Harvey Drahos

Prepared by the Witnesses of War team

Harvey J. Drahos, a Czech American, was born on 5 January 1923 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He enlisted in the United States Army on 24 March 1943 and served with the 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, known as the “Deadeyes.” Reaching the rank of Technician Fifth Grade, he fought in two major campaigns of the Pacific War: Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan.

On 6 April 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Drahos suffered shrapnel wounds, a traumatic brain injury and hearing damage. While recovering in a field hospital, he made a promise that would shape the rest of his life: if he survived, he would dedicate himself to helping others. Despite his combat wounds, he did not receive a Purple Heart at the time. Errors in his military records complicated subsequent efforts to secure the award, and the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center destroyed records needed to support his claim.

Following his honorable discharge in February 1946, Drahos built a life of public service. He worked as a motorcycle officer with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division, later became a chiropractor, and flew search-and-rescue missions with the Civil Air Patrol. After settling in Washington State, he continued volunteering with charitable organizations and supporting fellow veterans.

On 30 September 2023, at the age of 100, Drahos finally received his Purple Heart during a ceremony in Olympia, Washington. Presented by Lieutenant General Xavier Brunson, the medal recognized wounds sustained 78 years earlier on Okinawa—and brought a decades-long effort for recognition to an end.