Category Archives: Foster

Protected: Sunday’s Obituary – Ralph John Yegerlehner (1899-1994)

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Protected: What was on that roll of film?

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Protected: We can’t say too much

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Protected: Moffett Field

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The coldest winter….

8 Replies

There are so many good little tidbits in this letter that I don’t know where to start! My grandfather and Dr. Lentz are still together. I don’t know if Dr. Lentz was also assigned to CUB 13 but he and my grandfather did manage to stay in touch throughout their service. I may have mentioned earlier but I have several letters from Dr. Lentz in the World War II collection. Amongst the photographs, I have one picture of my grandfather with another officer. It was taken in New Zealand. I don’t know who the other officer was but part of me hopes that it was Dr. Lentz. Of course, I don’t have any proof or other means of verifying this.

I love my grandfather’s description of San Francisco. Since I have been to the city many times, it is great to have my own mental picture of what he is seeing. As he talks about seeing people wearing top coats and turning on the radiator in the hotel room, the famous misquote of Mark Twain’s comes to mind, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” A couple of years ago in June, my family and I went to Drake’s beach at the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco. My children were bundled up in long sleeves and jackets as they played in the sand and water. A relative from Indiana did not understand why they were wearing so many clothes at the beach!

I became very excited as my grandfather described his role in establishing CUB 13. The CUBs were advanced bases which were set-up throughout the south Pacific. These self sustaining units supported everything required to fight the war, which sadly also included medical facilities. These bases were assembled by the Naval Construction Battalions, or SeaBees. So far, it has been difficult for me to find any meaningful information about these advanced bases.

: First allotment of $170

: Second allotment of $30

The letter also helped to confirm (or explain) two allotment documents that I found earlier in the week while sorting the documents in the military file. My grandmother’s initial allotment was $170 a month. I found a second stub for $30. It is hard to imagine living off of $200 a month. I wonder what the equivalent amount would be today.

This letter also makes another document appear contradictory. When my grandfather reported to Moffett Field, it was of course recorded that he arrived as required. The endorsement states “no public quarters available for you at this station”. Did bunk space become available or did he stay somewhere else?

_______________________________________

: July 31, 1942 Envelope

: July 31, 1942, p. 1

: July 31, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

July 31, 6:15 here

Dear Mother,

Here we are after the first day of getting reattached again. This morning early Lentz called me at the hotel. He signed in at the Empire and asked them to page me at the airport but they didn’t page me so we missed each other and he went to bed early last night and didn’t call over until this A.M.

It is about 35 mile out to Moffett field but we didn’t take any bags along this AM so had to come back tonight to get them. After tonight we will stay out there in bunks.

As near as I can get it we are forming a hospital unit that will staff a hospital of approximately 250 beds as far as where or when we go I know nothing. We were issued pack with water container, part bedding, pistols, helmets and gas masks today and I have to buy more uniforms that is shoes and overshoes also a sweater and supposed to get more shirts and underware.

I increased your allotment $30.00 or rather made another so you should get 2 checks the first of Sept. One for 170 and another for 30. I think my pay will be increased 10 per cent base pay and I don’t believe I’ll need as much as I was getting.

We have a radiator turned on in the room now and it doesn’t feel bad. The breeze is so cool one sees lots of top coats and that wouldn’t feel bad either. This morning there was a fine mist-just a heavy dew I suppose they would say here. This is a pretty town with mountains about every direction you look. It seems there is a big flat area with mountains all around.

My address so far is Just C.U.B. 13 Moffett Field so you can write there until further notice.

I didn’t get paid yet but the transportation allowance is around $230.00 and I still haven’t heard from the uniform money. Hope it gets here in the next few days because I believe that will be important. Just

We haven’t had supper yet. Don’t know if we can find any good food or not. I ate breakfast at the St. Francis but it was high as you might expect, lunch at the Base and I suppose we will get some eastern Sea Food for supper.

We will have to get up early in the AM in order to get out to the base by 800 because the train and bus stops at every little town and there are lots of them all along the coast.

