RADM Milo Draemel biography follows:

REAR ADMIRAL MILO FREDERICK DRAEMEL
UNITED STATES NAVY
1884 – 1971

Rear Admiral Draemel was born in Fremont, Nebraska, on March 30, 1884. He received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from his native state in 1902. Graduated with credit in February 1906, he served two years at sea, before his commissioning as Ensign, February 13, 1908.

After graduation in February 1906, he served on the battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB 9), in July of 1906 he transferred to the USS VILLALABOS (PG 42).  After serving two years in that 156-foot schooner-rigged gunboat, operating on Asiatic Station, he had consecutive duty in the USS MAINE (BB 10), USS ST. LOUIS (C 20), USS WHEELING (PG 14), USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38), USS NEW ORLEANS (CA 32), USS VERMONT (BB 20), USS GEORGIA (BB 15) and back to USS VERMONT, until September 1916, when he was assigned duty on the staff to the Second in Command, Atlantic Fleet In July 1917 he was transferred to duty on the staff of the Commander, Battleship Force Two, U.S. Fleet.

In September 1918, Rear Admiral Draemel returned to the United States, and was placed in charge of the Code and Signal Section, Office of Naval Communications, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.  In July 1921, he returned to sea, assuming command of the USS BOGGS (DD 136). Detached from that command in June 1922, he then served consecutively in the USS PRAIRIE (AD 15), USS RIGEL (AD 13), USS SELFRIDGE (DD 390), in which command he served until May 1923.

Rear Admiral Draemel returned to the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington, where he served the following two years. After completing the senior course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in May 1926, he became executive office of the USS TEXAS (BB 35). From July 1927 until May 1928, he was on the staff of Commander, Scouting Fleet, in the flagship USS ARKANSAS (BB 33), later in the USS WYOMING (BB 32).  After duty on the staff of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, he assumed command of the USS HOLLAND (AS 3) on June 1, 1931.  He commanded the USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB 38), flagship of the U.S. Fleet, from October 1936 until October 1937. On December 29, 1937, he assumed duty as Commandant of Midshipmen, U.S. Naval Academy, serving in the assignment the succeeding two years.

Returning to sea he served as Commander, Destroyer Flotilla Two, from January 1940 to September 1940 when he was assigned command of Destroyers, Battle Force.  Rear Admiral Draemel was still in command of Destroyers, Battle Force on December 7, 1941 at the time of the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Draemel became chief of staff and aide to Admiral Nimitz when Nimitz assumed command of the Pacific Fleet on 31 December 1941.  Draemel was later awarded the Distinguished Service Medal covering the period he was Commander, Destroyers Battle Force and chief of staff to Admiral Nimitz.  During the summer of 1942, Rear Admiral Draemel was Commander, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet.

On September 1, 1942, he assumed duty as Commandant, Fourth Naval District, and Commandant of the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for that duty.  In March 1946, Rear Admiral Draemel was ordered relieved of all active duty and on August 1, 1946, he was placed on the Retired List of the Navy in the rank of Rear Admiral.

Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel died on February 25, 1971.

 

 

 

 

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An early example of Army – Navy communications regarding cryptology.  Note the signature: Herbert Osborn Yardley, author of “The American Black Chamber”
Commander Milo F. Draemel, USN, was the Officer-in-Charge, Code and Signal Section of Naval Communications System, OP-18, having relieved Commander Russell Willson on 21 October 1918.

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Source: NCVA/Echoes of Our Past