Norman Drewes

Hamler - Norman Henry Drewes, age 24, of Hamler, Ohio, was killed in action on June 15, 1944, in the World War II Battle of Saipan, during Operation Forager, pushing the Japanese forces out of the Northern Mariana Islands. Sergeant Drewes was a member of the U.S. Army's 708th Amphibious Tank Battalion. His Company D "LTV" force was provided to the 25th Marines, Fourth U.S. Marine Corp Division, as part of their beach landing assignment.

The amphibious tank Sgt. Drewes commanded was hit by heavy enemy fire when his company's progress was stalled beyond the beach, having encountered impassable terrain, resulting in his death. Once recovered, his remains were not identifiable and were subsequently interred in the Fourth Marine cemetery, Saipan, and marked as Unknown X-58.

In 1950, his remains were disinterred, examined and reburied in the Ft. William McKinley Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. In 2022, his remains were again disinterred and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii for DNA analysis, comparison to several family-donated DNA samples, and subsequent positive identification; thereby, Sgt. Drewes was officially accounted for on September 13, 2024.

Sgt. Drewes' name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific inside Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, along with those who are still missing from World War II. A rosette is being placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Norman was born on July 26, 1919, to William and Katherine (Kestner) Drewes. He was the last member of his family to be born in their log cabin before moving to the new farmhouse. In fact, he was born the very day the foundation was poured. Norm was a member of Hope Lutheran Church where he was baptized on August 17, 1919 and confirmed on April 23, 1933. He was a 1937 Hamler High School graduate. He had many friends, had a wonderful smile, charismatic personality, and enjoyed interacting with others. After high school, Norm continued working on the family farm until answering our nation's call to arms, enlisting in the Army on April 11, 1942.

Norm was survived, at the time of his passing, by his parents; his brothers, George (Mildred) and Lawrence; and sisters, Emilie (George) Schwiebert, Helen (Richard) Enz and Bernita Drewes. He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Louis.

Today, Norm is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. The family is extremely grateful to the DPAA for their pivotal assistance over the past few years, in facilitating the return of our family hero home to us for an honorable and heartfelt burial.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, 1010 Westmoreland Ave, Napoleon OH, ending with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 24, 2025, family, friends and community may gather at 1 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray and form a procession to Hope Lutheran Church cemetery, 10-016 State Route 18, Hamler, OH, where at 2 p.m., Norm will be laid to rest with full military honors. The family suggests interested individuals and organizations consider paying their respects at the Visitation, if possible, rather than the burial, due to easier access and more adequate parking.

Contributions, in Norm's honor, may be made to the family in care of Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home to be donated to veterans' services, such as Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, and the Gary Sinise Foundation.