Well I’ll write more tomorrow Eve about the Whys & Wherefors,

Love Daddy

California here I come

4 Replies

On July 30, 1942, my grandfather flew to San Francisco from Chicago. I am betting that this is probably the first time he ever flew on a plane. In his later years, he wrote that he had never left the boundaries of his native county until after he graduated from high school. I don’t know how far from Clay County he actually traveled before 1942. He definitely traveled to neighboring Terre Haute and to the University of Indiana at Bloomington where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and his medical training. He had possibly traveled to Chicago to visit his Uncle Wes at some point as well. But I doubt he had ever left the Indiana and Illinois section of the country until he was assigned to Norfolk in 1942. And I seriously doubt he had ever ridden in an airplane until July 30, 1942.

St. Francis Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco

Since I have lived in California for almost 20 years at this point, and I consider San Francisco to be in my neighborhood, I am curious about the next chapter of the letters written while my grandfather was at Moffett Field. When he was ordered to report to California and Cub 13, the unit was still being assembled. Part of his orders included the direction “for duty in connection with the establishment of Cub 13”. Cub 13 was not planned by the Navy. Cubs 1-12 had been scheduled to be assembled throughout 1942 with 3 new cubs being established every quarter. My grandfather was stationed at Moffett for about two weeks before they finally shipped out to the Pacific. Moffett Field is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay near San Jose. Moffett was originally constructed by the Navy but in 1931 it was designated an Airbase. When World War II erupted, control of the base was returned to the Navy. Moffett Field has had many designations over the years. Today, Moffett is the home of the NASA Ames Research Center and goes by the name of Moffett Federal Airfield.

If you are familiar with San Francisco, you may recognize the name of the hotel my grandfather stayed in his first night in the city. For a former farm boy from rural Indiana, I am sure San Francisco was quite the experience. My grandparents traveled to San Francisco many times together in their later years. My uncle John eventually grew up and made his home there, where he died in 2011.

Oh, and guess who also ended up in California with my grandfather?

_________________________

: July 30, 1942 Envelope

: July 30, 1942, p. 1

: July 30, 1942, p. 2-3

: July 30, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

July 30

Dear Mother-

It is not 9:00 P.M. here and I suppose and hope you are sleeping soundly. The plane was late leaving Chicago and they thought they might have to put me off at Omaha but they didn’t so as I said in the telegram we got here about 7:00 P.M. Then we came into town by air line bus and he had to deliver all over town and also when we got here my small bag was gone but now I have that

(page 2) all straightened out. Lentz was not to be found. He hadn’t been here so far as they were able to tell me at the desk.

And get this-The first thing I had to do was change into my blues. Just got them on and ready to get something to eat. There wasn’t a sailor whit who wasn’t in blue. Khaki was not no where to be seen on anyone but me so rather than be shot for a foreigner I thought I’d better change.

(page 3) I believe I like the train better. It was so rough I am jarred from head to toe I believe my womb[?] is down some (huh). I ate two meals on the plane but they didn’t fill very much.

Well when I come back from eating I may write more depending upon how tired and how far I have to go to eat.

Well ate and now about ready for bed-I’m plenty tired for some reason or other. Don’t know yet exactly what I do tomorrow about finding the place. I

(page 4) inquired and its about 30 miles out yet, but the bus goes past the past. I’ll probably have lots more to write you tomorrow eve.

I’m awful sleepy just now

So love Daddy

P.S. If you do write address it in care of Moffett field but you might hold off until you get tomorrow’s letter-Silly I guess the way I’m writing this but I’m sleepy.

Notes:

If you didn’t catch the name on the hotel stationary, my grandfather stayed at the historic St. Francis Hotel at Union Square his first night in San Francisco.

http://www.westinstfrancis.com/our-history

Change of duty

2 Replies

Roscoe with his wife Gladys and their sons, John & Mark (circa July 1942 in Kentland, Indiana)

So the question is…what happened next? Did Roscoe return to Norfolk to receive his detachment orders or did he stay in Kentland until he was expected to report to Moffett Field in California on July 31^st. If it were me, I would have picked up the phone and inquired whether or not I actually had to return to Norfolk, just to turn around and leave again.

