Lester Lechtenberg

Staff Sergeant Lester Lechtenberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lechtenberg, Templeton, Iowa, was inducted into the U.S. Army on November 23, 1941 and was discharged October of 1945.
He was stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota to gunnery and worked as a mechanic and then later on as a Military Policeman.

Then he was transferred to Texas where he taught aircraft gunnery and was a flight engineer on a B-29.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943

Les Lechtenberg At Air School

Jan. 23, 1942 Smyrna, Tenn.
Dear Sirs:
"I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to you and the swell fellows of the Legion in making it possible that not only myself but all the boys from home receive such a wonderful paper from the wonderful people back home.
"Your paper sort of keeps us fellows in the service in touch with, one another as to where we are stationed and gives us all courage that whatever country we are in we are fighting for the best country on the globe.

I have taken the Monitor with me on many flight over the country. I read every word of it. Since I am in the air 10 to 12 hours a day, I have to catch up on the home town news up there.
"I am a Crew Chief or Aerial Engineer on a Flying Fortress. I enjoy my work very much and will enjoy it much more when I see my name on the shipping list to go over and bomb Tokio far Fred Beese.
Thanking you again I remain, Yours truly,
Sgt. Les Lechtenberg 1040th School Squadron, Army Air Forces, Smyrna, Tenn.
(Ed. Note) Sorry we couldn't make the picture, Les, we're waiting for zinc and other material.

Cpl. Alois Lechtenberg and Pfc Leonard Irlmeier Like Paper
American Legion and Manning Monitor:
We have been wanting to write this letter for some time, so we are taking this opportunity to thank the American Legion and the Manning Monitor for sending the paper. It is a great help to us in keeping up on the Manning and surrounding c countryside news.

We were at Fort Snelling, Minn. for 17 months and we must say that Fort Oglethorps is surely a let-down compared to Fort Snelling. We have been down here for nearly five months and are beginning to like it a little. We are still with the 701st Military Police Battalion and like our job very much.
At the present true we are helping train officers here at the Provost Marshall Training School Center --- we are a demonstration Battalion.
The boys go on to describe their camp life which begins at five in the morning and following a routine very much the same as that prescribed in identical letters received from boys in other camps which have been printed in this column before.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944

Les Lechtenberg Writes
Manning Monitor: Dear Sirs:
I am now stationed at a field out here in the desert which is known, as, "Morton's Air Academy," which is also another phase in my training as an Army Pilot. The field itself is very beautiful with mountains completely surrounding us. Our quarters are Spanish style cottages, 5 cadets to a cottage.
The Academy is entirely run by, civilians which is a little change from Santa Ana. I am flying about 5 hours a day which is in the P. T. 17, a very good training plane.
There are about 300 planes in the air out here at once so you must keep your eyes open all the time.

I will be here about 6 more weeks and then on to another advanced school.
I also wish to take this opportunity to thank both you and the Legion for making it possible that, all of us boys in the service receive, your morale builder. The good old, Manning Monitor really does wonders for us and I'm sure the boys! on the other side appreciate it as, much as a letter from home.
So thanking you again, I remain„ Sincerely, A/c Les Lechtenberg.

Les Lechtenberg Enjoys Monitor
Miami Beach, Fla. July 17, 1943 Manning Monitor:
Dear Sirs:
I will have to take time out to thank both you and the American Legion for .the Monitor, as we boys in the service really enjoy every word of it.
I have received my appointment as Aviation Cadet and have begun my training here at Miami Beach, July 16th.
We are living in hotels dawn here that have been taken over by the government. The hotel I am in is on the beach and from my room I can overlook the ocean I which is only one block away.

I left my old base in Tennessee July 14. I was a Flight Sergeant and Aerial engineer there for 8 months.
So far our basic training here hasn't been very much. We have gone swimming in the ocean both yesterday and today, which is compulsory as the Air Force wants every man to be able to swim.

The only big difference I found in swimming in the ocean is the salt water. It really is salty. Well I guess I had better close for tonight as we have lights out at 9:30. So thanking you again, I remain, yours truly,
Les Lechtenberg

Les Lechtenberg in Basic Flying
Ontario, Calif., May 24, 1944. Dear Sirs:
Just a few lines to bother you again and have you change my address on the "Monitor." I have just finished primary flying in Blythe, and am now here in Ontario, Calif., which is where I will take my basic flying. I will be flying the Vultee B-T 15 which is a 450 horse-power plane. Then will also start my training as a fighter pilot in the new P-51 or P-38. So in closing, I am thanking you very much for the paper as I enjoy every word of it each week. Sincerely, Les Lechtenberg.

Manning Monitor article------ 1945

S/Sgt. Lechtenberg of Templeton Will Complete Gunner Training
Army Air Field, Ardmore, Okla., S/Sgt. L. F. Lechtenberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lechtenberg, Templeton, is assigned to this 2nd AAF Flying field where he is completing final phase training as gunner of a heavy bombardment unit.

Lechtenberg entered the service Feb. 20, 1941. He received Army Air Force gunnery training at Smyrna Air Base, Smyrna, Tenn., and Laredo, Texas.
Before entering the service he was a mechanic.