World War II Honoree

Henry Christopher Drewes

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Jersey City, New Jersey

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Major. Served as the Commanding Officer of the Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, a subordinate unit of the 2nd Marine ‘The Silent Second’ Division in the Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army forces on the Island of Betio, ‘Battle of Tarawa’, Gilbert Islands, Code Name: Operation Galvanic. He died of wounds received on the battlefield Saturday November 20, 1943 on the first day of the invasion and he was buried at sea. In remembrance of the Brave, his name is recorded in the tablets of the Missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. Experienced combat in a previous operation/Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tulagi. He received the following awards and citations: Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Two Bronze Stars and the WWII Victory Medal. This Marine, an American Patriot awarded the Silver Star posthumously for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force. The Purple Heart was also, awarded posthumously, as he so gallantly gave his life for his country.