Category: family

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.

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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

Below are two photos of some apartment buildings located behind the Cedar Hills shopping mall.  The first was taken from 16mm movie film that had been transferred to VHS tape.   The film was probably taken in 1949 or 1950. The second is the same view from google maps.

My parents lived in a small duplex across the street from the apartments.  The duplex is long gone, replaced by a parking lot and office building.