Author: Bob

Capt. T.G. Leske 71st Infantry APO44 Fort Lewis, Wash. 12-17-42   (postmarked Newport, Oregon) Miss Jane Axtell 538 S. Normandie Los Angeles, California Wednesday nite 12-16-42 Hello little lonely lady (?): What’s the idea saying you were four to none on letters? Haven’t you really received a letter from me or just teasing? And it wasn’t four – it was three. Excuse the interruption – a two and one half hour one. A priest, and Red Cross worker, and a Captain wanted to go bowling and as much as it hurt, I gave up writing and went bowling. Right now I am a very proud fellow on several counts. I am home before twelve, made a high score of 222, and had only three beers, and am writing you before hitting the pillow. Right now I am in Newport Oregon.  Know where it is?  Came out here yesterday in my truck, which is called a mobile dentist clinic.  For one week before coming here I had spent over a week at Camp Adair, which is near Corvallis. You have mentioned coming back to Oregon in your letters.  If you were serious please wire me here at Newport.  Big reason – we are finally being allowed a leave  and I would sure like it if we could get together. No wire by Sunday – everything off.  Right? I’m dead tired from a damned hard day and the  bowling didn’t help any. Thought I would be able to  stay up longer but am pooping out. Waiting for your letters! Remember Ted   The following notes in Mom’s printing were on the back of the  pages of this letter.  They appear to be drafts for the wire to Ted.

Reading through the letters written to my mom during 1942, from an Army Captain stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and later in Oregon has been fascinating.  I can’t imagine what it was like.  There was little good news from the war.  For anyone interested, there is an excellent book titled “1942 the year that tried men’s souls“. Prior to the first letter the war was not going too well.  Pearl Harbor and Wake Island in December 1941.  In April/May 1942 the Philippines fell and the Bataan Death march occurred.  Only in June did some good news come out, the defeat of the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea and at Midway Island.  This later has been recognized as a turning point in the war in the Pacific but at the time it was really only the first good news after the Japanese stormed across the islands. So what was in the news at the time of the letters: letter 1 – July 28 1942 – London and Birmingham being bombed by the Nazis.  Stiff fighting at El Alamein.  Russian forces fighting at Stalingrad. letter 2 – Aug 26 1942 – Headline: “Stalingrad in immediate peril of siege”. Marines fighting in the Solomon Islands. letter 3 – Sept 28 1942 – Marines, outnumbered 10 to 1 beat off Japanese attack at Guadalcanal.  They had been fighting for seven weeks.  Germany was rushing more troops to Stalingrad. letter 4 – Oct. 14 1942 – Marines still holding ground at Guadalcanal.  Two Japanese Cruisers sunk.  Army to swell to 7,500,000 men. letter 5 – Nov 13 1942 – “Reds still hold at Stalingrad”.  Allied forces land in North Africa.  

Capt. T.G. Leske

 

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash. 

12-08-42   (postmarked Corvallis, Oregon)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

538 S. Normandie

Los Angeles, California

 

(Note – this letter is on Fort Lewis letterhead)

 

Monday Nite

 

Hello you delightful screwball! (Shakespeare is twirling in his grave)

 

This is not a letter but a weather announcement.  Its been raining like hell now for weeks.  Came down to Salem last Tuesday, stayed there a few days in a sea of mud with tents for islands of refuge with leaking canvas, smoking stoves, and drafts.  Am now in Camp Adair, near Corvallis, wherever that is, and have had a continual damp on since arriving.  You can have your Oregon mist.  Unusual weather – never cold, no snow, light rain.  Yahoo!

 

You said all you need to make you feel content is a fireplace, rain on the roof, a good book, a tall drink.  I, too, feel the scene except for me make the good book a blonde, brunette, a redhead.

 

Am now a traveling dentist.  I got a so called mobile clinic which is nothing but a small cottage on a truck.  No heat, no light, no equipment, no nothing.  Going out to the coast next week and travel from Newport north and then back to Salem again.  My lieutenant has one also and he will probably pass thru your home town as he has been assigned the coast from Newport south.

 

Your haunt(?) is very interesting but I enjoy the other snapshot better once I let my imagination take hold.

 

Look, I didn’t mean to write near this much so – good night and sweat dreams.

 

Remember

Ted 

 

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

 

 

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

 

71st Infantry

APO44

Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

 

11-12-41  (note: mis-dated in letter)  (postmarked Tacoma, Washington, Nov 13 1942)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

538 S. Normandie

Los Angeles, California

 

 

 

Hello Jane!

 

Forgive me for not writing sooner but I really haven’t wirten a word for the past couple of weeks.  Just the neglectful type you know.  I should have written sooner just to keep you in shape for reading my writing if nothing else, no?

 

Sorry – Interrupted by a major and a couple of captains to have a glass of beer.  Must go – will write again.

 

Please write.

 

Remember

Ted

 

Coming back to Salem soon.

 

 

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

 

71st Infantry

APO44

Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

 

10-13-42  (postmarked Everett, Washington)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

538 S. Normandie

Los Angeles, California

Apt #4

 

 

Hello Guss

 

Just thought I would show you that promptness in answering mail really is one of my virtues.

