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name
DRAKE, Nathan Franklin - Date of
birth
9 August 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Missoula, Missoula County, Montana -
Hometown
New Castle County, Delaware
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-382849 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
11th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 September 1944 - Place of
death
Fort Saint-Blaize, Féy, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 28 | 39 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Willard M. Drake (father)
Bertha (Woodbury) Drake (mother)
Nancy Drake (sister)
Willard M. Drake Jr. (brother)
John R. Drake (brother)
Arthur H. Drake (brother)
Edith K. (Gillette) Drake (wife)
Nathalia A. Drake (daughter)
More information
Lt Nathan F. Drake graduated from Vineland High School in 1933 and the Drexel Institute of Technology in 1939 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was employed in the Kimble Glass Company laboratory.Lt Nathan Drake leaned over a wounded German soldier to ask him a question. As the lieutenant straightened and raised his head, one of three German rifleman, hidden scarcely ten yards away, shot him through the forehead. He died instantly.
On 15 June 1945 two local civilians who were taking a walk, discovered the unburied remains of Lt Drake about 60 yards south of Fort St.-Blaize. One identification tag was found on the body. After comparison of the Report of Physical Examination and tooth chart, Lt Drake's remains could be positively identified.
He was given his final resting place at Lorraine Cemetery on 13 January 1949.
Source of information: Leo Minne, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, "A footsoldier for Patton" - Michael C. Bilder/James G. Bilder, The 5th Infantry division in the ETO, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Journal (Vineland, New Jersey), IDPF, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Marshall and Mary McIntyre, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Journal, Drexel Institute 1939