ore ▁with ▁his ▁batt alion ▁in ▁the ▁evening ▁on ▁February ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁and ▁immediately ▁deployed ▁his ▁how itz ers . ▁which ▁began ▁firing ▁the ▁same ▁evening ▁during ▁the ▁advance ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 5 th ▁Mar ines . ▁Dra ke ▁was ▁later ▁decor ated ▁with ▁the ▁Bron ze ▁Star ▁Medal ▁with ▁Com bat ▁" V " ▁for ▁his ▁service ▁on ▁I wo ▁J ima . ▁He ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Navy ▁Unit ▁Comm end ation . ▁ ▁Post war ▁service ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 4 th ▁Mar ines ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁and ▁following ▁the ▁dis band ment ▁of ▁the ▁regiment ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁November ▁of ▁that ▁year , ▁Dra ke ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁Base ▁San ▁Diego , ▁where ▁he ▁remained ▁until ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁subsequently ▁ordered ▁to ▁nearby ▁Cor on ado ▁Base , ▁as ▁an ▁art illery ▁instruct or ▁within ▁Tro op ▁Training ▁Unit , ▁Pacific ▁Fle et ▁under ▁Major ▁General ▁Harry ▁K . ▁Pick ett . ▁He ▁later ▁served ▁as ▁assistant ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁for ▁personnel ▁within ▁this ▁command . ▁ ▁Dra ke ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁Washington , ▁D . C ., ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁and ▁appointed ▁administrative ▁assistant ▁and ▁a ide ▁to ▁the ▁Vice ▁Chief ▁of ▁Naval ▁Oper ations , ▁Admir al ▁Arthur ▁W . ▁Rad ford . ▁He ▁continued ▁in ▁this ▁capacity ▁under ▁Admir als ▁John ▁D . ▁Price ▁and