The telegram did clearly state “leave canceled, return to Norfolk immediately.” So after taking care of some business in Kentland, Roscoe most likely began his journey back to Norfolk. The next question is…did Gladys go with him. On June 10, 1946, my grandparents received a payment of $36 for the “reimbursement for the transportation of dependent (wife), for travel performed from Norfolk, Virginia to Kentland, Indiana, incident to change of station orders dated July 17, 1942”. This would indicate to me that my grandmother did accompany my grandfather back to Norfolk. Did they take the train? Did they drive the car to Norfolk and back? Why would they be reimbursed for the travel almost 4 years later? Did my grandmother leave by herself on the train and travel back to Kentland alone? When…What… Why???? And to make things even more confusing there is a statement of travel from my grandfather that states he left Norfolk at 1900 hours on July 23, 1942 and arrived at Moffett Field, Calif. at 1145 on July 31, 1942. This would imply that he left Kentland as soon as he had his power of attorney notarized on the 22^nd and high tailed it back to Norfolk by the quickest method of travel possible. If he did go back to Norfolk, he was probably able to pick up any personal items he might have left at Mrs. Evans’ boarding house and perhaps he was even able to retrieve some of his truant laundry.

After leaving Norfolk, my grandfather most likely returned to Kentland until he was required to leave for Moffett Field. At some point during the second half of July in Kentland, the family took some pictures.

Transcription of initial change of duty:

July 17, 1942

Navy Department

Bureau of Navel Personnel

Washington, D.C.

From: The Chief of Naval Personnel.

To: Lieutenant (jg) Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, MC-V (S), U.S.N.R., Naval Training Station Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Va.

Via: Commandant, Fifth Naval District

Subject: Change of Duty

When directed by the Commandant, Fifth Naval District, in July, 1942, you will regard yourself detached from Va., and from such other duty as may have been assigned you; will proceed to Moffett Field, Calif., and report to the Commanding Officer, Cub 13, at the Naval Air Station, for the duty in connection with the establishment of Cub 13, for duty with the Base Section, Cub 13, for duty with that unit when established, and for duty outside the continental limits of the United States.
Report also by letter to the Commandant, Twelfth Naval District, for this duty.
You are hereby authorized to delay until July 31, 1942, in reporting in obedience to these orders.
Keep the Bureau of Naval Personnel and your new station advised of your address.
This delay will count as leave. Upon the commencement of the leave you will immediately inform this bureau of the exact date and upon the expiration thereof, you will return the attached form, giving the dates of commencement and expiration.
The cost of this travel is chargeable to “Pay, Subsistence and Transportation”.

RANDALL JACOBS [his signature]

The ball starts rolling

4 Replies

July 22, 1942 was another turning point in my grandparents’ World War II experience. For the last two months, Lt. (jg) R. S. Yegerlehner has been stationed in Norfolk, Virginia at the naval base hospital. He was occupied mainly with examining & inoculating new recruits and administering first aid as needed. Up to this point, my grandfather had occasionally lamented the post in Norfolk. He could just have easily done the same job at the Great Lakes Naval base which was closer to home. The Navy’s method of deciding placement of staff has seemed quite haphazard to the untrained eye: men with families being sent out to sea and single men being given “cushy” jobs in Florida or other stateside bases.

If you recall, the Battle of Midway was fought at the beginning of June 1942. The Japanese were developing strategic locations and bases though out the Pacific during this time. By mid July, the allies had discovered that the Japanese were building an airfield in Guadalcanal. The United States accelerated their plans to attack and take back Guadalcanal before the airfield could be completed. The first marine division invaded Tulagi and Guadalcanal on August 7^th. On July 22^nd, it may not have been common knowledge in Kentland or the United States in general, but the Japanese had invaded New Guinea the day before on July 21^st.

7-22 2:44 a
Liet. R. L. Yegerlehner
Kentland Indiana
your leave hereby canceled return immediately due to receipt of detachment orders
Naval Training station Norfolk Virginia

Regardless, my grandfather’s orders were stamped July 17^th. He was already on his way home when the orders were written in Washington that Friday. The orders arrived in Norfolk over the weekend and were on his commanding officer’s desk Monday morning. Dr. Lentz was among those who received similar orders on that day. Dr. Lentz wrote a letter to my grandfather after receiving his orders on Monday. Someone else wrote my grandfather an official telegram requesting his immediate return to Norfolk. Both the letter and telegram were received in Kentland on Wednesday, July 22^nd. He didn’t know it yet but he was being assigned to a new unit called Cub Thirteen.

