HENRY C. DREXLER, ENS, USN
Henry Drexler '24
Lucky Bag
From the 1924 Lucky Bag:
HENRY CLAY DREXLER
Bethany Beach, Delaware
"Slim"
"NOW, ladies and gentlemen, you are about to behold one of the greatest spectacles ever———" Everybody who saw the Gymkhana Second Class year remembers those words spoken by the ringmaster. And I suspect that most of the drags asked who was the tall figure with the top hat, red coat and white breeches. And they probably got the casual reply "Oh, that's Drexler," as if everybody knew him.
Another picture—after taps. Lights out. A crash and a flurry of paper. "Damn that shoe and these women, too." "Drex" had stumbled and pulled down that array of feminine charms which completely covered his locker door. You know, if you know him at all, that women are his specialty. He has them from New York to Seattle, and from "Frisco" back to Chester, Pennsylvania. But, despite such handicaps—women, I mean—by his work and loyalty to '24 he has shown the merits of a classmate and friend.
Crew Squad (4, 3); Masqueraders (4); Gymkhana (4, 3, 2); Hop Committee (3); Buzzard (2); Black N****; Class Track (2).
HENRY CLAY DREXLER
Bethany Beach, Delaware
"Slim"
"NOW, ladies and gentlemen, you are about to behold one of the greatest spectacles ever———" Everybody who saw the Gymkhana Second Class year remembers those words spoken by the ringmaster. And I suspect that most of the drags asked who was the tall figure with the top hat, red coat and white breeches. And they probably got the casual reply "Oh, that's Drexler," as if everybody knew him.
Another picture—after taps. Lights out. A crash and a flurry of paper. "Damn that shoe and these women, too." "Drex" had stumbled and pulled down that array of feminine charms which completely covered his locker door. You know, if you know him at all, that women are his specialty. He has them from New York to Seattle, and from "Frisco" back to Chester, Pennsylvania. But, despite such handicaps—women, I mean—by his work and loyalty to '24 he has shown the merits of a classmate and friend.
Crew Squad (4, 3); Masqueraders (4); Gymkhana (4, 3, 2); Hop Committee (3); Buzzard (2); Black N****; Class Track (2).
Loss
Henry was lost on October 20, 1924 when powder bags exploded in the forward gun turret of USS Trenton (CL 11) during gunnery exercises off the coast of Virginia.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
At Culver Military Academy, Henry was in “E” Company and a member of the Wireless Squad of the R. O. T. C. In 1917, he and his brother were both listed in the German Club. Henry was in the Infantry Unit. His snapshots were used in the school’s annual.
From Wikipedia:
Born in Braddock, Pennsylvania, on August 7, 1901, Drexler grew up in a seaside home in Bethany Beach, Delaware. His father, Louis Drexler, was a Delaware state senator. The family home still stands in Bethany Beach, although it has been moved further inland. Attended Culver Military Academy located in Culver, Indiana. Like his older brother Louis, Henry Drexler attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in June 1924.
On October 20, 1924, while Trenton (CL-11) was conducting gunnery drills in the Norfolk area, powder bags in her forward turret exploded, killing or injuring every member of the gun crew. During the ensuing fire Ensign Drexler and Boatswain's Mate First Class George Robert Cholister attempted to dump powder charges into the immersion tank before they detonated but failed. Drexler was killed when the charge exploded, and Cholister was overcome by fire and fumes before he could reach his objective. He died the following day. Both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
He was survived by his parents and an older brother, Louis '23.
Henry is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Family
His brother, Louis Drexler, Jr. '23, was killed in action during the invasion of Okinawa in 1945.
Medal of Honor
From Hall of Heroes:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Ensign Henry Clay Drexler, United States Navy, 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, two charges of powder ignited. Twenty men were trapped in the twin mount. Four died almost immediately and ten later from burns and inhalation of flame and gases. The six others were severely injured. Ensign 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 Ensign Drexler could accomplish his purpose. He met his death while making a supreme effort to save his shipmates.
General Orders: Awarded by Special Act of Congress, 3 February 1933
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Trenton (CL 11)
From Hall of Heroes:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Henry Clay Drexler, United States Navy, 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, two charges of powder ignited. Twenty men were trapped in the twin mount. Four died almost immediately and ten later from burns and inhalation of flame and gases. The six others were severely injured. Ensign 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 Ensign Drexler could accomplish his purpose. He met his death while making a supreme effort to save his shipmates.
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Trenton (CL 11)
Cartoon
"Vignette giving details on why Ensign Drexler received the Medal of Honor for actions taken on board USS TRENTON on 20 October 1924. Courtesy of the artist, 1978. Published in the Navy Times." From the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Namesake
USS Drexler (DD 741) was named for Henry; the ship was sponsored by his mother.
Memorial
Henry's classmates erected a plaque in his honor in Memorial Hall.
Henry is one of 42 members of the Class of 1924 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
