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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
MM 3c Edward Akanowicz USN
F 1c George Amburgey USN
Sea 1c Delmor Bailey USN
F 1c Robert Baird USN
Sea 2c Billy Barber USN
Cox Harvey Beeman USN
Sea 1c Leo Bisson USN
SSM 3c Robert Black USN
EM 1c Daniel Boden USN
Sea 1c Kenneth Boyer USNR
F 1c Glen Bridges USN
F 1c Earl Brixius USN
GM 2c Alphonse Buinicki USN
Sea 1c Robert Burleigh USN
Sea 1c Euell Cantrell USN
Sea 1c William Carl USN
Sea 2c John Carrier USN
F 1c Harry Carruthers USN
F 1c Dennis Cartwright USN
Cox Gaetano Caruso USN

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