Capt. T.G. Leske
633 T.D. BN.
APO304
Fort Lewis, Wash.
8-18-43 (Postmarked Aug 18 1943, Yakima, Washington.)
Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California
Hyah Jane!
Your last letter overwhelmed me with its length but I sure a not going to try to match it. In fact, I think the main reason for writing so soon is that I want to have a letter from you when I get down to Oregon.
Today the truck convoy moved out for the maneuver area and tomorrow morning I, together with several officers and the remainder of the men, shall go by train. Nothing but the best for Leske. Our final destination is Hole-in-the-ground. Know where it is? It seems that the first part of the name is very well suited to the area. We supposedly will be some sixty miles away from the nearest town, which should all toward a very plain and healthy life, also boring.
You mentioned that you didn’t know why I wanted to transfer from the 71st. Well, for sometime I have been trying to get assigned to a Maxilto-facial Surgery Course at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington with no good results. Naturally, men with hospital units had priority as, being with infantry, I wouldn’t have any call for such work. In a period of six months, there has been an allotment of only one for the whole IV corps. Our division would not send any of its dental officers to any schools or allow them to transfer out. I was the first in three years to get out voluntarily. The Army setup would not allow higher than a captain dental with a infantry regiment and I was getting tried of seeing line officeres who were still evading the draft or were anywhere from private to 2nd looie when I was a captain, now wearing bars. I was one of nine original officers left out of 77 and it was too comfortable a set up. While on the post I was assigned to a clinic which ran like an assembly line putting in silver fillings all day and plenty of them – amount not worth. Griping!
You asked for it and there it is!!
Goodbye for now
Ted