 

Good Night

 

Ted

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry

APO44

Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

September 28th ,1942 (postmarked Port Angeles, Washington)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

Coquille, Oregon

PO Box 515

 

marked "Please Forward"  (postmarked Coquille, Oregon Sep 30 5:30 PM 1942)

 

354 S. Normandie

Los Angeles, California

 

Saturday Nite

 

Hello Sweet!

 

Day after day, for three weeks now, I have been waiting for a letter from you and disappointment daily in the end result.  Now that I have stolen a march on you and taken the blame off my shoulders for the lapse of writing.  I should try to convince you that I really am sorry for not writing earlier but as you probably wouldn’t believe me anyway I’ll just give up now.

 

Really, though I have been moving around a bit to continue the (?) at all over different installations and haven’t even written a few words home. I’ve practically forgotten how to write.  I can imagine the fear you will have trying to make sense of all this inkwork.  It was quite a thrill to get two letters from you in succeeding mails.  At the time, I was working at a particularly remote place and your brief notes were sure welcome.  The nearest town was about an hours ride and it had no excitement anyway so I caught up on the sleep I had lost, if any.  I did go hunting bear and got three shots at one of which he is carrying two I think.  Another time I was trailing a bear, carrying a 45 pistol and it probably was very lucky I didn’t catch up with as I would probably still be running.  My fishing trip one evening was aas a perfect failure but it did give me a good chance to try out my caulk boots.

 

What a setting! The radio is playing "When day is done", the lieutenant brought me a drink, and I am back again at the same lodge with you standing on the balcony.

 

We shall move again tomorrow and be in new fields and I certainly hope that they shall be better than the last six weeks have provided.  Seattle shall be very close so that, no doubt, will be a great help.

 

Remember the leave I wrote you about?  Well, leaves have been canceled for our officers in the regiment and many a good plan has been wreaked including mine.  I did have high hopes of seeing you but that is of no account to the higher echelons.

 

It seems years since I saw you last and it makes me think of how much time will pass before I do actually see you again.  Your constant chatter certainly did liven up the times we were together.  I am anxious to see if that is still true.

 

Due to the tardiness of this letter  I expect to get an answer postmarked San Diego or someother such place.  You said in your letter that you expected to go south whereas you should have said north.   Of course, you being of an obstinate nature, the case is understandable but not appreciable.

 

A letter of this length deserves a early answer, don’t ya think?  If you are still home you have plenty of time on your hands and if your are working away from home it will give you a little relaxation to write a few words.

 

I’ll be waiting for an answer and don’t wait as long as I did, please.

 

Good night and good luck

 

Ted

 

Barnes General Hospital is in Vancouver, Washington.  From the Veterans Administration web site:

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Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry

APO44

Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

August 25,1942  (postmarked Port Angeles, Washington, Aug 26 1942)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

Coquille, Oregon

PO Box 515

 

Hello Jane:

 

Your letter, actually four pages (large printing), was a very welcome surprise.

 

From your letter I don’t know whether this letter will reach at Coquille, California or Seattle. If the last, cheers – if the others, jeers.

 

After I left Barnes, I was at Fort Lewis for a few days and then came on to Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula. After working there for a week and doing nothing in the way of excitement I pushed on farther north to Pysht I am now spending a week. Pysht consists of a few homes and a sawmill.

 

The captain and I are quartered in a lodge which was used as a guest home by the lumber company. It is a rather large place having a central living room with a huge fireplace at one end.

 

Sitting here I feel like a tycoon. I am all alone with the radio playing. Lombardo music, a kerosene lamp on the table, and a crackling blaze in the fireplace. Outside the night is cool and quiet with a full moon shining and hounds barking. If your aren’t sorry, I certainly am, that you are n ot here with me. No setting could be more ideal for whispering sweet nothings – or getting stinko.

 

My regiment is finally giving leaves to the officers and when the time comes I sure would like to see you. Probably you will be gadding around in California. Any comments?

 

Next week I will be back in Port Angeles to stay for a few days and then off again for some other outlandish spot.

 

Gotta go to bed. As there is nothing to do here evenings. I knock myself out working during the day so that when night comes I’m glad to go to bed.

 

If you haven’t been able to read this letter, let me know, and next time I will print block letters.

 

Until we meet again,

 

Just Ted

 

 

In 1942, my mother (then 22) met and corresponded with a Army Captain.  In 1946 she married my father, recently discharged from the Navy.  When she died in 1995 I discovered that she had saved the letters she had received from the Army Captain.  I am reading and transcribing those letters.  This is the first.

---

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry

APO44

Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

Jul 28 1942  (postmarked Portland, Oregon)

 

Miss Jane Axtell

Coquille, Oregon

PO Box 515

 

Hello Jane!

 

Received your little note and felt very sorry that I wasn’t around for your call.

 

My brother did arrive, as well as Mother, and it sure was nice to have them. I felt very sorry that they couldn’t stay longer but time didn’t permit.

 

So you would rather be pursued than call men? I did my share but no response – why, I wouldn’t know. But let me try once more; if you should be in Portland this coming weekend won’t you leave a message here for me at Barnes General, Ward 5, Vancouver? I expect to be out next week and my outfit is moving out to Fort Lewis around the 5^th so thereafter I guess it will depend on chance as to whether we we ever meet again or not.

 

If you have a few minutes to spare, let me hear from you, won’t you?

 

Sincerely,

Ted