ONCE UPON A TIME -

On the 28th day of May, 1945, the suiciders delivered another all-out onslaught on the picket line.  During all four weeks of the month the only let up in the "kamikaze" offensive had come when rain grounded the planes.  Destroyers HUDSON, EVANS, HUGH W HADLEY, BAGHE, DOUGLAS H. FOX, STORMES, BRAINE, and ANTHONY, and destroyers-es-suiciders during this period.  It was just that the "Devine Wind" blew a little harder on the 28th.  And destroyer Drexler was lost in the tempest.

Skippered by Commander R.L. Wilson, the Drexler was standing Okinawa radar picket duty .  On station with her was destroyer Lowery and two picket support craft.  DREXLER had totaled 15 days as an Okinawa radar picket, in which time she had become only too wee acquainted with the all-or-nothing "Kikusui" program. 

On May 28th Kamikazes flew over the picket line in swarms.   And some 15 were reported "splashed" that day.  Influence ammunition, "double-banking", and CAP cover were exterminating more and more of the arial suiciders.  But not enough for the saving of the USS DREXLER.  During the latter part of the morning watch six Kamikazes broke through the screen shielding the DREXLER-LOWERY group.  This suicide squad made a coordinated attack on DREXLER.

Riddled by DREXLER'S fire two of the planes plunged into the sea.   And two failed to strike the ship.  But the remaining two, power-diving, rammed the destroyer full-gun.  The blaze of the second strike opened DREXLER'S deck to the sky, and threw her over on her beam.  She returned to an even keel.

Tons of water sluiced into her torn hill, swamping her lower compartments.  Deeper and deeper her beam went under, until she was lying on her side in the sea.  Just 49 seconds after the final suicide strike, the ship rolled over with a great splash and went down. 

Nearly all hands below decks were imprisoned in the vessel.   Those topside were either flung or managed to jump from the ship as it capsized.   The "Pall Bearers" stood in to rescue.  About 170 officers and men were picked up, 51 of their number were wounded.  One hundred and fifty-eight crewmen and eight officers died with the ship. 

Captain C.A. Buchanan, ComDesRon 63 wrote of the DREXLER,

"The Squadron Commander feels that the DREXLER's combat record, though short, is one of which she can well be proud.  As of 28 May, 1945, she had preformed radar picket duty, off Okinawa, during a busy period, for a total of 15 days.  During this period she shot down two suicide planes, possibly destroyed one or more during night attacks, assisted in destruction of three more and, finally, took two down with her."

HALLIGAN, BUSH, COLHOUN, MANNERT L. ABELE, PRINGLE, LITTLE, LUCE, MORRISON, OBERRENDER, LONGSHAW, DREXLER-- the Navy's destroyermen were taking it in "Operations Iceberg."  And four more DD's were to go down before the Okinawa Campaign was over.

United States DESTROYER OPERATIONS In World II