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Charles H. Coolidge entered the U.S. Army in June 1942 and served in the 36th Infantry Division in North Africa, Italy, France, Austria and Germany. In addition to the Medal of Honor and Silver Star, his record of service was marked by numerous esteemed military distinctions both from the United States as well as Allied countries.
Because he served as an infantryman in ground combat, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. For ground-combat merit and achievement against the enemy (but less than the Silver Star level) he received the Bronze Star Medal. His exemplary performance as an enlisted soldier across his wartime service entitled him to the Army Good Conduct Medal. His participation in the American Theater, followed by extensive service overseas in the European–African–Middle Eastern Theater, earned him the American Campaign Medal, and the European-African-Middle-Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal (complete with arrowhead device and multiple campaign stars, reflecting both assault landings and multiple campaigns). Upon Allied victory he qualified for the World War II Victory Medal, and the subsequent occupation service in Europe earned the Army of Occupation Medal.
The 3d Battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment (Coolidge's battalion) was recognized for their exemplary performance during the invasion of Salerno in September 1943 and as a result was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
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Overseas, the French government recognized his combat achievement in France by awarding him the Croix de Guerre with bronze palm and later in life, France's highest decoration, the Legion of Honor.
Together, all of Coolidge's commendations weave a story of a soldier who served honorably in combat during World War II, engaged in assault operations, sustained ground-combat service, participated in the occupation of Germany, and served in a unit that performed at an exceptional level, as well as being individually recognized by a foreign ally for combat heroism.
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This collection stands as a lasting record of his honorable service and many accomplishments.
U.S. Military Medals, Ribbons & Decorations
Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) was approved in October 1943 and was for infantry soldiers who were assigned to an infantry unit and actively engaged in ground combat while under fire. Recipients must have performed their duties while personally present and under hostile fire in a unit of brigade-size or smaller engaged in active ground combat to "close with and destroy the enemy".
Since Coolidge served as a technical sergeant in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division in combat in WWII, the CIB reflects his direct ground-infantry combat role in the European theater.
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Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal was established on 4 February 1944, and was awarded to any person who, after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight, while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States or in military operations with foreign forces. In practice for WWII, many infantrymen who earned the CIB were also eligible for the Bronze Star. His award therefore reflects meritorious ground-combat service in the European theater.
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Army Good Conduct Medal
For enlisted personnel of the U.S. Army, the medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during a defined period of continuous active federal service (for WWII era, typically three years of enlisted service after 27 August 1940, or one year of service after 7 December 1941 while at war). Since Coolidge enlisted in June 1942 and served through the war, his award reflects meeting those criteria.
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American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign medal was established by Executive Order 9265 (6 November 1942). It is awarded for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under conditions such as: permanent assignment outside the continental U.S.; crew duty of 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days; passenger or TDY outside CONUS for 30/60 days; active combat when a combat decoration is awarded; or within continental U.S. aggregate of one year. Since Charles Coolidge trained and served withing this criteria, he qualified for this campaign/service medal.
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European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal
For his service in the European and African Theaters during WWII, Coolidge earned the EAME Campaign Medal. The EAME Campaign Medal was established on 6 November 1942 and was awarded for service in the European, African, and/or Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1942 under conditions such as assignment or attachment to a unit present for duty during combat.
Coolidge has seven (7) service stars and two (2) arrowhead devices on his medal, although only one (1) arrowhead device is actually worn on the medal/ribbon. Each service star denotes participation in a particular campaign, while an arrowhead device denotes participation in an airborne or amphibious assault landing.​ The seven campaigns that Coolidge served in are Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. The two amphibious assaults he participated in were the landings at Salerno/Paestum (Operation Avalanche) on 9 September 1943 and Southern France (Operation Dragoon) on 15 August 1944.
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World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal was awarded to all members of the U.S. armed forces who served on active duty at any time between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.
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Army of Occupation Medal
The Army of Occupation Medal was awarded for 30 consecutive days of service while assigned to the the Army of Occupation of specific territories (Germany, Austria, Japan, etc.). For Germany, the period was 9 May 1945 to 5 May 1955. If service was between 9 May 1945 and 8 Nov 1945, the Army of Occupation Medal could only be awarded if the EAME Campaing Medal was already awarded. Since Charles Coolidge's unit remained in Europe after hostilities ended and his service in Germany in 1945 met those criteria, he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal.
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PRESIDENTial Unit Citation (PUC)
The Army's Presidential Unit Citation—originally known as the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC)—was created during World War II to recognize entire Army units for extraordinary heroism in combat. It was first authorized by Executive Order 9075 on February 26, 1942, which allowed the President to cite U.S. Army units for outstanding performance in action after December 7, 1941. A subsequent Executive Order 9396 on December 2, 1943, expanded this authority to include other U.S. and Allied military units. The Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded to units whose collective bravery and performance in battle were equivalent to the standard required for an individual to earn the Distinguished Service Cross. It was reserved for short periods of exceptionally intense combat and was not given for extended or routine operations. On November 3, 1966, the Distinguished Unit Citation was officially renamed the Presidential Unit Citation, and earlier DUC recipients were redesignated as PUC recipients. The award remains the highest unit-level honor in the U.S. Army, recognizing those rare occasions when a unit’s collective gallantry and effectiveness set it distinctly apart from others engaged in the same campaign.
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Click the document below to see the General Orders that awarded the 3rd Battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment with the Presidential Unit Citation.
FOREIGN Medals & Decorations
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Croix De Guerre (French)
The French Croix de Guerre (War Cross) is awarded to individuals and units who have been cited in orders of the armed forces of France for acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. A bronze palm device denotes a citation at the Army level. Charles Coolidge was awarded the Croix de Guerre with bronze palm device for his combat actions in France in 1944.
