Born: 1 April 1865, Chile
Died: 25 August 1890
Country most active: Chile
Also known as: NA
Irene Morales Infante was a Chilean soldier who served in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) between Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Born in a barrio of Santiago, she lived in poverty throughout her life, working from an early age as a seamstress. When the war began, she had already been orphaned and twice widowed, at only 13 years old. She tried to disguise herself as a man and enlist as a soldier in the Chilean army. This failed, but she was allowed to join as an unofficial cantinière (canteen worker) and military nurse, marching alongside the infantrymen to sell food and drink, and caring for the wounded.
Despite being given a noncombatant role, she fought alongside the men of her unit in the battles at Pisagua and San Francisco during the Tarapacá Campaign in late 1879. Her bravery in these battles and her care for wounded men drew the attention of Chilean commander-in-chief Manuel Baquedano, who gave her official recognition and the rank of sergeant. She served in the army for the duration of the war and was famously courageous again at the Battle of Tacna in 1880. After the war, she returned to civilian life and died at only 25. While she is now considered one of Chile’s greatest heroes of the war, her service only became widely known after her death.