The Coolidge examiner., 1944-06-30
News Of Six Men
150th Infantry
Fighting laps
Word received this week of
six Coolidge American
Bushmasters" fighting the
Japs with Company d,
158th Infantry.


ing with Company D, 15Sth Infan-
try, in the Southwest Pacific came
to the Examiner today. The men
are S/Sgt. Lon Harrell, Pfc. Theo-
dore Mode, Cpl. Charlie Etcheison,
his brother Cpl. Leslie Etcheison,
1st Sgt. Frank E. Lewis and Pfc.
Randolph Chadborn.
Pfc. Modes father, James Mode,
was officially notified on June goth
that his son was wounded in ac-
tion in Sarmi, New Guinea on May
3Oth. The communication stated
that reports of his condition would
follow. 1t was not until Mr.. Mode
received a letter this week from
Cpl. Jason r. Burke of Casa
Grande, however, serving with his
son, that he knew what happened.
Your son, Theodore has asked me
to write you." Cpl. Burke's V-Mail
states; land let you know that he
is ok. He was wounded in his
left arm two nights ago, by Jap
anese soldiers on a rading party
in our camp area. He was shot in
the arm as they first attacked our
positions. He is in a hospital feel
ing fine. We have been on the
front for some time. / myself live
in Casa Grande and | knew Theo-
dore before we got in the army"
Burke goes on to tell how Pfc.
Mode shot one Jap and clubbed an
other ever the head with his rifle.
He was with Casa Grande National
Guard and left with first group
for Panama when war was declared
in 1941.
Company D, 15Sth Infantry.
trained for jungle fighting in Pan
anna for a year and earned the
nickname of Americas Bush
masters" before being sent over
seas. Since then, their tactics and
learning have been put to good use
against the Japs.
First Sgt. Lewis writes home
about the orchids that natives
some times plant in cocoanut
shells for decorative purposes. They
are a small wild variety. he says,
but very beautiful. He wonders
whether the gardenia bush in his
mothers garden is still growing.
There is a lot to write about, Lewis
says, but If he put it in a letter
it would get censored, so he con-
fines himself to safe subjects.
Lewis was recently released from
the hospital, but mentions it
briefly with the statement, Il am
out OF the hospital now" SPEEDY"
the company's honey bear which
was captured as a cub and is their
mascot, has been sick for about
two weeks, Lewis says. 1--WE are
beginning to wonder il he will
come out of it. We have become
quite attached to him and would
sure hate to lose him." Lewis Is
the son of Mrs. D. T. Lewis and is
known to Coolidge friends as
"Pinky."
S/Sgt. Harrell writes on Japanese
rice paper that he has been feeling
"sorta tired lately, as those Nips
sure disturb a fellows rest and
Sleep" The mail situation is pret-
ty good where they are. Harrell
says. and he has been receiving
the Examiner right up on the
front lines" He also speaks Of
Speedy" and says the pictures he
sent of the honey bear and him
self "were the last ones taken Of
Speedy before he died." Harrell
had Speedy with him long time
and $50 much counted on bringing
him home with me when this is
over. The fellow who said war
is HE'LL sure agree with him."
Sgt. Harrell is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. ]. P. Harrell and the father
of Lon Harrell, Jr., seaman second
class, now training at a base in
Connecticut. Sgt. Harrell says that
he hopes his son will never have
to go through with what he has.
The Etchieson boys, both corpor-
ais, are sons of Mr.. and Mrs. D.
E. Etchieson, North Coolidge. They
have made their home here since
1889. where they were employed for
the most part in ranch work. The
brothers have been together since
they entered service. Pfc. Chad
born Is the son of Mr.. and Mrs. r.
w. Chadborn and helped his father
in the electrical business before ne
entered service.
The boys of the 15Sth will be
glad when its time to come home,
"the Japs are pretty tough fighting
and are sure hard to see in the
Jungle" It's been almost three