Pensamientos aleatorios

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Fort Lewis, Washington.

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

Señorita Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandía
Los Ángeles, 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

 

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Fort Lewis, Washington.

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

Señorita Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandía
Los Ángeles, California

¡Hola 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.

 

Recordar

Ted

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Fort Lewis, Washington.

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

Señorita Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandía
Los Ángeles, California

 

¡Hola 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.  
 

Recordar

Ted

Capitán TG 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!

 

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Fort Lewis, Washington.

1-25-43   (postmarked Jan 26 1943, Tacoma, Washington – on Army letterhead)

Miss J Axtell
538 S. Normandía
Los Ángeles, California

¡Hola Jane!

Just want to say that I was, and still am, very sorry that you didn’t show up on schedule.  The whole thing has me baffled completely – if it was a gag, it was a good one;  if you were sincere that makes it worse yet as you seemed so definite, finally stayed home, wrote me that people convinced you to stay on the  job, and then – "I can’t say what I mean or really why I didn’t come."

Glad that I have been in service so long: confusion is so normal that I was able to live thru (sic) the whole thing.

By the way, it might be interesting to you to know that, because I didn’t begin my leave on the day you were to come up it was cancelled and up to now I haven’t been able to get leave.  Silver lining – can go anytime now but have no inspiration.

We are back on Fort Lewis now and life is going on in the usual stuffy post manner.

Reveille comes early and so to bed – Good night, happy dreams and –

Buena suerte

Ted

Telegrama – Matasellos del 7 de enero de 1943    

 

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Newport, Oregón

23-12-42 (matasellos de Oceanlake, Oregón, justo al norte de Lincoln City. Escrito con membrete del ejército de EE. UU.)

Señorita Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandía
Los Ángeles, California

Hola Jane:

Seguramente tú o el cartero se desplomarán si siguen oyendo de mí tan a menudo. Ni yo mismo lo entiendo.  

Tu carta de dos días consecutivos con ideas diferentes llegó y resumió que vienes. Mencionaste Portland o Salem. Creo que ninguna de las dos servirá. Explicación: Salem es el cuartel general del regimiento; no te acerques, Portland no estará muy disponible en ese momento.

Nuevamente, una explicación de lo anterior. Como saben, estoy en la costa y me desplazo hacia el norte periódicamente. Ahora mismo estoy en Otis y esperaba estar en Tillamook la semana que viene, pero he descubierto que tendré que hacer una parada antes, así que probablemente estaré en Tillamook la semana siguiente.

Nunca he estado en Tillamook, así que no sé nada, pero tú probablemente sí. ¿Qué te parecería ir? Si me cuentas qué te parece, me ayudaría.  

Ahora mismo no puedo decir con certeza adónde me gustaría invitarte. ¿Evidente?  

Por cierto, tu última carta me hizo sentir muy humilde y me quitó todo el lobo que llevaba dentro, así que seré un chico muy agradable y aún así estaré muy contento de verte.

Lamento que las cosas estén tan indefinidas y haré lo mejor que pueda para corregir la situación después de conocer su punto de vista.

Recordar
Osito de peluche
 

 

Capitán TG Leske

71.º Regimiento de Infantería
APO44
Newport, Oregón

22-12-42 (con matasellos de Newport, Oregón)

Lunes mediodía
12-21-42

Hola Jane:

Recibí tanto su cable como su última carta anoche cuando llegué.  

Me alegro de que tu mensaje haya sido en el tono adecuado, porque ahora ahorraré un par de días de mis vacaciones para cuando vengas.

El problema que tengo en mente es: ¿vas a tomarte una licencia permanente sólo por venir corriendo?   

Hoy me voy a Otis y, después de una estancia allí, seguiré hacia Tilimook. Como pueden ver, es fundamental una buena comunicación si queremos conocer a otros.  

Por favor, escríbeme de inmediato y cuéntame cuáles son tus planes y cuándo estarás aquí para que pueda solicitar días de vacaciones. Me tomaré un par de días de vacaciones y debo avisar a la central cuándo quiero el resto.

Si vas a estar bien te veo pero te advierto que no intentaré mantener mi buen comportamiento.

¿Escribir "rápido como la miel"?
 
Justo
Ted  

Su dirección es Newport, no Fort Lewis.