Charles Cawetzka

He stayed to defend a wounded comrade against superior force

Charles Cawetzka was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 1, 1877, and entered U.S. Army service from Wayne, Michigan. During the Philippine-American War he served in Company F, 30th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. His Medal of Honor was awarded for an action near Sariaya, on Luzon, on August 23, 1900.

The citation describes a decisive act of protection: Cawetzka defended a disabled comrade by himself against a much larger enemy force. The recognition came in 1902, as the Army acknowledged the courage required to stay beside a helpless fellow soldier while facing overwhelming odds.

Before his Philippine service, Cawetzka worked as a carpenter in Chicago. He enlisted in Company I, 7th Illinois Infantry, in May 1898 and was discharged that October. This regiment remained in the United States during the war with Spain. In July 1899 he reenlisted in the 30th U.S. Volunteer Infantry at Wayne, Michigan.

His overseas service ended when the regiment returned to San Francisco and mustered out in April 1901. He received a military pension in 1902 and married Clara Cross in December that year; they had eight children. Cawetzka died on 23 October 1951 and was buried at Romulus Cemetery in Michigan. His record preserves the essential reason for his Medal of Honor: in danger, he put a wounded comrade’s safety ahead of his own.

### Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company F, 30th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: Near Sariaya, Luzon, Philippine Islands, August 23, 1900. Entered service at: Wayne, Michigan. Birth: Detroit, Michigan. Date of issue: March 14, 1902. Citation: “Single-handed he defended a disabled comrade against a greatly superior force of the enemy.”

### Sources

- U.S. Army, “Philippine Insurrection Medal of Honor Recipients,” Charles Cawetzka entry. - Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Charles Cawetzka,” Philippine Insurrection recipient record. - National Medal of Honor Museum, “Cawetzka, Charles,” recipient profile.