Stoppenhagen, Norman T. 

NORWIN THEODORE "N.T." STOPPENHAGEN

TEC 4
U.S. ARMY

Norwin T. "N.T." Stoppenhagen was born June 25, 1918 in Adams County to Herman and Hannah (Ewell) Stoppenhagen. He lived with his parents and four siblings on a farm in Preble, Indiana. Herman made a living as a farmer and Hannah was a housewife according to Norwin's birth certificate. Norwin was the third child of the family which included two older brothers (Arnold and Wilbert) and two younger sisters (Lorna (Hunter) and Anita (Wiese). As a student, he attended the Friedham Lutheran School and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. On June 18, 1944 he married Della Aumann of Decatur, Indiana. 

Norwin was included in one of the first Adams County drafts, being drafted in January 1942 just nearly month after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He would have training from Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Camp Rucker, Alabama. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the Headquarters Battalion of the 25th Field Artillery Battalion ultimately achieving the rank of Technician 4.

The 25th Field Artillery Battalion was assigned as as a support element of the 10th Mountain Division in the European Theater. The unit provided artillery support in campaigns in Italy, France, and Belgium including in the North Apennines, Po Valley, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.

Before ultimately deploying to Europe, the battalion was stationed in Puerto Rico, where they contributed to the island's defense as part of the U.S. Army's broader efforts to secure strategic locations in the Caribbean. This period of service was essential in ensuring the region's security during the early stages of the war.

In preparation for a German offensive, the 25th Field Artillery Battalion was sent to Belgium. While in Belgium, preparing for what would be known as the "Battle of the Bulge", Norwin became ill and was diagnosed with lymphatic leukemia. He died December 10, 1944 in Belgium. He was buried temporarily at the Henri Chappelle American Cemetery in Belgium, and a memorial service was held Sunday February 18, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church at Friedheim. 

Upon the conclusion of the war, Sgt. Stoppenhagen's remains were returned to Decatur aboard the Pennsylvania Railroad on November 15, 1947.  He was buried at Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church Cemetery in Adams County, Indiana. Military services were conducted by Adams Post 43 of the American Legion.

For his service, Norwin earned the WWII Victory Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, and the American Campaign Medal. 

Information collected and researched by Alex Johnson, 2014.

SOURCES

“Decatur Daily Democrat 14 November 1947 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” In.gov, 2025, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19471114.1.1&srpos=6&e=------194-en-20--1--txt-txIN-norwin+stoppenhagen------. Accessed 5 May 2025.

“Decatur Daily Democrat 15 February 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” In.gov, 2025, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450215.1.1&srpos=1&e=------194-en-20--1--txt-txIN-norwin+stoppenhagen------. Accessed 5 May 2025.

“Decatur Daily Democrat 25 January 1945 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” In.gov, 2025, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19450125.1.1&srpos=3&e=------194-en-20--1--txt-txIN-norwin+stoppenhagen------. Accessed 5 May 2025.

“Norwin T Stoppenhagen  (1918-1944) - Find a Grave...” Findagrave.com, 2018, www.findagrave.com/memorial/59214258/norwin-t-stoppenhagen. Accessed 5 May 2025.

Indiana Historical Bureau, comp. Gold Star Honor Roll: Adams County. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission, 1949. Print. Vol. 1 of Indiana in World War II.

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