Last updated: December 15, 2025
Person
Cantrell, Herbert Elson
Quick Facts
Significance:
USS Belleau Wood
Place of Birth:
Maury County, Tennessee
Date of Birth:
August 31, 1925
Place of Death:
Unknown
Date of Death:
February 29, 1944
Place of Burial:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Cemetery Name:
Stones River National Battlefield
Herbert Elson Cantrell was born on August 31, 1925, and grew up in Maury County, Tennessee, part of a generation shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression and the global conflict that followed. Like many young Americans of his era, Cantrell answered the call to serve his country during World War II, entering the United States Navy at a remarkably young age.
Cantrell served as a Seaman First Class, one of the Navy’s most demanding enlisted roles, responsible for shipboard operations essential to combat readiness. He was assigned to the USS Belleau Wood, an aircraft carrier that played a critical role in the South Pacific theater. The Belleau Wood participated in major operations against Japanese forces, supporting amphibious landings and providing air cover during some of the war’s fiercest battles.
Service aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific was perilous. Sailors faced constant threats from enemy aircraft, submarines, and the hazards of flight deck operations, all under extreme tropical conditions. Although details of Cantrell’s specific duties are limited, his service placed him directly in the heart of the Navy’s wartime effort to halt and reverse Japanese expansion across the Pacific.
Herbert Elson Cantrell died on February 29, 1944, during the height of World War II. He was just 18 years old. His life, though brief, reflects the sacrifice made by thousands of young service members whose futures were given in service to the nation.
Cantrell is buried at Stones River National Cemetery, where his grave, Plot P-6285, stands as a lasting reminder of his service and sacrifice. Visitors to the cemetery are invited to reflect on his story and the many others represented there, ensuring that their names and contributions are not forgotten.