Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

It seems yesterday was a big day for coconuts to drop because just above where I’m sitting now three plunked on the tent at one time and a little later 4 more all at once – Just happened to think of that while sitting down to write. It sure does make a racket when they come down and stirs up dust and dirt which has been untouched by the black boy.

Our mail seems to have taken a permanent shut off because it has been several days with not so much

[page 2] as an ad for laxative or tooth paste arriving.

We the three of us – Jim unmarried, Geo divorced and myself often have arguments about romance, homes & families and it seems to me I win the arguments as they come up. For example – The topic of breakfast came up. I remarked that with me breakfast was never a heavy meal and often times I would pick up a cup of coffee and toast etc. in town – That to them was unheard of. Geo said that that was one of the requirements that his wife get up and have a huge breakfast ready when he got up regardless – and Jim said he expected the same thing because his mother often brought his coffee & toast to him in bed. My idea was that if the little woman wanted to sleep – give

[page 3] her the break – especially if I had to be up a little early. I can see that Geo. is very much set in his ways about things of that nature and of course Jim just doesn’t know from “nuthin.” My idea is to act to the best advantage under the circumstances at hand and be prepared to see the other person’s viewpoint. The whole point to this is this – I was just trying to tell them what it took to be happily married and I think I have gotten that across many times for several persons have remarked that they sorta envy me because of my family and believe me I’m more than somewhat pleased with the boys and most of all their capable, attractive and sensible Mother. I’m sorry I can make my compliments sound more romantic etc. but you know me anyway I mean well and I hope you are able

[page 4] to interpret the things I’ve written as they were intended to be understood. As you know I’m not a writer of letters which will stir a woman’s heart by romantic phrases and because maybe I haven’t had that gift of gob – many of the men’s in their letters to wives and sweethearts are full of phrases dealing with love, affection and to me other trite expressions but I just can’t put them down to make meaning – maybe things like that are full of meaning and maybe they are meaningless – Let me end this by using this small phrase and truly meaning it –

Lots of Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
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