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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

Name Service Branchsort descending
F 1c Glen Bridges USN
EM 2c Thomas Cunerd USN
StM 1c Clarence Johnson USN
EM 2c Aurel Mathieu USN
Sea 1c Ernest Hall USN
BM 1c Charles Edwards USN
Sea 2c Thomas Reilly USN
Sea 2c Eugene Pressley USN
Sea 1c Thomas Walker USN
Sea 2c Oliver Warren USN
F 1c Earl Brixius USN
QM 3c Russell Dague USN
Sea 1c Robert Johnson USN
Sea 2c Ralph Marchant USN
GM 2c James Hannah USN
F 1c Robert Ferguson USN
Lt Walter Rupert USN
Sea 2c Steve Prestridge USN
Sea 1c Anthony Vetters USN
MM 2c Worth Wellons USN

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