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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Drexler

Ship Designation: 
DD-741
Date Lost: 
Monday, May 28, 1945
Kamikaze Attacks near Okinawa
While operating as a radar picket off Okinawa, Drexler was attacked at 0700 by two kamikazes. ... The combined firepower of Lowry (DD 770) and Drexler successfully knocked down the first attacking aircraft. The second aircraft glanced into Drexler cutting off power and starting a large gasoline fire. ... Despite the damage, Drexler kept firing and splashed three more attacking aircraft that had entered the area. ... At 0730 another kamikaze crashed into Drexler’s superstructure which was quickly followed by a tremendous explosion. The ship quickly rolled over on her starboard side and sank stern first in less than a minute after being hit. ... 168 of the crew died and another 52 were seriously wounded.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 158

Namesort ascending Service Branch
Lt(jg) Paul Hill USN
Lt Eugene Hicks USN
MM 2c Raymond Herdina USN
CMOMM Robert Hart USN
Sea 1c Walter Harper USN
GM 2c James Hannah USN
GM 3c Leonard Hall USN
Sea 1c Ernest Hall USN
F 1c Kenneth Gruber USN
CWT James Gray USN
Lt(jg) Clark Grant USN
TM 3c Bernard Gannon USN
CMM Frank Ganem USN
TM 1c Robert Furno USN
MM 3c Robert Frederick USN
MM 1c Edward Forman USN
MM 3c James Foley USN
Sea 1c Homer Fleming USN
F 1c Robert Ferguson USN
BM 1c Charles Edwards USN

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Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)