LIONS and CUBS were advanced naval bases that were deployed both on the east and west coasts of the United States. From what I have been able to piece together so far, Cub Thirteen was unplanned and was hastily thrown together because of the escalating activities in the Pacific.

Meanwhile, back in Kentland, my grandfather received his letter and telegram. Later that day, Roscoe wrote out a document giving his wife, Gladys, his power of attorney. It was notarized by Ellsworth Wilson.

: Power of Attorney

: Cover of Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney transcription:

R.S.Yegerlehner, M.D.

Physician and Surgeon

Kentland, Indiana

Know all men by these presents that I, Roscoe Schiele Yegerlehner, of Kentland, Newton County, Indiana, have made, constituted, and appointed, and do hereby make, constitute, and appoint, Gladys Yegerlehner, of the same place, my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name and on my behalf to receive and receipt for any and all sums of money or payments due or to become due to me, to deposit in my name in any bank or banks any and all money collected or received by her, to pay any and all bills, accounts, claims, and demands now or hereafter payable by me, to draw checks or drafts upon any and all bank accounts or deposits belonging to me, to act for me in any business in which I am now or have been engaged or interested, including the business conducted in the name of Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, or R.S.Yegerlehner, and in connection with any contracts heretofore made by me, including all contracts made in connection with the business of said Yegerlehner and generally to do and perform all matters and things, transact all business, make, execute, and acknowledge all contracts, orders, deeds, writings, assurances, and instruments which may be requisite or proper to effectuate any matter or thing appertaining or belonging to me, and generally to act for me in all matters affecting my business or property, with the same force and effect to all intents and purposes as though I were personally present and acting for myself, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever my said attorney shall do by authority hereof.

State of Indiana) SS Roscoe Schiele Yegerlehner [his signature]

County of Newton)

Before me the undersigned notary public for said county and state, on July 22^nd, 1942, personally appeared Roscoe Schiele Yegerlehner and acknowledged the execution of the above power of attorney

Witness my hand and notarial seal

Ellsworth Wilson [his signature]

Notary Public

My commission expires: My commission expires Sept. 29, 1945

Heads Up Junior

6 Replies

I am trying to reconstruct a timeline of events from July 15^th-July 31^st, 1942. This is what I have so far.

July 15^th – Roscoe writes that he will be firmly requesting a leave from his commanding officer in the morning

July 16^th – Roscoe requests leave and it is granted. According to a “voucher for per diem and/or reimbursement of expenses incident to official travel (standard form no. 1012-revised)”, Roscoe left Norfolk, Virginia at 19:00 hours on July 16^th. That would be 7:00 PM to all of us non-military types.

July 17^th – Again according to the voucher, Roscoe arrived in Kentland on July 17^th at 16:50, or 4:50 PM.

July 18^th – Gladys receives letter Roscoe wrote on the 15^th in the AM, prompting her to write a letter wondering where Roscoe is and when she should expect him because she has not heard from him.

July 20^th-Dr. Lentz mails Roscoe a letter from Norfolk, with a 7:30 PM postmark.

July 22^nd-Dr. Lentz’s letter arrives in Kentland and it receives a second postmark of 7:00 AM

Detail from travel reimbursement document

The military paperwork and Gladys’s letter create quite a contradiction. My only thought for the discrepancy is….the military form was stamped February 1943, a good 7 months after the original travel occured. I think it likely that my grandfather mistakenly put the wrong dates on the form. I believe that my grandfather actually left Norfolk on Friday the 17^th and arrived in Kentland on the 18^th at 4:50 PM. This would account for my grandmother mailing a letter prior to 4:30 on Saturday, only to be surprised an hour or so later when Roscoe walked in the door. I still don’t know why he didn’t call or send word prior to his departure.

As you will see by the following letter by Dr. Lentz, my grandfather had a bittersweet leave. The letter that my grandmother wrote and posted on Saturday is possibly one of the letters that Mrs. Evans said had arrived on Monday morning. Dr. Lentz presumably mailed it back with his own letter to my grandfather in Kentland. It might explain why this is the only early letter of my grandmother’s that has survived.

