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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Ensign Henry C. Drexler, USN, (1901-1924)

Henry Clay Drexler was born on 7 August 1901 in Braddock, Pennsylvania. He was appointed from Delaware to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and was commissioned an Ensign upon his graduation in June 1924. Drexler served on board USS Trenton when she suffered a gun-mount explosion on 20 October 1924, which took the lives of numerous crewmen. Drexler endeavored to stop the fire but lost his life in this attempt to save his shipmates. For his "extraordinary heroism" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Henry C. Drexler is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

USS Drexler (DD-741), 1944-1945, was named in honor of Ensign Henry C. Drexler.

This page features the only image we have concerning Henry C. Drexler.

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Photo #: NH 66702 Ensign Henry C. Drexler, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the U.S. Naval Academy publication "The Lucky Bag, 1924", page 72. Henry C. Drexler was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" during the gun-mount explosion on board USS Trenton (CL-11) on 20 October 1924. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 59KB; 540 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Ensign Henry C. Drexler, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 130): "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 10 later from burns and inhalation of flames 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."

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Page made 24 January 2008