Sergeant Trantham was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 15 August 1950 and returned to duty on 15 August 1950. He was seriously injured again on 4 September 1950 and returned on 8 September 1950. He was seriously wounded again in South Korea on 15 August 1950 and died of those wounds on 2 October 1950.

Trantham was awarded the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.