Henry C Drexler-Arlington VA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 38° 52.302 W 077° 04.068
18S E 320614 N 4304571
Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient for action on board the USS Trenton on October 20, 1924. He lost his life during this accident. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 4, site 3051.
Waymark Code: WMWTTE
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 10/13/2017
Views: 0
He was born on August 7, 1901 in Braddock, PA and died on October 20, 1924 in Norfolk VA. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *DREXLER, HENRY CLAY
• Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Navy
• Accredited to: Pennsylvania
• Awarded by Special Act of Congress, 3 February 1933
• Other Navy award: Navy Cross
Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of a fire on board the U.S.S. Trenton. At 3:35 on the afternoon of 20 October 1924, while the Trenton was preparing to fire trial installation shots from the two 6-inch guns in the forward twin mount of that vessel, 2 charges of powder ignited. Twenty men were trapped in the twin mount. Four died almost immediately and 10 later from burns and inhalation of flame and gases. The 6 others were severely injured. Ens. Drexler, without thought of his own safety, on seeing that the charge of powder for the left gun was ignited, jumped for the right charge and endeavored to put it in the immersion tank. The left charge burst into flame and ignited the right charge before Ens. Drexler could accomplish his purpose. He met his death while making a supreme effort to save his shipmates.
Armed Service: Navy
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