A Hamler area soldier, that lost his life in World War 2 has now been identified; and is returning to Henry County. Norman Henry Drewes, age 24 at the time; was killed in action on June 15th, 1944 in the Battle of Saipan. His amphibious tank was struck by artillery fire in the beach assault; and Drewes suffered fatal injuries. The remains of the young soldier were not identifiable at that time, and he was interred in the Fourth Marine Cemetery on Saipan, in a grave marked ‘Unknown X-58’. In 1950, those remains were disinterred, and moved to Ft. McKinley Cemetery in the Phillipines. The family had a memorial service for Norman Drewes in October 1944 at Hope Lutheran Church of Hamler; but his body remained unidentified.
Then in 2022, the remains from the grave marked ‘Unknown X-58” were sent to a laboratory in Hawaii for DNA analysis, and were compared to DNA samples submitted by the Drewes family. On September 13th, 2024 Sgt. Norman Drewes was officially accounted for. His remains will be flown from Hawaii to the Detroit Metro Airport next Thursday, May 22nd- leading into Memorial Day Weekend. A military presence will escort the remains to Napoleon, where the family of Norman Drewes will receive visitors on Friday, May 23rd at the Rodenberger Gray Funeral Home, from 3 to 6pm. A prayer service will be held that Friday at 5:30pm in the funeral home.
Norman Drewes will be laid to rest at Hope Lutheran Cemetery near Hamler on Saturday, May 24th at 2pm, with full military honors. The family, friends and community may gather at 1pm at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home for a procession to the cemetery.
The family suggests paying respects at the funeral home Friday, May 23rd due to easier access and more adequate parking. Norman Drewes was the 4th of 7 children in the William and Katherine Drewes family.