Drewrys in the
Modern Military


US Army

Brigadier General Guy Humphrey Drewry, US Army, was born at LaCrosse, Virginia, October 16, 1894. He attended Horner Military School and graduated Virginia Military Institute, 1916. He entered the Coast Artillery at Fortress Monroe, Virginia and was commissioned 2nd Lt., US Army in March, 1917. He served in Florida and the Philippines before being transferred to the ordnance department in 1921 when he was then assigned to Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, then Ft. Benning, Georgia and, in 1926, to the office of the Chief of Ordnance. On assignment at the Springfield Arsenal, Springfield, Massachusetts, Guy Drewry worked with John C. Garand in developing the M-1 rifle of World War II fame. He returned to Washington to direct the small arms procurement office in 1935 and was appointed a brigadier general in 1941. During World War II he commanded the Springfield Ordnance District and was responsible for procuring $2 billion worth of munitions from industry in New England. General Guy Drewry retired from the US Army in 1946. Guy Humphrey Drewry married Louise Smith Northington, September 15, 1917. He died April 6, 1973. Guy Humphrey Drewry started a long family tradition when his son, Guy, Jr., and grandson, Guy, III, also his namesake, graduated from Virginia Military Institute and entered the US Army.

Brigadier General Ivey Oscar Drewry, US Army (retired 1969) (picture), was born at Birmingham, Alabama, December 17, 1915. Ivey graduated Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, 1939 and began his Army career September 1, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland. His early duties were in quality control of ammunition loading at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, later being transferred to War Plans of ammunition loading plants design and construction of plants. At age 29, Ivey became the commanding officer of the 130th Ordnance Battalion, 8th Armored Division. Ivey served in Europe 1944 - 45, in France, Rhineland and Central Germany. In the closing days of the war in Europe Ivey was transferred to the 1st Army Headquarters and reassigned to the Philippine Islands. There he helped plan for the invasion of Japan. At the end of the war, Ivey returned to the United States and, in 1946, was assigned to the US Constabulary Occupation Forces in Germany. Returning to the United States in 1949 Ivey attended the University of Michigan Graduate School of Engineering. He was then assigned to the Pentagon in Research Engineering, Climatic Test Program; Detroit Tank Arsenal as Comptroller; then to Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk; and Picatinny Arsenal where he became Commanding Officer. From Picatinny he returned to the Pentagon again; then Industrial College in Washington. In the early 1960's Ivey served in Korea as Senior Ordnance Officer, 1st ROK Army (KMAG). Ivey's final assignment with the Army was as the program manager, Strategic Missile Command, 1962 - 1969, at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. On August 31, 1969, after 30 years service, Ivey retired from the US Army. Decorations include Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Honor. In his retirement Ivey worked 15 years as a consultant in aerospace industry.

Colonel Guy Humphrey Drewry, Jr., US Army, was born November 14, 1919, on the island of Corregidor, Philippines, where his father, Brigadier General Guy Humphrey Drewry, Sr., was stationed. Guy Drewry, Jr. attended and graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1941 and entered the US Army in 1942. During World War II Guy was posted in Britain and was part of a team working on the development of countermeasures for the German V-2 rocket and V-1 flying bomb. Following the war Guy Drewry worked in the development of tactical ballistic missiles in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission and with Bell Laboratories as development team leader for the Nike-X antiaircraft missile. Guy studied nuclear physics at the California Institute of Technology (class of 1946) and Johns Hopkins University (class of 1951), and he graduated from the Army's Ordnance School, the Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. During the 1950's Guy was assigned to work with the Atomic Energy Commission and at Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, New Jersey, on the development of nuclear artillery shells. Later, at Cape Canaveral, he participated in the launching of the first US satellite. From 1959 until his retirement in 1972, Colonel Drewry served as special assistant to the director of research and engineering in the office of the secretary of defense. Colonel Drewry married Patricia Gardner July 4, 1942. He died December 4, 1991 at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.

