December 1944

First Cruise - Broad Sound 12/2/44

First firing exercise - North of Provincetown: 12/2/44

Left Boston on Shakedown Cruise to Bermuda: 12/6/44

Arrived in Bermuda: 12/8/44

Shakedown Exercised: 12/10/44 to 1/6/45

Ships which U.S.S. Drexler operated with during this period:

U.S.S. Williams DE372

U.S.S. Speri - Submarine

U.S.S. Compton DD 705

U.S.S. Scribner APD 122

U.S.S. Kennebec

U.S.S. Cunningham DD 752

U.S.S. Gainard DD 706

U.S.S. Soley DD 707

January 1945

Left Bermuda fro return trip to Boston: 1/9/45

Arrived at Boston Navy Yard:1/11/45

Left Boston for Engineering tests and proceeded to Hampton Roads, Virginia: 1/22/45

Left Hampton Roads with U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard CV-31, and U.S.S. Shurbrick DD 639, bound for Trinidad, B.W.I.: 1/23/45

Arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad, B.W.I. at 1005 1/29/45

Left Trindad at 1703 1/29/45 with U.S.S. Shurbrick DD 639 bound for Panama

February 1945

Arrived Colon Harbor, Panama at 0830 at anchor on 2/1/45

Proceeded through Panama Canal at 0914 on 2/1/45

Arrived Balboa, Panama at 2035 on 2/1/45

Left Balboa, Panama at 1411 on 2/2/45 wi8th U.S.S. Shurbrick DD 639 headed for San Francisco

Arrived U.S. Destroyer Base, San Diego at 1141 on 2/10/45

Left San Diego for San Pedro harbor at 0735 on 2/13/45

Arrived San Pedro harbor at 1630 at anchor on 2/13/45

Left San Pedro harbor at 1838 on 2/13/45, Destination - Pearl Harbor

Arrived Pearl Harbor at 1252 on 2/13/45

Exercises with U.S.S. Massey DD 778 and U.S.S. Morrison DD 560 on 2/21/45 and 2/22/45

Left Pearl Harbor at 0946 on 2/23/45 for Guadalcanal. Task Unit comprised of U.S.S. Suwanee CVE 27, U.S.S. Chenango CVE 28, U.S.S. Massey DD 778 and U.S.S. Drexler DD 741

Last "OFFICIAL" Deck Log Entry while underway: 2/25/45

The following dates, places, and events were compiled from U.S. Navcy records, as well as recollections and letters from the men of the Drexler. The official logs were lost with the ship.

March 1945

Crossed Equator: 3/2/45

Arrived at Pruvis Bay, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands: 3/5/45

Arrived at Ulithi (Staging area prior to invasion of Okinawa): 3/25/45

Left Ulithi for the invasion of Okinawa: 3/27/45

April 1945

Invasion of Okinawa: 4/1/45 to 4/30/45

Drexler was part of Task Force 52, Task Group 52.1, Unit 3 under command of Rear Admiral Sample. Drexler provided escort with other sips to (4) Carriers: SUEANEE, CHENAGO, SANTEE AND SANGAMON.

Relieved of escort duty and proceeded ito Kerama Retto prior to radar picket duty: 4/30/45

May 1945

First assignment on picket duty station. Patrolling with USS Wadsworth: 5/2/45

On this day the Drexler splashed it's first Japanese plane in daylight hours. We had to share credit with the USS Wadsworth, although it was evident that our 5" shells hit the plane. Another enemy plane retreated after we got the first one. 5/4/45

Invasion of Tori Shima (Bird Sanctuary). We were the main bombardment vessel in this invasion. 5/12/45

During the month of May, the USS Drexler served on several picket stations and at least on two occasions had to be relieved prior to the normal five day tour of duty because we were low on flash less powder and certain types of ammunition.

Several sources of information indicated that the Drexler served a total of 15 days on radar picket duty.

USS Drexler was sunk by two Japanese Kamikaze planes reported to be twin engine Frances. 5/28/45