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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
Cox Harvey Beeman USN
F 1c Willard Clark USN
MM 1c John Hunt USN
Sea 2c Elmer Lewis USN
Cox Samuel Holt USN
Sea 1c Edward Daniels USN
F 1c Russell Shaw USN
Sea 1c Gilbert Priddy USN
Lt(jg) Herman Stalter USN
Cox Horace Whitfield USN
Sea 1c Leo Bisson USN
Sea 2c Gerald Cobbe USN
MM 3c John Hughes USN
Sea 1c James Lewis USN
Sea 1c Walter Harper USN
Sea 1c Anthony Dzikas USN
Sea 2c Edmond Robinson USN
FC 3c Everett Pollard USN
F 1c Joe Stangle USN
Y 2c Marvin Whitman USN

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