158th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) "Bushmasters"

LOOK AT THE PICTURE I POSTED!!!!

THERE IS AN ELLIS IN IT!!!
I hope thats him!
He's the guy sitting on the right 2 spots in, holding the rifle next to the Jap flag!

I've gotta ask my dad...its 11pm here though. I'll look through his album for any more pics....some are labeled from the occupation...some arent.

 

My dad will be 90 in November and is still very knowledgable about the Bushmaster while he fought in the Pacific ! Joe Mendez aka " Pepi " as my dad affectionately calls him were and still are very good friends....I am sure my dad would help you get in touch with his friend and in fact be very happy to speak to you about the war. He lives in San Jose ,CA and you can reach him by phone if you leave me an addy to send an e-mail to.......

Anthony Arthur's book has a story of my dad on page 221 and of his record keeping that helped Arthur write the book Bushmasters.

If you want Bushmaster history my dad can hook you up .

Kent Stokesberry xfirehurricane@netzero.com

The son of a Bushmaster !

 

Greetings,
I am the proud son of a Bushmaster. My dad was PFC Jake Pleasant from Chandler, AZ and he was a .30 Cal Gunner. My father was very quiet about his activities during the war, and it wasn't until after his passing in 2005 that I learned he was awarded 2 Bronze Stars for his actions. If there is anyone out there that remembers my dad I would very much like to hear anything you might know about him. He was the bravest man I have ever known, and I miss him dearly. All that I have read about the 158th RCT tells me he was in very good company. God Bless the remaining Bushmasters out there, thank you for saving the world; you are a real National Treasure.

 

hello......i am new to this forum.......i am one of six children of former captain jim logan that fought in the phillipines as a bushmaster....he rarely if ever talked to us about his experiences when i was growing up....i am 57 now and my dad is 90 and in relatively good health....he now will discuss some of his experiences with me...........if any one reading this has any knowledge of my dad's experiences i would love and appreciate any info.....he has and always will be my hero in many ways...........thanks for any connections...........

 

Another son of a "Bushmaster" who discovered this very interesting forum. My father, Verle Kufahl, was a Northeastern Kansas farmboy who went off to join the Merchant Marine, only to be rejected due to a "heart murmur". Soon after he was drafted, and the Army decided he would be just fine. Seems that this farm kid knew shorthand and could type, so he was headed for clerical school. But as things sometimes go, the crunch was on for more help in the infantry and he was redirected. He ended up being placed in the 158th in March of 1945 and was in the battle of Legaspi, and then went on to participate in the occupation of Japan. He remained close to some of his friends in the 158th, stating a number of times that they were like his brothers. Over the years you would occasionally find my dad in Iowa visiting his "brothers", or perhaps helping out a bit at harvest time. Romuald Elsbernd, Joe Fencl (deceased), Tom Campbell (deceased), and Lyle Sacquitne are some of my dad's 158th brothers from Iowa. There is a funny ending to my dad's military service. He was held up at mustering out for several weeks due to that same "heart murmur" that kept him from joining the Merchant Marines. Must not have been to serious because he is 86 and still going...

 

Hello, My Gramdpa Richard "Joker" Rios (Purple Heart Vet) and four of his brothers were (Tony Rios, Rudy Rios, Ramero Rios and Ray Rios) Bushmasters in 158th. Any info would be amazing. I am sitting in the hospital right now and thats all he can speak of. It looks like we will have him for a while still, thank god!! Once again, any info, pictures etc or just pointing me in the right direction for stuff would be appreciated. He would also love a hat or t-shirt, where can we buy these items? Thank you so very much!

Michael "Bignut" Lopez
AOC USN Retiered
Tia Lilly's Tea Company
bignut1@msn.com
TiaLilly's - Sweet Tea
michael@tialillys.com
520.861.1856

 

Hello, My Gramdpa Richard "Joker" Rios (Purple Heart Vet) and four of his brothers were (Tony Rios, Rudy Rios, Ramero Rios and Ray Rios) Bushmasters in 158th. Any info would be amazing. I am sitting in the hospital right now and thats all he can speak of. It looks like we will have him for a while still, thank god!! Once again, any info, pictures etc or just pointing me in the right direction for stuff would be appreciated. He would also love a hat or t-shirt, where can we buy these items? Thank you so very much!

Michael "Bignut" Lopez
AOC USN Retiered
Tia Lilly's Tea Company
bignut1@msn.com
TiaLilly's - Sweet Tea
michael@tialillys.com
520.861.1856

 

Mike, I just sent you a SC photo of the 158th in Luzon.

