Corporal Drake was a member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 7 September 1950 and returned to duty on 7 November 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 7 February 1951.

Drake was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.