Charles A. Leet Letters, MSS.2020

Abstract: Includes six letters in 1945 from Charles A. Leet, stationed in Luxemburg and Germany during World War II, to his friend E. P. (Ted) March in Grayville, Illinois. He talks about the areas/cities he is in and his different jobs with the U.S. Army.Scope and Content Note: This collection consists of six letters from Charles A. Leet, in Luxembourg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia, to his friend E. P. ("Ted") March in Grayville, Illinois. The letters span from January 1945 to July 1945, during World War II. In his first letter, he tells his friend, Ted, that he is no longer on the front lines; he is now a battery officer. He enjoys being in Czechoslovakia and states that it is a beautiful country. He, as well as most of the officers, has "picked up enough German to get by." Charles is later moved to the position of Battalion Post Exchange Officer. He states several times that he is ready to come back to the States, but there's "quite a number ahead of me." He also mentions that he feels sorry for these people and wishes more people could be like Americans because "our form of living is so far better than any other in the world." He writes that he was in Normandy, but he did not join his division in time to get the Normandy Battle Star. In his last letter, he writes that he became the commander of a PW Camp with several thousand Germans.Biographical/Historical Note: Charles A. Leet was a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. He was stationed in Luxemburg and Germany, according to these letters. He had several different duties during the war. He mentioned he was on the front lines and was glad to be moved to the position of Battalion Post Exchange Officer. He states, "Getting this job is like a reprieve ten minutes before the execution!