James Robb Church

He carried wounded men back through gunfire at Las Guasimas.

James Robb Church was born in Chicago on 1 January 1866. After studying medicine at Columbia, he qualified in 1893 and entered military medical service. During the war with Spain he became assistant surgeon with the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, the Rough Riders.

On 24 June 1898, the regiment fought at Las Guasimas in Cuba. Church repeatedly left safety to recover seriously wounded men from the firing line. Working without assistance, he carried them to sheltered positions while exposed to heavy Spanish fire. His conduct went beyond his immediate medical duties and earned the Medal of Honor.

The fighting was followed by another medical emergency as disease spread through the troops. Church continued caring for the regiment’s sick and wounded, and he subsequently received an appointment in the regular Army. By the time of his Medal of Honor presentation on 10 January 1906, he was a captain. President Theodore Roosevelt, his former regimental commander, presented the decoration at the White House.

Church remained an Army doctor and developed an interest in the treatment of battlefield casualties. In November 1915, before the United States entered the European war, he was sent to observe the French Army. His reports examined medical organization and the effects of chemical warfare. They contributed to the Army’s growing understanding of gas casualties.

He continued serving during the First World War and recorded his experience in The Doctor’s Part, published in 1918. The book brought military medicine and the practical care of wounded soldiers before a wider American readership.

Church reached the rank of colonel before leaving the Army. He died in Washington on 18 May 1923 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His career combined direct rescue under fire with the less visible work of improving the treatment of those injured in later wars.

Official citation:

In addition to performing gallantly the duties pertaining to his position, voluntarily and unaided, carried several seriously wounded men from the firing line to a secure position in the rear, in each instance being subjected to a very heavy fire and great exposure and danger.