Lieutenant Junior Grade Dragastin was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 144 (884) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Boxer (CV-21). On 18 May 1951, he was flying rescue combat air patrol (CAP) for a downed comrade, Lieutenant Garrison, when his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dragastin was awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.