Random Thoughts

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!

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Fort Lewis, Wash.

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

Miss J Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Hello 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 –

Good Luck

Ted

Telegram – Postmarked Jan. 7, 1943    

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Newport, Oregon

12-23-42   (postmarked Oceanlake, Oregon – Just north of Lincoln  City. Written in U.S. Army letterhead.)

Miss Jane Axtell
538 S. Normandie
Los Angeles, California

Hello Jane:

Surely either you or the postman will collapse if you keep hearing from  me so often.  Can’t understand it  myself.  

Your letter of two consecutive days and differing ideas arrived and summed up to the fact that you are coming up.  You mentioned either Portland or Salem.  Neither will do, I believe.  Explanation – Salem is regimental headquarters – stay away, Portland won’t be too available at the time.

Explanation, again, of the above. As you know, I am on the coast and am moving up north periodically.  Right now I am in Otis and expected to be in Tillamook next week but have found that I will have to make a stop before then, so I will probably be in Tillamook the week after.

I have never been in Tillamook and so know nothing about it but you probably do.  What you think of you coming up there?  If you let me know how you feel about the idea that would help.  

Just now I can’t say definitely say where I would like to ask you to come.  Evident?  

Incidentally your  last letter made me feel very humble and took all the wolf  out of me so I shall be a very nice boy and still be very glad to see ya.

Sorry that things are so very indefinite and shall do my best to correct the situation after getting your view on the situation.

Remember
Teddy
 

 

Capt. T.G. Leske

71st Infantry
APO44
Newport, Oregon

12-22-42   (postmarked Newport, Oregon)

Monday noon
12-21-42

Hello Jane:

Receive both your wire and latest letter last night when I came in.  

I’m glad that your wire was in the right vein because now I will save a couple of days from my leave for the time when you shall come up.

The problem in my mind-are you coming up on a leave of absence, permanently, for just dashing up?   

Today I am leaving for Otis and then, after a stay there, am going on to Tilimook.  So you can see that good communication are necessary if we are going to see other.  

Please write right away and let me know what your plans are and when you will be up here so I can put in my request for definite days of leave. I am taking a couple of days for the holidays and must tell headquarters when I want the rest.

If you’re going to be swell seeing you but I’m warning you that I won’t try to stay on my good behavior.

Write "quick like a honey"?
 
Just
Ted  

Address you answer to Newport, not Fort Lewis.