Capt. T.G. Leske
71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.
11-24-42 (postmarked Tacoma, Washington)
Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California
Apt #4
Hello Jane!
Now if this isn’t a surprise to you I give up. Here it is slightly over a week since you wrote and an answer is on its way.
It’s very evident that your job and present life is very soothing to the mind. Your letters are much more coherent; quoting from your last letter "But your letter kept me from mailing the enclosed note – what I’ve decided not to send." Its bad enough to read something like that and have the length of curiosity around without becoming dizzy from the (uncertainty?).
Does the above sound like me in the good old days.
They’re playing Taps and it sure does sound beautiful but so darn lonely.
"Taps" reminds me – after seeing that picture I feel its only fair to warn you that the next time I see you I sure will give the wolf call so prepare yourself to defend yourself or relax and if it isn’t the latter I will probably end up as a nervous wreak.
Bold as hell ain’t I. The truth is that probably I will be so scared of you when I do see you that I will take you home before one again.
I really do appreciate your enclosing the snapshot. Its very lonely but it sure has played hell with my supply of vitamin B-1.
Next Monday I leave for Oregon again but I don’t believe I should be stationed in one spot this time. There are a couple of trucks with small houses build on them which serve the troops as traveling dental clinics in Oregon and I am quite sure that one on them is my lot.
Rain, rain, rain. (unreadable), its (unreadable) and if I ever get out of this country I am going to agitate for a bill giving it back to the Indians with apologies.
It has been two weeks now that I have been in Fort Lewis and it sure is getting on my nerves. I have become so accustomed to dashing around that to sit in one spot gives me the jitters. To top it off, I must work in a clinic while on a post and I swear its worse than a jute mill. Besides feeling confined, I’m working too hard, and I’m serious. The bags under my eyes have become (unreadable). I have less hair than ever and my legs are weighting me down.
Slogan – "What’s cooking? " – "Bacon – wanna (unreadable)?"
Have you heard of the nervous man, who during a London air raid, was scared half out of his wife?
Writing to you brings to mind the thrill I got awhile ago when for some reason you, in weak moments, wrote three letters in very rapid succesion.
Its bad to think of things like that as it has a tendancy to make one lonesome and start to pity oneself. but then, maybe its writing to you that does it.
Pome [sic]
This little lamb went to market
This little lamb stayed home –
virgin wool
If the length of this letter doesn’t sause you to faint then certainly the deciphering will make you dizzy.
Thanks again for the picture and, if fortune permits I sure would like to see you soon as an awful lot of rumors about overseas are floating around. If there is not time, I still may be back East comparitively soon if everything works out.
Write, huh?
Remember
Ted