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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
SC 2c Marvin Lemke USN
Lt(jg) Paul Hill USN
WT 3c Edward Devlin USN
SM 3c William Silakowski USN
F 1c John Pendleton USN
Sea 2c Darmon Stiner USN
F 1c Joseph West USN
Sea 2c Billy Barber USN
F 1c Arthur Clark USN
Sea 1c James Jackson USN
F 1c Bodie Lebo USN
HA 1c Phillip Holter USN
TM 3c Francis Dauncey USN
Sea 1c Gilbert Siebert USN
F 1c Leo Phillips USN
Sea 2c William Stallings USN
Y 3c Olin White USN
Cox Harvey Beeman USN
F 1c Willard Clark USN
MM 1c John Hunt USN

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