Don’t Blame Yourself (Roscoe)

: August 31, 1943 envelope

: August 31, 1943, p. 1

: August 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 31, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.P.

Dear Mother,

Your letter of Aug. 16 came today and in it you stated what Dr. Cole had said about your Mother. As I told you before that was my first thought from the case as you wrote about it. Don’t blame yourself because there was no operation etc. – because that would have been more rapid and much more suffering from the dressing stand point etc. It’s just one of those things and nothing would have changed the course of the thing. I wish it were possible for you to get help but I suppose that is out of the question – so for goodness sake don’t worry and fume too much. Get a graduate nurse if you can. You know from experience what and how the termination will be so that will prepare you. It seems a shame I can’t be there to help you but as I said before this war is bigger than families and we just have to make the best of it. You know I’m back of you 100% but I also realize

[page 2] that I’m sitting out here writing and telling you what to do but Dear Dear you know I’m thinking of you and if thoughts will help your problems won’t be so hard.

Call Ruth M. if you need help for she has told me that in case you need help to let her know. Good old Ruth we can always depend on her.

This letter is a little jumbled up because it’s hard for me to say what I really feel in a case of this kind and there is also some pressure here for a3 striper is waiting on me and a two striper can’t do that too long – but when I get out of this uniform I sure can.

Well Dear I’ll try to get collected before tomorrow –
Lots of Love
Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/14/dont-blame-yourself-roscoe/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XXXIX

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Case of Smallpox at Staunton.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL, Ind., Geb. 24. – Smallpox has broken out in a new locality in Clay county. Last night the young son of Elijah Latta, living at Staunton, four miles west of Brazil, became violently ill, and the attending physician has pronounced it a case of genuine smallpox of a more severe type than that prevailing at Clay City. The town has been quarantined and the excitement is intense.

“Case of Smallpox at Staunton,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 25 February 1900, p. 5, col. 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Glenn (Gladys)

3 Replies

: August 31, 1943 envelope

: August 31, 1943, p. 1

: August 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another typical hot Aug. day. Glen, Pauline & James L. arrived here yesterday afternoon. Glenn is so stopped up he can hardly breathe but says he thinks he can stand it until they get back to Nevada. Of course this is the worst time during the year for them to be here. James L. is a big fat boy – weighs more than David but David isn’t a weakling by any means – David is more streamlined than James L. Pauline feeds him by the “book” – he gets canned milk too. They are going on to Penn. Thurs. and come back next week. I wrote Jim so maybe he can get leave and be here while Glen is here. Mother wants them to be here together. Juanita is planning to come too. I certainly have had company this summer. Since I couldn’t go anyplace it has been nice having our relatives here. I am trying to write in competition with the rest of the family and seem not to be making much progress. Dora Diedam was here this afternoon and I was talking to her about getting an air mattress fixed up for Mother at the hospital. Dora is to go back to the hospital Monday in OB. She went to Indpls. Last week and took the Sister Kinney course for treatment of Polio. She is all enthused about it.

[page 2] We washed today – Pauline had so much to do. They were very enthusiastic about the Bendix. Pauline told Glen that was what she needed. They aren’t on the market now. Foulkes wanted to buy one & couldn’t.

Yours of Aug. 19 came today – also J. & M.’s came. They will do their own answering. I have all I can take care of myself.

Chet Hall is painting Staton’s house. The paint Sandy put on last year pealed off in spots. Link said he had paint left over from when they first painted the house that he had Sandy use last year & learned that was the wrong thing to do. I thought Chet was working in a defense plant but evidently not. Our house is in good shape but looks a little dirty. The yard & shrubbery & flowers are looking a little dry but it has been dry now for some time. I think I told you before – I had another load of limestone put on the driveway.

J. & M. are collecting their books getting ready for school tomorrow. They will have to have new ones. Mark sold Deanie Musselman $1.05 worth of books this afternoon. Glen has silver dollars & Mark traded him 50¢ & 2 – 25¢ for one – he is going to use it in buying books – not that it’s worth any more than the fifty cents & two quarters he had. Your letters to the boys came almost on the nose about school starting.

Love Mother

Glenn E. Foster, date unknown (Photograph courtesy of Gerry McCarroll)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/13/glenn-gladys/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XXXVIII

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HARD ON CANDIDATE.
Frank Hines Is Compelled to Give Up
His Canvas.

