According to a news article published in the November 19, 1918 Minneapolis Morning Tribune, Private Carl O. Wenell was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery during World War I. The article states that Wenell was a member of the medical corps of the 151st Field Artillery. Wenell was awarded the medal for rescuing wounded men from German artillery fire. According to the article a call was made for volunteers to rescue the men and Wenell made his way into No Man's Land where he reached the soldiers, dressed their wounds and single handed carried them to shelter while shells were falling around him as he worked.

Carl Wenell was the son of Sgt. August Wenell of the Minneapolis Police Department, and brother of Pvt. Lawrence Wenell, the first soldier from Minneapolis to die in action on the Western Front.

Additional Biography:
Carl Otto Wenell was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 23, 1898. His parents were August and Laura Turnquist Wenell. His father was an officer with the Minneapolis Police Department. Carl was the fifth of sixteen children. In 1921, Carl was making his living as a chauffeur. On June 11 of that year, he married Lois Barnard in Minneapolis. She was the daughter of Moses and Jennie Dickson Barnard. 1921 also brought another change for Carl, he was hired by the Minneapolis Police Department. Carl and Lois had a boy and a girl by 1930. They were living at 4345-13th Avenue South. In 1928, Carl was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Central Station. Lois and Carl had another son in 1933. In 1942, Carl was promoted to Lieutenant. He was still working for the MPD in 1952 when he died on May sixth. Carl is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Richfield, Minnesota. Carl is part of a police family, his father August and his brother Russell were also MPD officers. His brother Everett was a Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputy

Ken Smith #46985536