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Gas rationing was big deal for the people on the home front. For Gladys and the boys, living in Kentland, they did not need to use the car much. In most situations, the family could walk to their destination. Rationing did limit visits to relatives in Terre Haute and Clay City or trips made to Lafayette for shopping or doctor’s appointments. Had Roscoe been at home, he would have received a different rationing allowance for his occupation. It is hard to imagine only using 4 gallons of gas a week. In 2013, the typical American uses many times that in a single day.
V-mail dated November 9, 1942
Letter transcription:
Lt. (J.G.) R.S. Yegerlehner
Navy S.S.A. (White Poppy)
c/o Postmaster
San Francisco Calif
Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
Kentland
Indiana
11-9-42
Dear Daddy –
It was raining rather hard at noon so I took the boys & Zell girls back to school. Stopped in town and got some groceries – Also was able to get ¼ lb coffee. That is how scarce it is here. I haven’t been drinking coffee since I was in the hospital so didn’t need it for myself but got it for Mother. I understand gas rationing will start Nov 22 – and we will get 4 gal a week. Of course people having to drive to work will get more. I think we will have enough for the driving we do. I take the car out enough to keep the battery charged. Will have to make a trip to Laf. Soon to take the baby down to Dr. C and have John’s glasses checked. The baby weighed 8-6 this morning. He shows a gain of about 14 oz in two weeks. That according to your letter is enough. He is getting regulated pretty good now – sleeps lots & is good when awake. He won’t take orange from a bottle so I give it with a spoon. I think that will help when I start him on Pablum – he will have an ‘idea’ of what a spoon is for. I am going to teach him to drink out of a cup as soon as possible. He is so tiny yet compared to Funks baby. He weighs over 13 lbs and it just 3 ½ weeks older than David. Arlene said they sent you some pictures. I have too but don’t know whether you have rec’d all or not. I sent you stamps twice. I rec’d two letters today & two Sat. The boys each rec’d theirs and answered. Hope you get all the letters with stamps & pictures & your commission. I have rec’d all the letters you sent I am sure.
Love Mother
©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/05/gas-rationing-gladys/
Genealogy Lady 
“It is hard to imagine only using 4 gallons of gas a week. In 2013, the typical American uses many times that in a single day.” I wonder how many decades it will be before we can move away from gasoline technology. Our dependance on fossil fuels has so many disastrous consequences.
Gosh, Don Funk was HUGE compared to me!
The article about gas rationing also had the interesting info about tires. There was a desperate need for rubber for the war effort….so the government had to get as much rubber out of civilian hands as possible.