Three cases of smallpox were reported to the State Board of Health yesterday by Dr. McLain, of Scott county. The board also received a complaint about a man that escaped from quarantine in Vanderburg county and went to Crawfordsville. A more rigid enforcement of the quarantine laws was asked for.

The board confirmed the diagnosis of the disease prevailing at Brookville as smallpox.

Dr. Cox, health officer of Owen county, says that a physician in that county maintains that the disease is chickenpox and is causing the local health officers lots of trouble.

Frank Hines, who was making a canvass for the nomination for sheriff in Delaware county, has contracted a case of smallpox and has been forced to give up his canvass.

“Hard On Candidate,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 24 February 1900, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Highest Praise (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: August 30, 1943 envelope

: August 30, 1943, p. 1

: August 30, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 30, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Some further comments on the last mail, I did get a kick out of John’s subtitle remark about “Uncle Roscoe.” More so because I’ve probably been called that more in the last year than any other period in my life – why I do not know?? It seems they find from the official list what my first handle is and then they keep it up. It doesn’t do any good to protest and since our last name is so butchered I don’t mind – used to it.

I’m glad Miss Smith thought the piano was OK for I feel that you didn’t get laced if she put the OK and John also seemed to think it had good sound qualities and I believe his judgment in such thing can be pretty well depended upon. You said he was practicing on the oboe – That was the first mention of that in some time. I didn’t know he was still interested in that. I believe it is good training for him because it brings him in contact with more people in a musical way. In other words Kenny Wood was right so long as the oboe remains secondary.

[page 2] Still another comment and that saying you appreciated one or two of my letters in particular, That made me feel real good because it sure is difficult to get things written that would be of the slightest interest to you. Your letters to me are different because everything you write is of concern to both. The only trouble with yours is they don’t come often enough. In other words it’s too long between deliveries.

The first reference you made about what I said about your picture was stated I thought a little short and I just didn’t know if you took it in the spirit in which it was intended – I felt better when I received the picture of you and still better when I read that you had seen the joke and had not been offended. Of course from the beginning I felt that you were not offended but even the slightest doubt gave me a little uneasy feeling for I’d rather do anything else than offend you because the mother of those three boys back there doesn’t deserve anything but the highest praise and least of all no she doesn’t deserve any offense from anyone more especially from me.

Love Daddy

P.S. I reread and I didn’t mean your judgment on the piano wasn’t good but I think that is out of your as well as my line and we could easily be taken in –

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Originally posted: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/12/highest-praise-roscoe/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XXXVII

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QUARANTINE IS FARCICAL.
Smallpox Situation Steadily Growing
Worse – Change of Sentiment

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAY CITY, Ind., Feb. 23. – The so-called quarantine for smallpox at this place seems to be a miserable failure in every respect, except in the way of killing business and saddling on the town an enormous debt. Person broken out with the disease get out on the street and mingle with the crowd, and the only action taken so far to prevent a repetition of the act has been to send them home on a promise to be good.

A pesthouse was rigged up several weeks ago, but no person has been required to occupy it yet, thought the quarantine has been violated repeatedly. Many person have been released from quarantine while covered with sores, and permitted to go on the streets and into places of business while in this condition. Persons who do not care to come in contact with the disease have frequently been compelled to go out of their way or retreat from such cases.

It is reported that butter is being brought to market from farmhouses where there are smallpox patients.

All the practicing physicians, except Dr. Wolfe, now agree that the disease is smallpox. There seems to be a much greater per cent of bad cases now than formerly. Public opinion has undergone quite a change since Dr. Hurty first pronounced the disease smallpox. Then he was denounced as an alarmist and a crank. Now almost everybody says he is right and that an “effective” quarantine would be the proper thing. About a dozen houses have been carded within the last week, and unless more stringent measures are resorted to it will be a long time till the disease is stamped out.

“Quarantine Is Farcical,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 24 February 1900, p. 2, col. 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Company From Nevada (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-30-43

Dear Daddy – Our company arrived from Nevada today – Glenn is all stopped up from the Indiana air – says you couldn’t give him this country – Pauline’s home is in Pa. so they are going on over there then come back after a few days rest. Jim is going to try and come on a week-end leave. Dr. Cole came yesterday and wants me to take Mother back to the hospital. I think I’ll take her back tomorrow evening. I’ll have Bob take her in the ambulance. Dr. Cole says he doesn’t think x-ray treatment advisable because of the reaction so many people get form it. Glenn’s baby is heavier than David but D. is taller – Will take pictures of them together tomorrow. I can understand how Jimmy would be larger – he has an enormous appetite – and eating has always been a nuisance to David. The[y] drove thru in a Ford coupe – stopping at nights at tourist camps were on the way a week. We are going to get a quarter of beef from Parttens next week. Have to turn in 800 points which will be 2 ½ or 3 months ahead. Am going to have to put David on pasteurized milk after I turn in our meat stamps but I think he will be ready to change in another month. I will have to chase the boys to bed – They want to talk all nite to Glenn.