Colonel Joseph Samuel Drewry, Jr. graduated from Virginia Military Institute, 1942, and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army. During World War II he participated at Attu and Kiska during the invasion of the Aleutian Islands, and the Italian theater from February 1943 until August 15, 1944. By mistake he was the first US soldier in Rome, entering on June 3, 1944. As part of the airborne assault element he participated in the invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944. Following the close of World War II Joseph served in France and Germany before returning to the United States in 1945. In total Joseph served thirty one years in the US Army, Virginia National Guard and Army reserves before retiring as a Colonel. During his service Joseph received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, USAR Achievement Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star campaign device and one bronze arrowhead device, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign devices and one bronze arrowhead device, Victory Medal W.W.II, W.W.II Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

Colonel Paul D. Troxler, husband of Lenora Chambliss Drewry, was born May 15, 1905 in Richmond, Virginia. He attended and graduated Virginia Military Institute 1926. After graduating Paul worked for the C & O Railroad in Clifton Forge, Virginia where he met Leonora. They were married in 1929 in Basra, Iraq. At the outbreak of World War II Paul joined the US Army in April, 1941, and served with the US Army Corps of Engineers until 1960 when he retired at the rank of Colonel. During World War II Paul served with the Persian Gulf and Philippines commands and, following the war, he was stationed in Japan and Greece. While in Greece Paul assisted in repairing the railroads and ports under the Point Four program. He also served in the Middle East as a district engineer and directed the construction on the Dhahran air base in Saudi Arabia and at the Wheelus air base in Libya. After retiring from the Army in 1960 Paul spent 11 years working in Pakistan on the Indus River Basin reclamation project.

United States Army Roll Call

Charles Dorsey Warfield, Colonel, US Army Air Force, W.W.II Pacific Theater
Philip Harrison Enslow, Jr., Lt. Colonel, graduated United States Military Academy, 1955, retired 1975, US Army
Thomas Watkins Drewry, Major, US Army, W.W.II European Theater
Dr. Kinloch Nelson, Major, US Army, W.W.II European Theater
Lyman Aubrey Drewry, Major, US Army, W.W.II
James H. Blount, Major, US Army
Dr. Patrick Henry Drewry, Jr., Captain, US Army, W.W.II
Dr. Walter Stratton Britt, Jr., Captain, US Army Medical Corps, W.W.II European Theater
John Edward Deford, Jr., Captain, US Army, W.W.II European Theater
Thomas Heth Vaden, Lieutenant, US Army
Robert Hill Drewry, M. D., Captain, US Army Medical Corp, 1962 - 1963, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma

Guy Humphrey Drewry, III, 1st Lieutenant, US Army
Donald Webster Worlledge, 1st Lieutenant, US Army 1955 - 57
David Thomas Guess, Captain, US Army, Quartermaster Corps
James Augustus Drewry, lieutenant, US Army Air Corps, W.W.II European Theater, Pearl Harbor survivor
John Edward Deford, 1st Lieutenant, US Army Corps of Engineers, W.W.I; Major, W.W.II
Philip Harrison Enslow, graduated United States Military Academy, retired 1953, US Army
Garland Dallas "Mutt" Barnes, staff sergeant, US Army, 1341st Engineers, W.W.II Pearl Harbor survivor.
John Colin Drewry, III, specialist 4th Class, US Army
William Chapman Revercomb, corporal, US Army Coast Artillery Batter, W.W.I
Henry Arthur Drewry, US Army, W.W.II
Howard Francis Drewry, US Army
Louis Heindl, Jr., US Army test pilot killed in crash September 9, 1943
Patrick Clifford Graney, Jr., W.W.II
Robert Paul Jones, Jr., US Army, W.W.II European Theater
Edward Roger Gallalee, US Army 803rd Tank Battalion, W.W.II European Theater
Paul Douglas Camp Marks, US Army
Gilbert Denhart "Gillie" Drewry, US Army
Charlie Wesley Drewry, US Army
James William Eugene Ray, US Army, W.W.II
Luke Grady Lancaster, US Army
Thomas Mack Bell, US Army
William Edward Drewry, Jr., US Army, W.W.II
William Edward Drewry III,
US Army, Vietnam
Ray Arthur Drewry,
Warrant Officer, US Army Special Forces, Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star with a Valor device.
James Lankford Drewry, US Army, Korea
Robert "Bobby" Drewry, US Army
Joseph Edward Drewry, US Army

