World War II Honoree

Sandwith Drinker

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ned Drinker

Relationship

Nephew

Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in March 1942. Attended the Quantico Officer Candidate School. Appointed second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on August 25, 1943. Assigned to Company A, 5th Motor Transport Battalion, 5th Marine Division until his deployment to Iwo Jima on January 1, 1945. Promoted to first lieutenant on February 28, 1945. was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima on March 14, 1945, as a result of wounds he had received the day before, on March 13, from sniper fire. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his exceptional bravery for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Machine-Gun Platoon Leader" during operations on Iwo Jima, where he saved and protected his comrades under intense enemy fire before being fatally wounded. He was initially recommended for the Navy Cross posthumously, but the award was ultimately downgraded to a Silver Star by the award committee.