BIO
Wilbur LeVerne Drevs was born 28 May 1918, in Moville to Christian L.J. and Beulah (Harmes) Drevs. He graduated from Moville, 28 May 1936. Siblings are Kenneth, Robert, Howard, Everett, and Myrtis. He was a member of 4H club, and enjoyed music, dancing, Church and community activities as well as family, softball, and golf. Attended Iowa State in 1937 and welding school, 1940.
Wilbur was a member of the last Horse Cavalry. Drafted 26 March 1943, was a Bugler and company clerk as a corporal at Fort Riley, Kansas. His letters home talked about all the general things, and how he looked forward to his mail, how welcome packages were and how he missed everyone from home and all the things he and Sylva used to do together. His mother kept a wonderful scrap book of his service activities for him.
Discharged 1 March 1946. His discharge paper show service as a Tank Unit Commander, Track Vehicle Maintenance Officer, Wheel Vehicle Maintenance Officer and Infantry Unit Commander. Shows he “Served eighteen months in the New Guinea and Philippines with 34th Infantry Regiment and 19th Infantry Regiment of 24th Infantry Division. Served as ammunition and pioneer platoon leader. Was responsible for drawing ammunition from Regimental dump; maintaining Battalion ammunition dump; issuing ammunition to units of Battalion, and reporting defective ammunition. Was in charge of destroying enemy installations, pill boxes, weapons, and supply dumps. Worked in conjunction with Division Engineers, in maintenance of roads.
“Completed a three month Officer Candidate Course in Armored Force School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, in April 1943; and a thirteen week tank maintenance course in Armored School, Fort Knox, in February 1944. Served 23 months as an enlisted man, attaining grade of corporal as company clerk. Awarded Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic -Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 stars and Bronze Arrowhead for amphibious landing on Leyte, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 3 battle stars, American Theater Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, and World War II Victory Medal.”
He married Sylva E. Stevens, 25 January 1947, in Burbank, California. They have two children, Ronald and Donna Jay; four grandchildren, Brenton and Holly Drevs, Chris and Rebecca Stevens.
Wilbur was a police officer in Burbank, California, for 30 years. took many classes at L.A. Community College and U.S.C. for Police Science.
Wilbur was a very ideal Christian American, very dedicated to God and Country, to his family and all humanity, particularly shown by his five service years plus 30 years as a Police Officer. He was a very loving, thoughtful, responsible man and was always the best at providing for his family. He was very active in the children’s activities, P.T.A. chairman of fathers activities on all three school levels, YMCA Indian Guides, P.A.L. Ball team 7 years and spoke at numerous school assemblies and Sunday School classes on Police related subjects. Very active in our First United Methodist Church and serving on various Board positions and officer duties besides being head usher for over 25 years.
Wilbur passed away, 16 February 1998, at Glendale Adventist Hospital, after developing pneumonia in the hospital after deteriorating health, aggravated, his wife believes, from having malaria a long time ago and shrapnel wounds in the war. He is buried in a Niche in Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.
Bio submitted by his wife, Sylva Drevs.
Our Neighbors in the Service
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Drevs received word that their son, Wilbur graduated from officers’ candidate school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Saturday. He was commissioned a second lieutenant; Wilbur has been in the armed forces for more than two years, being camp clerk at Fort Riley, Kansas before going to Fort Knox. His brother, Kenneth, is in Camp Sibert, Alabama. The father is a veteran of World War I, having served several months in France.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 28, 1943 (photo included)
Our Neighbors in the Service
Moville, Iowa -- Mr. and Mrs. Chris Drevs have received word that their son, Lieut. Wilbur Drevs, has been transferred from Camp Barkley, Texas, to Los Angeles.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, November 5, 1943