US Navy

Rear Admiral Richard Starr Craighill, husband of Virginia Drewry Jones, attended George Washington University for two years and was then appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the State of Virginia, graduating with the class of 1932. Sea duty followed until 1939 when he was ordered to the post graduate school. During World War II Rear Admiral Craighill served as executive officer of the destroyer Blue when she was sunk by Japanese forces off Guadalcanal in August, 1942. In 1943 he commanded the destroyer Drayton in operation in the Eastern New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Western Carolines, and Leyte areas. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, as well as the Silver Star Medal for action against the Japanese on December 5, 1944 when he demonstrated effective gunfire, skillful ship handling, and conspicuous gallantry. Following the war he commanded the fleet oiler Salamonie, and later the heavy cruiser Bremerton. He also served as operations and training officer on the staff of Commander Battleships Cruisers, Atlantic Fleet. From 1960 to 1962 he served as Commandant 15th Naval District, and, concurrently, Commander Panama Sector, Caribbean Sea Frontier. He also had tours of duty in the Pentagon in the Strategic Plans Division of the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, one as director, Politico-Military Policy Division, and one as assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Plans and Policy). For his consistently outstanding performances in these assignments he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Prior to his Pentagon assignments, Rear Admiral Craighill served as secretary of the Academic Board at the Naval Academy and as director of legislation in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In 1962 he returned to the Atlantic in command of Amphibious Group TWO, based at Norfolk. Prior to his retirement in 1967 he was nominated as Commander, Caribbean Sea Frontier and U. S. Antilles Defense Command, and also served as Commandant Tenth Naval District. In recognition of his exceptionally meritorious service in these assignments he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit. Rear Admiral Craighill died February 7, 1980.

United States Navy Roll Call

Menassah Case Cheek, Admiral, US Navy
William Alva Bell, Commander, US Navy
Dr. Harrison Rawlings Wesson, Commander, US Navy, W.W.II, Pacific Theater
William Craighill, Lieutenant, US Navy
James Darden Rives, Jr., graduate US Naval Academy, retired
Henry Arthur Drewry, Jr., US Navy
Clarence Wyatt Alston, US Navy, W.W.II
Richard Leland Drewry, US Navy, Korea
James Courtney Drewry, US Navy
Frank Burton Boerner, US Navy, W.W.II
Samuel Davies Drewry Deford, US Navy
Dr. John Washington Clark, US Navy, W.W.II
Leroy Cole Atkins, II, US Navy
Kenneth T. Sanger, US Navy, Vietnam
James Southall Wilson Drewry, US Navy, JAG
Julian Hubbard Wesson, US Navy, World War I
Arthur Williamson Parker, III, US Navy, W.W.II, Pacific Theater
James Ray Smith, US Navy, Korea
Jessie Euclid Lancaster, US Navy, W.W.II


US Marine Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Ogden Paredes, a graduate of Thomas Dale High School, Chester, Virginia, served in the United States Navy, beginning in 1943, and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1950. He rose to the rank of sergeant before receiving a meritous promotion to 2nd lieutenant. In 1952-53 he served as Aide-de-camp to Marine Lt. General Clifton S. Cates, and in 1959-60, at the rank of captain, he commanded a Marine detachment aboard the USS Boston, the world's first guided missile cruiser. Lieutenant Colonel Paredes served wit the Department of State Agency for International Development in Vietnam while on loan from the Marine Corps returning in 1968. Lieutenant Colonel Paredes retired from the Marine Corps in 1973.


US Air Force

United States Air Force Roll Call

David Royce Drewry, Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Charles Thompson Jervey, Major, US Air Force
Steven Todd Drewry, Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force, Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii
James Mitchell Drewry, (officer), US Air Force
Adolphus Beirne Blair, Jr., US Air Force
Linda Marie Hood Rensendez, US Air Force
George Winbourne Powell, US Air Force, W.W.II, Pacific Theater
Hugh Powell, US Air Force, W.W.II, Pacific Theater
Harlan Joe Drewry, US Air Force
David Michael Drewry, Airman 1st Class, Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV
Robert Edward Drewry, US Air Force, Korea


US Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard Roll Call

Ronald Taylor White, US Coast Guard
David Barnes Drewry II, third class petty officer (radio), 1944 - 1946, serving aboard an LST in the Pacific.
Burton Leigh Drewry, third class petty officer (sonar operator), 1943 - 1946, serving aboard a destroyer in the Atlantic.


National Guard

National Guard Roll Call

Christopher Morris Drewry, staff sergeant, Georgia Air National Guard
Ray Arthur Drewry II
, Master Sergeant, North Carolina Army National Guard (full-time)
Joshua Ray Drewry, Specialist, North Carolina Army National Guard (son of Ray Arthur Drewry II)
George Edward Drewry, Specialist, North Carolina Army National Guard

 

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