_____________________________________

: July 20, 1942, p. 1

: July 20, 1942, p. 2

: July 20, 1942, p. 3

: July 20, 1942 Envelope front

: July 20, 1942 Envelope back

Letter transcription:

Monday PM

Lt (jg) Yegerlehner-

Well, Junior, it is hot as the infernal regions today and no relief in sight. The official readings for Sat. + Sun were 104° + 101° and today about equal to those. Am in Ferneau’s room in front of fan writing this in my lap.

Enclosed find letters which arrived this a.m. according to Mrs. E.

The reason I am writing this via Air Mail special is that I am being detached Wed-July 22 to report for duty in the West Coast on or about July 31. These new preliminary orders and no specific place has been mentioned- I got the information

(page 2) about 1:30 PM today and about 3:15 PM while in the O.D. Room saw your leave papers + mentioned to Dr. Wack that you roomed with me – so immediately informed me that you have order reading similar to mine for a place on the West Coast which he told me not to mention. You will get the orders on your arrival from leave, so have a good time, and you will have opportunity to see our family when you leave for the coast via Kentland. So informed Mrs. E. accordingly + she feels rather badly about it.

Three (3) new doctors reported today – a Dutchman, a Dr. Weaver from New Albany, Ind.

(page 3) and a lieutenant Commdr.

Well-it won’t be long before we will leave this hot place. We will be practically on leave from time of detachment until the time specified to report.

With Kind regards and best wishes,

Lentz

And may I introduce you to….Gladys

4 Replies

: July 18, 1942 Envelope front

: July 18, 1942 Envelope back

: July 18, 1942, p.1

: July 18, 1942, p. 2

Letter Transcription:

Kentland, Ind.

7-18-42

Dear Daddy,

I rec’d your Wed. letter this morning and from it I thought you would be on your way home but since I have not rec’d letters of later date or word otherwise I am still in a “wonder”. Well, I will send this air mail special hoping you will get it Sun. evening.

We are still in the midst of a heat wave, but it looks like we may get some rain this evening. We haven’t done much this hot weather but loaf around. Ruth¹ is still here. Hasn’t heard from Floyd² and doesn’t know when he will be back from his work in Michigan. I rather look for him sometime over this week-end but she doesn’t think so.

I haven’t tried to write this week and keep up the news because I thought you would be home. Parr resigned as county agent and took a job with Allison-They are going to sell + move to Danville-he will work in Indpls. I think the new county agent will take Parr’s house.

Mark is running around in bathing trunks this afternoon. He is going

(page 2) to turn the spray on after while –then he + Jimmy + Bobby will have a good time.

John is composing today. It is too hot for him to get out. There is a breeze stirring and we have everything open that we can so we are keeping as cool as possible with the breeze coming in now + then. The boys have been watching the thermometer all day and keep us informed as to the heat. The last report was 101°.

Will send Mark to the P.O. with this, so it will go out on the 4:30-

Love Mother

______________________

I just have to wonder, what happened to my grandfather? The last letter he wrote was postmarked July 15^th. In 1942, July 15^th was a Wednesday. His letter was written and shipped out at 8:30 PM the same day. My grandmother received it Saturday morning which prompted her to write the above letter. Now presumably, my grandfather went to work Thursday morning (July 16^th), found his commanding officer, and firmly demanded that he be granted leave. So then what happened? When did he finally leave Norfolk? He likely took the train home since he did not have the family car in Norfolk. The trip from Norfolk to Kentland is slightly less than 1,000 miles. In an earlier letter, my grandfather was reimbursed for his travel expenses and he commented on the mileage the Navy calculated for his trip from Kentland to Norfolk. I don’t know how long the train trip was, but since they discussed my grandmother taking a pullman (or sleeping car) when she came to Norfolk to visit, I would surmise that the trip takes a couple days or is a long overnighter. In his letter on Wednesday, my grandfather said he would either write before he left or call on the way home. By Saturday, it was three days later. Did he arrive later that day? Why didn’t he send word? Or did he? Since these events fall into one of those voids where letters were not necessary, I will probably never know the answer to these questions.

I continue to sort through the documents in my grandfather’s Navy file this week. I do know that he left Norfolk before the 20^th and he was definitely home in Kentland on the 22^nd. I am currently working on reconstructing a timeline for the next two weeks of my grandfather’s life in 1942. I’ll keep you posted!

Notes: