the preservation of military history and veterans' narratives. A native of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Tinker served as an aircraft electrician in U.S. Air Force Special Operations from 1988 to 1992. Following her military service, she enrolled at the University of Tennessee on the G.I. Bill in 1996 and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Biology. Tinker’s commitment to preserving the stories of veterans has been instrumental in enriching the university’s historical resources and fostering a deeper understanding of the human aspects of warfare. Her work ensures that the experiences of those who served are not forgotten, providing valuable insights for future generations.
Follow-up interview, conducted 23 June 2011:
Transcripts
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11 January 2001 - Phone Interview Transcript
- Download / View Transcript -
Charles Coolidge tells his WWII story from beginning to end, including many stories and details about the actions which earned him the Medal of Honor and Silver Star, as well as some close calls he had while on the front lines.
The person who conducted this interview via a phone call with Charles Coolidge is unknown. The transcript was typed from an audio cassette (now lost) by his wife, Frances, and she did not record who conducted the interview.