Category Archives: Foster

Central Heating (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 3, 1944

Dear Mother,

You will have to explain to Mark that his birthday present might be a little late because due to something or other the P.O. isn’t issuing money orders just now but I’ll get one as soon as they are and maybe it will get there in time I hope.

It has rained a little this P.M. and is rather cool in fact so cool I’m thinking of adding a little extra heat. That is another thing

[page 2] these people here don’t believe in – central heat. Each home has several fireplaces and I don’t think they are used much at that of course I have no way of know[ing] if they are used or not. We have one in our lounge here and it hasn’t been used over once or twice and we have one in our officer’s club which has never been used.

I suppose you and the boys use our fireplace pretty frequently these days. I know how you used to like to do that in the evening.

This is before mail time – fooled you this time but not

[page 3] starting the letter with those few simple remarks. We should be due for some good air mail one of these days, but I believe I’ve said that on many occasions before.

I seemed to have stalled for it’s been about 10 min. between the last two sentences. I have a big map on the wall next to me of the Pacific Ocean and I keep looking at the latest war developments and then my eyes drop to N.Z. and off hand we are a considerable distance from the war, not to say, a more considerable from home.

I’ve often wondered about Gale Dye’s husband. I believe

[page 4] you said he returned to Hawaii after his 10 day leave. Who knows I may get a 10 day leave some of these days – I hope – That some of these days is a vague indefinite thing but a reality which will be an actuality in some not too distant future I hope.

No mail so let’s change the subjects and say –
“Lots of Love”
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/17/central-heating-roscoe/

Local Military News (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Feb. 3 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

No letters again today, but have up to Jan. 21 letters, so can’t complain.

It is foggy today and not cold. The sun came out for a little while but it’s cloudy again. It was so foggy this morning we could hardly see the trains go by. David likes to watch the trains. He isn’t tall enough to see them so unless he is in his bed we lift him up so he can watch. When the boys come in and give him their caps, he takes them to the closet to put away.

[page 2] I hope he keeps the good habit when he is old enough to put his own clothes away. He has a habit of pulling his bye-bye clothes out of the drawer most any time during the day. Unless it is bye-bye time, Mother has [to] put the things back and say, “No, not now.”

I see in the Democrat this week that Lt. Dale Jones has been promoted to Capt. and is in England. Gene Wilson is overseas, no address given. John Milligan is in the same place Floyd Remsburg and John Couch are stationed, somewhere in the S.W. Pacific. Pinky’s 10 furlough is up and he has gone back to Grenada, Miss.

Art Kenney is home now. Says he is on his way to the Pacific. He was wishing you would

[page 3] be home before he left, but evidently that won’t be. I heard over the radio news today that the Army is going to bring the men back for a furlough who have been out 18 months. That is news, because that is the first I have heard about the Army having such a program. It wasn’t so very long ago that an announcement was made that the Army promised no leaves for the men in the Pacific, but the Navy men would come home after 18 months.

Mrs. Zell told me yesterday that Bob Schurtter’s application for a commission in the Navy has gone thru and he is waiting now for his appointment. There was some mistake about

[page 4] it and he thought he hadn’t been accepted, but that was cleared up.

I think I wrote this before, that Al Cast is going to resign from the school system and take over Ellsworth’s business while E. is in the Army. E. is still home on deferment.

I hear a faucet dripping – so I must go and shut it off.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/16/local-military-news-gladys/

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
2/3/44

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner,

We planned to send you a Christmas greeting, but lots happened around here about then and mothering but mere essentials got our attention. Although we have not met, it seems I know you fairly well by knowing the rest of your family.

Mark and I do some swapping of work. Not long ago we cleared off and burned the gardens one evening after school. Another evening he burned brush and helped me saw up a maple top on Rinehearts lot to the North of our lot.

Ed Johnson and I had fun fixing up the electric train. Ed did some soldering and I got a new screw for the engine. Last Sunday all of us had dinner with your family. While the women decided some big problems, Mark and I put the train in operation here. He said he had some trouble this week but changed transformers and all is OK.

We want to tell you how much Virginia appreciated your letter last fall. She has faithfully kept it. It seemed to ease her. All of us regretted the whole incident so much.

You probably know Al Cast is going into Prairie Realty at the end of this school year.

[page 2] “Socky” is reported to be due for service soon, so I suppose Al will take over. Al and I were closely associated last summer on Farm Labor work. He is tactful and can put a lot of “fire” in the job when he wants to, so I think he’ll make good. The back porch “chorus” will be short at least one voice when Wilson leaves.

Sometimes I’m doubtful about being in the good grace of your family, especially you, after hearing reactions to other specimens known as county agents. I do work though and even get dirty at times. We are trying to do a lot of 4H club work including livestock and cropwork. Much of our time in the past 2 years (even before I came here) has been spent in helping farmer with labor and production efforts. The favorable weather, and the fact that farmers know no hours have done the job. Better seeds and methods have helped some I hope.

Speaking of active service, I passed my final physical last Tuesday. When I am called will depend upon how my Employer’s policy works out with Selective Service. Purdue (my Employer) has been requesting that experienced men stay on, but I know nothing except Army-Navy Doctors say I’m healthy.

