Author: Bob

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.

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

3-25-43   (Tacoma, Washington – on Fort Lewis letterhead)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Jane Dear:

Please do not think of me as being too presumptous on the basis of our long freidship but a question burns in my mind and in my heart which you must answer at any cost.

This lust may sound too commanding or forward but it has been so long that I have searched for a true answer that I have finally gathered courage enough to match the mightiness of the sword and put into writing what I have never been able to say in words.

In a world so very much in turmoil at the present it really seems a sacrilege to think so deeply of ones self ever for a moment.  Still Anthony loved Cleopatra, even in their troublesome times and Napolean sought happiness and relaxation from the hells of war with Josephine so maybe my apparently shallow selfish quest may be excused on the grounds that in the Spring a young man’s fancy turns to lighter things.

My thoughts have turned time and time again to this subject with no decisive end.  Others, my friends and even strangers, have given me their time, advice, and benefits of experience.  Their attempts to help me were from the heart I am sure and meant for the best but still I feel that there can be no other way to sureness without an answer from you.

Give my question a great deal of thought considering the future and all that your answer might mean, one way or another.  After all, life in the Army ins’t one which provides even those little things to which  one has always been accustomed.  Of course if one can be with those for whom there is a certain pull and attachment even Army hardships can become minor.

To quell my doubts and bring happiness to my heart your answer must be in the affirmative.  Forget duty, country, and let only your heart rule.  A freely given "yes" means every thing.  With trembling heart I ask, even hesitating now to ask, as the doubtful question is burning in my mind, do ya think the love message will be drafted – an honest answer, please.

Sincerely

Ted

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

3-20-43   (Tacoma, Washington – on Fort Lewis letterhead)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Hello Jane!

Aren’t I wonderful?  Just received your letter a couple of hours ago and already an answer is on its way.

You’re marvelous saying that I "don’t even deserve even a thought let alone a note".  "Greater love hath, etc."

Now that you seem to be in stride being a play girl again ya are probably besiege by men on all sides battling for the favor of your company.  I can see them now in long queues down Wilshire Blvd. waiting for a glimpse of the one and only "witch".  The old adage must be change to "Go South, young lady(?)."  Question mark inadvertently got in the wrong spot.

Tell me, this man who was a forecast of my future – did he have a toupee or was he flaunting his old bald head like a bright spot on the horizon?

So poor little(?) Jane (darn those question marks) can’t get a vacation?  Reminds me of something which would be food for nasty remarks but I not being the nasty type won’t say a word.

How is your haunting affecting you?  Loss of weight, spots before your eyes and bags under them, obesity, wrinkled brow, dish pan hands, or an urge to get half-stinker?

You must be tired of deciphering by now so good night and good luck.

 

Remember

Ted

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

2-25-43   (Tacoma, Washington – on Fort Lewis letterhead)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

 

Hello Jane!

Received your note before mess and am making haste to answer.  That is one of my finer points-remember?  

My "seventeen words" would not meant to sound  quite as nasty as you appear to have translated them.    I will admit my heart was not  pure at the time  but I was going to write a letter to follow. Unfortunately I forgot how soon you would have the first message let too much time elapse before writing again.   

Since we’ve got back on the post things at have been very quiet.  The only real piece of news is that we’re been put in the Army Ground Forces and are in fact starting to train for combat. The division is getting thousands of replacements and a big program has been started.  Maybe the excitement  of looking forward to going into a combat area prevented me from writing you.

If you are going to haunt me please do it half-heartedly  or the whole thing may end up badly as before.

Still having gone on leave – same reason, no incentive. I’ll have to put my mind to it and find a nice reason, be it blonde, brunette, redhead or in between.

Took me two days to write this letter so I will close or several more days may go by before the urge gets me again.  
 

Remember

Ted

Capt. T.G. Leske  

71st Infantry APO44 Fort Lewis, Wash.

2-18-43   (Tacoma, Washington – on Fort Lewis letterhead)

Miss Jane Axtell 538 S. Normandie Los Angeles, California

I wonder what Mom wrote him?  Seventeen words!