IOWA
FLOYD R. DRAKE, 2nd Lt., Infantry, Hinton.
FOR: While leading his infantry platoon to Hill 1190 in the vicinity of ______, on Jan. 8, 1944, Lt. Drake was seriously wounded by machine gun fire. But he would not allow himself to succumb. He crawled, being too weak to walk, to a vantage point from which he successfully directed his platoon all through the day. Though suffering much pain, he talked to his men and encouraged them to carry on the fight, thus keeping the enemy at a disadvantage. When Lt. Drake was evacuated, almost 12 hours after he was wounded, he was still conscious and in complete control of the situation.
Source: U.S. War Department, Press Releases 1942-1945
IOWA WAR HERO MAKING TALKS ON CORN PROGRAM
Lieut. Floyd R. Drake, Iowa war hero, who also holds the Legion of Merit, is making a series of Army talks in several northwest Iowa counties this week—counties from which came many of the Iowa soldiers who served with him in Africa and Italy.
Lieut. Drake has joined the Army’s corn counties tour, to tell the farmers of his personal experiences overseas and also how products from corn are playing a vital part in the winning of the war, being used in some 50 essential war products.
He spoke Monday night at Denison to a large crowd, along with other Army speakers. The programs also are featuring restricted War Department films of the bloody fighting at Tarawa, and in Italy and Africa. These films have never been shown in this area. This week he is talking at several other towns, including Ida Grove, Sloan, Cherokee, Primghar and Sioux Center. Next week he will make talks with the Army team in Lyon, Plymouth, and Clay counties, the schedules to be announced.
All farmers are urged by their County AAA committeemen to attend these meetings and hear Lieut. Drake’s experiences, as well as see vital war films which show how corn is aiding the progress of the war in countless ways.
Lieut. Drake was twice wounded in action, won the Purple Heart and was commissioned direct on the field of battle at Venefro, Italy, last Christmas Day, for heroism.
He won the Legion of Merit for outstanding military achievement in the African campaign.
Source: Akron Register-Tribune, May 18, 1944
LIEUT. FLOYD DRAKE, CHATSWORTH MAN, CITED FOR COURAGE
An Iowan who “would not allow himself to succumb” although he was too weak from bullet wounds to walk has been awarded the silver star for heroism while leading his infantry platoon to a hill in Italy last January 8, the War Department announced Friday.
He was Second Lieutenant Floyd R. Drake of Chatsworth. The citation accompanying the award said that “he was wounded by machine gun fire, but he would not allow himself to succumb. He crawled, being too weak to walk, to a vantage point from which he successfully directed his platoon all through the day.”
“Though suffering much pain, he talked to his men and encouraged them to carry on the fight, thus keeping the enemy at disadvantage. When he was evacuated, almost 12 hours after he was wounded, he was still conscious and in complete control of the situation.”
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, July 25, 1944
Floyd Raymond Drake was born Aug. 21, 1921 to Edward Franklin and Lucy Lepper Drake. He died Aug. 3, 1946 and is buried in Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL.
1st Lt. Drake served with the U.S. Army 34th Infantry. He was commissioned in the field in North Africa, and was wounded in Casino, Italy. He was awarded the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, and the Good Conduct Medal, was authorized to wear the European theatre ribbon with three stars, the American theater, Pre-Pearl Harbor, American Defense, and Victory ribbons, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. At the time of his death, Lt. Drake was serving in the capacity of Commanding Officer of the reconditioning battalion, at O’Reilly General Hospital, while in a patient status himself.
Source: ancestry.com
