Charles P. Cantrell

He rescued wounded men under fire near Santiago, Cuba, 1898.

Charles Patterson Cantrell served as a private in Company F, 10th U.S. Infantry, during the Spanish-American War. His Medal of Honor recognized his work rescuing wounded soldiers under heavy fire during the U.S. assault on Spanish positions near Santiago de Cuba on July 1, 1898. The battle formed part of the campaign to capture the heights and approaches to Santiago, where American troops faced entrenched Spanish defenders.

### Bringing wounded men in from the line

As the fighting raged, wounded soldiers lay exposed in front of the American lines. Cantrell went out under intense enemy fire to assist in bringing them back. The official citation is concise, but it identifies both the danger and the purpose of his action: he helped rescue wounded men from the open ground before the line. Cantrell was born in Smithville, Tennessee, in 1874. After his military service he lived in Nashville, where he died in 1948. He was buried at Nashville National Cemetery.

### Medal of Honor citation

“Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.”

### Sources

- Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Charles P. Cantrell,” recipient record and citation. - U.S. Army, Medal of Honor recipient records, Charles P. Cantrell entry. - Military Times, “Charles Cantrell,” Hall of Valor recipient record.