Co. G 158 Infanty

Safford, Arizona 1938-1939

FACTUAL HISTORY

Company "G," 158th Infantry, was organized, mustered in, and Federally recognized on Septermber 9, 1926. The Graham County courthouse's basement was used as an armory, and the company drilled in the street in front of the courthouse. When organized, all its sergeants were ex-service men who joined to help get the organization started.

With a 1929 legislavtive appropriation of $20,000, an armory was build in Safford. The Company moved into its new home in the fall of 1929. The building was not completed, though, until 1931, when Major Jesse A. Udall, elected to the State Legislature, secured an additional appropriation to complete the armory, one of the State's finest.

At its first encampment in 1927, Company "G" won the Governor's Day Field Meet. Duplicating the feat in 1928 and 1929, it secured permanent possession of the cup. Under Mess Sergeant Monroe Claride, Company "G" won the Governor's Trophy for the best mess in 1929 camp. A squad from the unit won the 1932 Chief of Infantry combat competition. The unit won the Adjutant's ribbon for first place in 1937 Federal Inspection.

Company "G" has always attempted to qualify a large percentage of men with the rifle, not attempting to make match shots. Lieutenants Pursley and Palmer made the Camp Perry rifle team for two years. Corporal Ortho Johnson made the 1938 team. Company "G" won the 1937 Midgley Trophy for excellence in Musketry and Rifle Marksmanship. This year the rifle team won the Sheldon Trophy from the Washington's Birthday State Rifle Match.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Captain Wilfred T. Mendenhal

First Lieutenant Joseph R. Pursley

Second Lieutenant Eldon I. Palmer

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

First Sergeant William H. Mullenaux

SERGEANTS

Foote, Gerald L.

Foote, Ray E.

Foote, Warren P.

Gietz, Lawrerence R.

Nelson, George C.

O'Donnal, Melvin C.

CORPORALS

Boggs, Jack R.

Brimhall, Logan L.

Johnson, Otho E. , Jr.

Lee, Donald W.

Lindblom, Tillman O.

Quinn, Bernie

Tellez, Mike B.

Tryon, Merlin O.

PRIVATES FIRST CLASS

Alger, Lawerence R.

Cowand, Wayne G.

Echandia, Frank L.

Green, Carl L.

Green, Weldon M.

Hawkins, Emert W.

Jensen, Carl

Johnson, Roy P., Jr.

Layton, Junior G.

Lee, Gerald C.

Lindblom, Harry B.

Pace, Phillip P.

Pease, Arthur c.

Perry, Aubrey H.

Winsor, Woodrow

PRIVATES

Baumgartner, James H.

Bennett, Dan R.

Bennett, Kemp W.

Bingham, Roy R.

Brown, Rolin R.

Bull, Floyd J.

Burrell, Lamar

Campbell, Jack W.

Couch, Thomas K.

Curtis, Melvin J.

Dendy, William L.

Ely, John H.

Estavillo, Gilbert A.

Foote, Keneth W.

Freestone, Grant J.

Gabaldon, Julian L.

Hatch, Burwell D.

Hawkins, Elvey J.

Hughes, Elmo I.

Johnson, William D.

Kirkham, Keneth

Lee, Marion

Lindblom, Joseph H.

Moody, Burion G.

Morris, Carroll D.

Morris, Spencer G.

Reedy, Clyde

Root, Dryden D.

Smith, James H.

Stokes, Clyde B.

Warner, Grant T.

Young, Charles N.

As reported in the 1938 National Guard of the United States, State of Arizona © 1938 Army and Navy Publishing company, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Note: Group photos accompany the unit roster but for copyright purposes are not shared on this web page. Please contact the Graham County GenWeb coordinator with inquiries

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