Original Source Documents: September 1, 1943 - Gen. E. W. Fales to Colonel I. M. Oseth, Infantry Board
Contributor: Robert A. Notman
Source: Major General George A. Lynch Papers
Comments From George A. Lynch on the Letter: September 1, 1943 - Gen. E. W. Fales to Colonel I. M. Oseth, Infantry Board - Lynch Comments
HEADQUARTERS
INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER
Camp Blanding, Florida
1 September 1943
Colonel I. M. Oseth
Infantry Board
Fort Benning, Georgia
Dear Oseth:
While I have thought about you a good many times, the immediate cause of my writing you is the receipt of a letter from Wells-Wells, in which they hand me a small package of tripe, including the statement "You are an important factor in the development of the jeep", etc.
I am about to tell them that my part was completely unimportant, inasmuch as I was Executive, as you well remember, during the time that it came up and that you actually were the one doing all the heavy work and pushing. Naturally I was most interested but I don't intend to attach myself to this story by tracing my interest and activities in the development of motor transportation. I hope that you are not being modest in your account of your part because you should be given more credit than any of the others he mentioned. If you remember, and I'm sure you do, plenty of them jumped on the bandwagon after the Chief of Infantry's Office (you in great part) and had it adopted as a project and put into production.
I say this because the letter, which I think I will inclose after all, give several people a chance to make unjust claims as to their part. It gives me a bit of pain to have Wells-Wells say "beginning back at the time you conceived the idea of developing a motor vehicle", etc. I suspect that this is stated in their letters to others as well.
Please return the letter, to which I will then reply.
As you may know I arrived here four weeks ago today and have been engaged in trying to get this new IRTC off to a flying start. I which I could see you and visit but we both are busy at present. However, a chance may come later of my getting to Benning on some pretext or other.
Give my best to your wife and best wished to you as ever.
Sincerely yours,
E.W. FALES
Brigadier General, U.S. Army.