Love Mother

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XXXVI

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APPEAL FROM CLAY CITY.
Board of Health Asked to Enforce
Quarantine Regulations.

Six new cases of smallpox were reported to the State Board of Health from Clay City yesterday. One new case has appeared in Delaware county and one in Vermillion county. The board also received an appeal from Clay City asking that the quarantine regulations in that place be enforced. It is claimed by those who signed the appeal that the regulations are being utterly disregarded; that person afflicted with the disease are permitted on the streets, and that the cards put up by the local health officers are immediately torn down.

“Appeal From Clay City,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 23 February 1900, p. 8, col. 1; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Brand of Perfume (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: August 29, 1943 envelope

: August 29, 1943, p. 1

: August 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 29, 1943
Lt. R.S.Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Now I can start writing because I have finished reading your letters or rather rereading. Those of Aug. 3, 8 & 9, 11 Aug. 13 came as well as three v-mails of Aug. 7, 12 & 14. And John’s letter with Mark’s of Apr. The v-mails did not arrive until this morn. The P.O. always separates them last. You can see how each travels so I’d suggest you keep writing just like you have been in about the same ratio I mean. There is one thing you can’t put in a v-mail that was in two or three of the others. What brand of perfume are you using now? I said steak smell but you explained why that could not be done so I understand. That perfume did bring back some of civilization because it wa is something very much omitted at a place like this. So Thanks.

Shall I repeat, after you again told me, how good looking D. is that he must and does take after his mother – I know. I can see by his pictures that he is a good looker and also that he is growing. The last pictures I have had are those taken just before his accident and I believe that is the last you sent.

In one of your letters you gave a short financial report but In a letter I received earlier you had given me a more detailed report but

[page 2] I don’t mind the letters coming later because there is always something that wasn’t in the others. I’m surprised that your mother hadn’t been taking Vitamin B shots long ago as well as liver. I do believe they will help her lots. She I believe is doing as well as can be expect and as I told you before her recovery will be slow. I hope she didn’t take offense at the suggestion I made that she had been drinking too much bad beer. She knew of course I knew that wasn’t the cause.

I like the coy way in which you informed me of the coming blackout and you may rest assured I didn’t tell anyone. They all got a big kick out of that part of your letter. I’m not one of the birds who says “listen to this” and then expects you to sit and listen to his wife’s letter but occasionally I do read or tell some of the things.

I’m glad the boys were able to get a short vacation and I’d like very much for you to be able to do the same and maybe you will if plans work as you stated about Juanita. I think a little relaxation would be a great help to you. And something else you wrote – “I will keep from eating tomatoes if I can” my my and in a later letter you again wrote that you had eaten them again. They are good, aren’t they? How would I know because it’s been well over a year since I’ve tasted anything like that.

I do hope you are getting along with the allergy and also keeping your health in general –
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XXXV

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MORE VIRULENT CASES.
Smallpox Epidemic at Clay City Is
Increasing in Intensity.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAY CITY, Ind., Feb. 21. – There is little, if any, decrease in the number of new cases of smallpox reported to the local authorities, half a dozen having developed since Saturday. The new cases, too, are of a more virulent type than those which developed earlier. Moreover, Dr. Freed, who so long insisted that the disease was chickenpox, now admits the correctness of the smallpox diagnosis and the gravity of the situation.

This gravity is increased by the comparative laxity of the quarantine, but public sentiment is slowly changing in this regard and more rigid steps will be more kindly regarded than those taken heretofore. As an example of the need of more rigid precautions, it may be noted that one patient, released from quarantine but still broken out, was standing on one of the most frequented corners in town today, and discussing his case with whomsoever would stop to talk with him.

The case of Charles Klinger’s wife was reported to the authorities the 10^th; the house was not carded until the 11^th, and the card was removed the 18^th. At the home of Isaac Griffith, the card was taken down yesterday, but Griffith is still in bed, and will be for several days. Many other cases of this kind exist.

“More Virulent Cases,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 22 February 1900, p. 2, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).