What Difference Does It Make? (Roscoe)

: January 7, 1943 Envelope

: January 7, 1943, p. 1

: January 7, 1943, p. 2

: January 7, 1943, p. 3

: January 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Jan. 7, 1943
Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner

Dear Mother,

So far it seems more like what a rainy season should be – rains for a period then clears and then the whole thing over again and still not much rain. And not clear either. Just makes one carry a rain coat where ever he goes.

I think our mailing address has been lost again or something because we are lost as far as mail is concerned. It’s been that way ever since we’ve arrived so we sorta get used to things and hope for the best. One fellow got a letter early that his wife would cable him Christmas but as yet the cable hasn’t arrived so

[page 2] that business isn’t good either. Guess the wires are chucked full of stuff & stuff so that messages more or less personal don’t have a chance.

I haven’t had much ambition for writing people lately – have several to answer but just keep putting it off from day to day. When I get in the mood I’ll sure bat out several in one night. Once in a while I write V-mail to some people but not very often. You write V-mail frequently I believe it will be faster – I’ve said that before but just repeating.

I wasn’t so brow beaten with chow today – Breakfast was fair – and noon day chow was overly good – good roast beef, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes and peaches for dessert – along with soup as a starter. This Eve – we’ll probably have spagitti and some other nonsense. If you get what I mean. As long as we have

[page 3] as good as we are getting now I shouldn’t complain. Just a good old American gripe.

I finally sent two shirts out to have them laundered – got them back in 8 day – pretty good job at 6 francs or 15 cents per shirt. Francs are figured in fractions and if they don’t come out even these natives just make it even to the nearest zero or five – generally going to the one above. I should say always to the one above.

The last Life mag. I’ve seen featured or gave Ind. U some few pages. The only thing I noted that was familiar was the plack [plaque] in the floor of the Union building. Way back there I paid 5⁰⁰ toward that building so I looked at one little speck and claimed it as the 5 bucks worth.

New things and different are hard to think of to write about for as I’ve said

[page 4] many times before things are alike from day to day. At breakfast this A.M.I said something about what day it was and almost got mobbed for even asking because everyone said (asked) “What difference does it make?” I kept still.

I’ll check off now and hope there is mail later this P.M. Later about 3 hours no show tonight due to bad weather so I’ll try to get some letters out to other people maybe the letters will go out even if we don’t receive them. In other words no mail again this P.M.

I just got thru taking a complete bath. Our showers have been turned off for several days and spit bathes have been in order. Sure don’t like to wash my head that way but did anyway.

Well, I must write to Sis and a few others so Solong
Lots of love

Daddy

1 thought on “What Difference Does It Make? (Roscoe)”

davidmadison1942 November 16, 2013 at 6:43 pm

LOL: “we’ll probably have spagitti and some other nonsense” 🙂 I don’t recall much pasta in our house growing up.

I wonder if that Life Magazine is on line: “The last Life mag. I’ve seen featured or gave Ind. U some few pages. The only thing I noted that was familiar was the plack [plaque] in the floor of the Union building. Way back there I paid 5⁰⁰ toward that building so I looked at one little speck and claimed it as the 5 bucks worth.” His droll sense of humor.

Grim: “Our showers have been turned off for several days and spit bathes have been in order. Sure don’t like to wash my head that way but did anyway.”

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