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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 descending Service Branch
SOM 2c Matthew Tompkins USN
Sea 1c Robert Turner USN
Sea 1c Anthony Vetters USN
Sea 1c Thomas Walker USN
Sea 2c Oliver Warren USN
StM 1c Lee Washington USN
Sea 2c Hugh Waycaster USN
MM 2c Worth Wellons USN
F 1c Joseph West USN
Y 3c Olin White USN
Cox Horace Whitfield USN
Y 2c Marvin Whitman USN
Sea 2c Clarence Wimbish USN
Sea 1c Gene Winfield USN
F 1c Edward Winston USN
MM 2c Walter Wojciechowski USN
MM 2c Thomas Wood USN
Sea 1c Ray York USN

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