FOR THE CAPTION HOVER YOUR MOUSE POINTER ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW AND CLICK TO ENLARGE THE PICTURE.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 DEC 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 NOV 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 held every month on the second Thursday at 6:30 PM in Fuller Memorial Community Center of Collegedale (Tennessee) City Hall, 4910 Swinyar Drive, ZIP 37315-1880.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 OCT 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 SEP 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 8 AUG 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697. Photographs courtesy of QUARTERMASTER Paul Bobenhausen.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 JUL 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 JUN 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Glimpses of the 02 MAY 2013 Veterans Memorial Park yearly State Flag replacement project.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 APR 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
Link to Veterans Service Records and our Home Page for more information.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 MAR 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
14 MAR 2013: CROOKED CREEK Band Selection 1
14 MAR 2013: CROOKED CREEK Band Selection 2
14 MAR 2013: CROOKED CREEK Band Selection 3
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 FEB 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 JAN 2013 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
10 JAN 2013: Don Gettys-Ken Oliver, the MINI-STEAM ENGINE HOBBYISTS Display 1
10 JAN 2013: Don Gettys-Ken Oliver, the MINI-STEAM ENGINE HOBBYISTS Display 2
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 DEC 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 NOV 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697. Our meetings are monthly on the Second Thursday at 6:30 PM in Fuller Memorial Community Center of Collegedale City Hall.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 OCT 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 SEP 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
http://www.hamiltontn.gov/trustee/ is the official Web site of the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Trustee.
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 AUG 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 JUL 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Scenes from the 2012 Independence Day celebration observed on 03 JUL 2012 in Veterans Memorial Park, Collegedale, Tennessee. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the American colonies' separation from Great Britain (see Today in History: July 4).
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 JUN 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in the East Room of Collegedale City Hall's FULLER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/03/marines-helping-afghans-do-things-afghan-way/ links to the Chattanooga Times Free Press article written by Marcus L. Sheffield, Ph.D.
At the 63rd Anniversary Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Armed Forces Luncheon in the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, 04 MAY 2012:
COOLIDGE, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date:
East of Belmont sur Buttant, France, 24 - 27 October 1944. Entered service at:
Signal Mountain, Tenn. Birth: Signal Mountain, Tenn. G.O.
No.: 53, July 1945.
Citation:
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 24 October 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 26 October 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 27 October, German infantry, supported by 2 tanks, 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 grenades 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.
Charles H. Coolidge's MEDAL OF HONOR Citation was linked from http://homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/ii_a_coolidge.html
From left: POST COMMANDER Dave Turner,
CHAPLAIN Jack Blanco,
QUARTERMASTER William C. Merritt,
SERVICE OFFICER Lewis L. Szerecz,
ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN James Durichek,
SURGEON Jack Rollins,
ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER Sam James,
JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER Don Hunt.
BELOW: Fire Chief Duane Pitts of the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department was the special guest at the 02 FEB 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in the FULLER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER of Collegedale City Hall.
The regular meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 on 12 JAN 2012 featured the gospel singing of Jody Massey, presenting favorites such as Peace in the Valley and How Great Thou Art. He also sang Have I Told You Lately. Thank You notes from Southern Adventist University Students Lorraine A. Rollins and Matthew A. Ancel were read expressing their appreciation for receiving $500.00 Worthy Student checks at the 08 DEC 2011 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 JAN 2012 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in the East Room of Collegedale City Hall's FULLER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 DEC 2011 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 Christmas Party held in the East Room of Collegedale City Hall's FULLER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
BELOW: Scenes from the 03 DEC 2011 Flag Retirement Ceremony conducted by Boy Scouts of America Troop 147 (Sponsor: Ooltewah, Tennessee, United Methodist Church).
This special event to properly and respectfully dispose of 18 unserviceable American flags was initiated by Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257, Collegedale, Tennessee. The metal drum was donated by W. R. Grace & Co. of Chattanooga, Tennessee and custom modified by the Collegedale Public Works Department.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 NOV 2011 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in Collegedale City Hall.
BELOW: Highlights from the 23 OCT 2011 Flea Market at Southern Adventist University.
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 OCT 2011 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in Collegedale City Hall.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 SEP 2011 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in Collegedale City Hall.