Serial # 06503
Commanding Officer, 2nd Amtrac Battalion, killed in action on 20 November.
Awarded the Silver Star on 20 November 1943:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major Henry C. Drewes, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20, 1943. Constantly subjected to a devastating barrage of enemy machine-gun and mortar fire, Major Drewes controlled landing operations and disposition of tractors, and successfully disembarked assault troops on designated beaches. Steadfastly remaining in an area which was under heavy hostile shellfire, he continued to direct operations, personally using his command tractor to evacuate casualties and ferry additional troops until he himself was mortally wounded. Major Drewes' grim determination, brilliant leadership and daring aggressiveness contributed immeasurably to the success of our operations in that area and reflect great credit upon himself, his command and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."
Last Known Activity
"For Wave One, the final 200 yards to the beach were the roughest, especially for those LVTs approaching Red Beaches One and Two. The vehicles were hammered by well-aimed fire from heavy and light machine guns and 40mm antiboat guns. The Marines fired back, expending 10,000 rounds from the .50-caliber machine guns mounted forward on each LVT-1. But the exposed gunners were easy targets, and dozens were cut down. Major Drewes, the LVT battalion commander who had worked so hard with Shoup to make this assault possible, took over one machine gun from a fallen crewman and was immediately killed by a bullet through the brain. Captain Fenlon A. Durand, one of Drewes' company commanders, saw a Japanese officer standing defiantly on the sea wall waving a pistol, "just daring us to come ashore."
Source: Fold 3
"Capt. Henry C. Drewes, commander of Company A, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, loves excitement and expects to get plenty of it as skipper of an outfit which will accompany landing forces of Marines." Credit - Tribune Sun
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Created 7 November 2004- 31 January 2020