Also, Triumph in the Philippines is online:

http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/index.html

And in case you have not seen this site:

http://bushmaster.vibobgen.com/index.htm


Dave

 

I recently was going through some photos and papers that belonged to my father.
I knew he was in the army during the war but had no idea he was in the 158th bushmasters.
I never really spoke to him about his exploits during the war and had no idea based on my fathers demeanor and personality that he was a guerilla fighter.
One thing that I do know is that he treasured a photograph of him and John Wayne taken during the war, which also made him a lifelong fan of the “duke”
I would like to know if anyone knew my father, I know that most of the 158th must be gone but I would appreciate any information
His name was Pat De Lena and his rank was sergeant
I am also attaching those treasured photos

 

One of my cousins, Charles Lewis "Smitty" SMITH (deceased 1993) was a member of Company "C" of the 158th - Bushmasters.
Cousin Lewis joined the US Army in South Carolina in Sept 1941. He was 15 years old. His father lied about his birth date and signed for him to join.
He was probably assigned to the 158th before they were deployed to Panama or shortly thereafter. His records show that he was "Overseas - American Theater of Operations - 26 Feb 1942 thru 5 Jan 1943". He remained in the 158th until 17 Aug 1945 when it was disbanded.
He may have been a kid when he entered the service and was always of small stature but "tough as nails". Since he was in the unit for the entire war and may have stood out due to his age and fighting nature, I am in hopes that someone will remember him.
I have borrowed his picture collection from his son and will post some of the pictures in hopes that someone will be able to provide more information about the location and the names of people in the pictures. A few have names but I can't connect them with anyone.
This one had only the word "HOME" written on the back. Does anyone recognize the location?

Thanks

 

My Grandfather Tony M Lopez from Lompoc,Ca was in the 158th. I don't know to much about his time in, He never talked to much about it. He was drafted in Oct 1944 and had basic training at Fort Roberts. He went to Luzon in early 1945. Anyone who knew him it would be great to hear about him. I always looked up to him, he passed away in Oct of 2003.

Thanks

 

Great pic, my father is Walt Davis front row far right holding the Jap flag. I still remember the flag when I was young. He also didn't speak much of his war experiences till late in his life and only to my combat marine husband. Unfortunately dad passed in Feb 2008, he was very proud of his fellow busmasters.

 

Hello my name is SGT. George Dominguez and I'm part of C-CO 1/158 BN IN in Prescott Az and I am currently in my warriors leadership course and was wanting to do my oral presentation on your father.

 

Dear Sergeant Dominguez,

I am sure my father would be honored and pleased to help you out.
Thank you for your service to this country,

Kent Stokesberry

 

I know this post was sometime ago; however, I am curious whether your father is still with you. My father-in-law, William "Bill" Daily, was one of four surgeons in the Bushmasters. He was the only one to return home. God Bless Your Dad!
Bev

 

My great uncle was in the Anti-Tank Co. James Stevens. I have his uniform with the ribbons still attched. I also have a letter he wrote home on bushmaster letterhead. I am trying to find photos to put together in a shadowbox. If anyone can point me to one it would be appreciated. He also recieved a bronze star. I sent for his records but they were destroyed in a fire. I would like to have any information on his company I could find. Thanks, Randall

 

OK Mr. Whitley.....So you promised to bring a cameraman and interview my dad over a year ago .......you spent a long time over the telephone with my dad and he sent you all kinds of his documents and such ........

Now you have disappeared............POOF ! You will not answer any e-mails or at least have the courtesy to contact my father who you told you and your cameraman would be coming in two weeks.........

Something about BUSHMASTERS you should realize...............They don't like to be jacked around or lied to. Even at over 90 years old my dad covers more ground walking everyday than most humans ...........period ! He takes care of my mom and does all of this being blind . He now thinks you are a SCAM !

So Mr.Whitley..................................Are you ?

Do you not possess the common decency to follow through on your promises or word ?

BUSHMASTERS LIVE BY HONOR !

CUIDADO !

 

Kent,

Mr. Whitley has not been on the forum since his 1 post in 2010. If he was legit, it seems as if the "green light" may have turned red. If he was scamming WWII vets, well, there's a special place in a very warm location for that type of person.

Please pass on the warm regards of this Forum to your father. I hope this bad experience with an apparent "drive by poster" has not caused him to think badly of us. We have much respect for him and those like him who fought and sacrificed for the cause of Freedom & Liberty in WWII.

 

BUSHMASTERS or their sons never sweat the small stuff...............My father is blind so doesn't own or operate a computer. Don't think he would if he could either.

On January 16, 1944 when my father the Operations Sargent....Under enemy fire at the Battle Of Arawe New Britain, pulled his Captain Caffey who was shot pretty bad in the face out of the line of fire, and saved his life, it proved what he was made of. The BUSHMASTERS pulled the 112TH Cavelry's Bacon out of the pan and History was made.

He deserves recognition for this before it is time for one of the living heroes of World War II says good by for good. His huimble self always believed that it was his duty to save his Captain. I say he deserves a medal !

He and I never get along but I know that is his way for reasons I'll never know.................

This man deserves better from everyone including myself.

Cuidado !

 

I couldn't agree more with you, Kent. I would encourage you to consider doing a post in his honor in the What Grandad Did In the War section of the Forum. I can assure you that his service will be appreciated and honored here, now and for years to come.