Author: Bob

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

7-9-43   (Postmarked July 10 1943, Tacoma, Washington.  Written in pencil)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

 

Hyah Jane!

 

Pencil and paper looks sort of silly but I have a good reason. Last Monday I rammed a long dental drill into my finger trying to get it out of a worn handpiece.  Inflamation, infection, vacation, pencil and scrap paper.

So you have reached the stage of "the hell with you".  Tsk, tsk!  Fie, shame, finger pointing, children and mothers pointing, crying aloud.  "Nasty girl, nasty girl." What wouldest they have me do, fair maiden with the new chaff???? [unable to read] (by the way, where is my picture?)  Shall I tell Army City Hall that I just can’t play their way and go my merry way to California?

Your letter mentioning your vacation sure gave me ideas but none of them will work.  I still must go home and after that I won’t have the leave nor the money to help you spend your free days.

A pilot took his airplane up in the air to frisk [?]
Such a silly lad was he
his little *

Too hard writing with a bandage forefinger sticking up like a distress signal so so long and [unreadable] luck

Ted

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

6-14-43   (Postmarked June 16 1943, 4:00pm, Tacoma, Washington)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Hello Jane:

Might I say, right at the beginning, that your love letter did not measure up to expectations.  Surely you, of all people, should be able to do better.  And to sign a supposed love letter plain "Jane" – fie!  Why I have read better class-room passed notes written by mere amateurs.

Things have been so darn dull around here that it is hard to write a letter. You are familiar with out weather; I’m in a clinic all day; stay home most nights; you know I want to see you: my leave is still hanging fine; my brother going into service, wants to see me before I leave; still trying for the school in Washington, and there’s my life.

I’m bored, I’m restless, I’m dissatisfied, I’m in a rut, I’m nuts, I’m tired, I’m saying so long.

 

Good Luck

Teddy

Capt. T.G. Leske 71st Infantry APO44 Fort Lewis, Wash.

5-28-43   (Postmarked May 29 1943, 5:30pm, Tacoma, Washington. Air Mail)

Miss Jane Axtell 538 S. Normandie Los Angeles, California

Hello Jane!

Here I am again.

Your card shamed me into sitting myself down and giving myself a good talking to.

Time out for a bull session.

Now that that is over with and I again concentrate I find that my lecture to me was unkind to I, as the real reason for not writing was that I was waiting for that real nice really sentimental love letter that ya spoke of in your last letter.

I’m going to wait and see how ya do for I haven’t received any thing of that sort for years.

Nite!

That guy

Ted

==============================

Note, enclosed in this envelope with the letter was the following typewritten note.  I can’t tell if the note was from Ted or whether my mother added the note to the letter for some reason.  On the back of the note is a sketch of a woman labeled “Alice” in my mothers style.  It might be a draft of the sentimental love letter mentioned in Ted’s letter.

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

4-1-43   (Postmarked May 3, Tacoma, Washington. Date on letter a mistake?  Should it have been 5-1-43?)

Miss J. Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Greetings:

Did you ever hear of the family of snakes that lived in some rocks on a mountain and one day one of the baby snakes crawled away to visit another family of snakes but soon came wiggling back to his mother and crying that the other mother snake wouldn’t let him play with her little boy and girl snakes because he wasn’t good enough.  Whereupon his mother said to him "Don’t worry about her.  I knew her when she didn’t have a pit to hiss in."

and the little poem:
M is for the many times you’ve made me
O is for the other times you tried
T is for the tourist cabin weekends
H is for the hell thats in your eyes
E is for the everlasting loving
R is for the wreck ya made of me

Put them all together, they spell "Mother"

And, brother, thats exactly what I am going to be.

With the answer:

F is for your funny little letters
A is for my answer to your note
T is for your tearful accusations
H is for hope that I’m the goat
E is for the ease with which I made you
R is for the rube you thought I’d be

Put them all together, they spell "Father"

But, sister, you’re crazy if you think its me.

Old or new?

Your story of the packed busses makes me think that there is something wrong with your tale of a woman stepping on your toes.  What’s wrong with the men around there or don’t they appreciate thrills?

It seems that your alchololic consumption is a integral part of your schedule.  Or is it just part of a "bar system" of meeting people?  Speaking of that, you haven’t told me lately whether or not the notes(sic) have been catching up with you.

Your coming to California idea sounds good but I haven’t been home in a year and a half so it would mean not being able to get home for some time as both my leave and my dough would be extinct.  Perplexing, huh?

Aren’t you suprised at having a letter so soon? Its Sunday, a beautiful day, no place to go, no ambition to go, and you on my mind so this is the result.

Thats all for now,

Good luck,
Teddy

Capt. T.G. Leske

 

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

4-23-43   (Tacoma, Washington)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

 

Hellow Puss!

Its been quite a while since I heard from you.   Have they "frozen" writing paper or stamps down your way?

Nothing new has popped up here yet except that my plans for getting back East were just ruined, although I haven’t given up yet and am going to try a new angle.  Very disappointed and heartsick, but such is life.

Its raining to beat hell outside and I don’t feel like writing but I did wonder why I haven’t heard from your as this is a truce of the most honorable sort, no?

An answer, please – yes?

Remember

Ted

 

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

3-30-43   (Tacoma, Washington – on Fort Lewis letterhead)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Hyah Friend(?)!

How very disappointing – your answer to the great question, I mean.  I surely thought that your answer would be a classic and what a let down!  A good try, that’s about all.

Another thing – mythology is not to be confused with religion.  Websters New Collegiate Dictionary distinctly says "Elbis Arabian Religion".  Also – "Eblis – turned into a devil." Appropriate, isn’t it.  But don’t ya think that your should cease publiizing your inner self?

If I can be of more help to you in any way just let me know and I will do my best to aid.

Remember 

 

Ted

This is just south of Hollywood, one block north of Wilshire Blvd.