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Drury, John Edward

Date of birth:
April 13th, 1925
Date of death:
April 2nd, 1945 (Marianas Islands)
Buried on:
Rock Island National Cemetery
Plot: E. Grave: 352.
Nationality:
American

Biography

Class of 1942. Fire Controlman 3rd Class, US Navy. USS Goodbue (APA-107), assigned to the Okinawa Ground Assault & Occupation; Cascode 121. His parents lived at 6216 S. Dorchester, Chicago.

The Goodbue was at Kerama Retto (an island about 20 miles southwest of Okinawa) during the initial landings 1 April and while returning to sea the evening of 2 April underwent a heavy air attack. As gunners from Goodhue, screen ships, and other transports fired furiously, suicide planes attempted to crash the loaded ships. Goodhue's gunners splashed a plane on the starboard quarter, but another headed directly for her from dead ahead. Unable to bring her full firepower to bear in that direction, Goodhue could not divert the attacker, which hit the mainmast and fell astern of the ship. Exploding bombs from the aircraft caused many casualties and fires, killing 27 and wounding 117, but the ship did not suffer serious structural damage and was able to continue.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Fire Controlman 3rd Class
Unit:
U.S.S. Goodbue (APA-107), U.S. Navy
Awarded for:
Operation Iceberg
Purple Heart

Sources