Our office often helps organize “Drives.” Attended Red Cross planning session today. County Quota is $11,500, 150% of last March. Ira Dixon handles publicity. I know he would appreciate any story of Red Cross activity you have thought outstanding.

All of us join the members of your family wishing you a speedy return to the States.

Sincerely,
Russell Zell

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/15/dear-dr-yegerlehner/ ‎

Birthday Letter to Mark (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mark,

It seems to me you have a birthday this month so I guess I’d better send you the same as I did John & David. This one is different however because it will be a mixed up one. Bought in shillings and then when you get the money it will be in dollars. How do you like that? Wouldn’t it be a surprise if when you went to cash it you would get 12/9 instead of the two bucks?

I guess I received a letter from you just the other day thanking me for the Christmas present I sent you – That just about slipped my mind. So I really owed you a letter.

Well, I hope I won’t have to send John any present for his birthday from overseas but one never can tell.

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/14/birthday-letter-to-mark-roscoe/ ‎

That’ll Be The Day (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mother,

Before mail time again today but I’m not expecting much since your two letters came yesterday. However there are several missing between the last two bunches.

I went to the P.O. just before starting this letter to get Mark’s M.O. and found that it didn’t open for about an hour so will have to make another trip later. I’ll try and finish this and then write his letter before going back.

Again bringing up the subject of what Tommy Britton told his mother. I’ve always wondered just how or what I’d do by

[page 2] way of informing you that I have arrived. I suppose it won’t be hard to figure that out once I’ve gotten on the USA soil again. It probably will be strange because things have changed but we should be able to get used to those changes if we were able to get used to the foreign situations.

Transportation across the country probably will be hard to get and that is going to seem like a long trip – but why am I writing all this? Well anyway it doesn’t matter if one wants to daydream now and then or should I say think ahead. As we say in New Zealand – That’s be the day.

As I wrote you often and long ago the term of duty out here

[page 3] is still a very favorite topic of conversation and everyone is vitally interested, however, much one might like this country.

That is a question on is often asked here – How do you like our country? If one meets a native before long that question is going to be asked, and of course they like an answered which is good. The average New Zealander thinks Americans are supermen. I mean those that haven’t learned. One could make lots of money selling buying Americans for what they are worth and selling them for their actual value. The “Bloody” Yanks do spend lots of money here and that gives the people a false idea, and incidentally don’t ever use the word Bloody in nice company because it’s considered definitely

[page 4] ungood.

You will note that I’m writing on this paper just a little funny but I don’t like to unfold it. I guess you can find the key to read it I’ll at least number the pages and that will help.

I’m sipping a coke while I write. Today is coke day so I bought a case. The price was up to 4 shillings but that isn’t too much to pay for a case. Cigarettes are down in price 6/2 2/6 and that makes them cost around 5 to 7 cents per pack.

When one rides on a tram here he has to tell them how far he is going because the fare is different for different distances. Seems logical doesn’t it? Tickets to service men are reduced – I don’t know how much.

I hope John reads lots about the country because I don’t know much about it and I’ll be able to learn something when I get back.

Well, I’ll write Mark now and get the M.O. later.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/13/thatll-be-the-day-roscoe/

Groundhog Day (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-2-44

Dear Daddy –

No letters today, but had yours of Jan. 21 yesterday. This being ground hog day we were anxious to see what the weather would be. Not a trace of sun all day. In fact we had quite a little rain. We planned to go to Laf. to shop. Lucile called and said she had such a cold she didn’t feel like going, so Mrs. Z., Martha and I went. Alma W. kept D. for me. Lucile was going to take Jimmy Ed and David to her sisters, but since she couldn’t go, I called Alma and asked her to go along but she was working at Mrs. Stevens during the noon hour and said she would rather keep D. at home so after she got

[page 2] thru at the Restaurant took him to her house. She brought him home about 5 – He took a nice long nap for her and when he woke up she said he acted very “cute.” When I came home he acted very “smart” just like J. & M. used to do after being away from home for an afternoon or evening.

I don’t remember whether I mentioned it or not, but David can climb upon the studio cough on his own power. I went to see about him and there he said, looking as pleased with himself as he could.

I got a new red dress this P.M. Mrs. Z. got a new hat and few other things. I tried to shop for David but didn’t find anything I wanted. I bought a gift for Louise Glen’s baby girl. I never saw prices so high on children’s things as they are now. I know if we had girls I would make

[page 3] their clothes. Mrs. Z. and I looked at little girl things with Joy Funk in mind and came home without anything. I am knitting her a little jacket, but ran out of yard, so thought I would get something else, but found some yarn I might use to finish the jacket I am working on.

I saw the Funks in Laf. today. I knew they were going. I think they took Joy back for her first visit to the Dr. Also I suppose Louise went to the Dr. She is expecting her baby in the spring. She is still staying with Funks. However I don’t believe she doesn’t the work she used to do. Theresa Ann Lubberty helps after school. You remember her, but you wouldn’t know her now. You couldn’t believe how she has grown-out – must weigh 175.

[page 4] Mr. Zell passed his physical but I don’t know whether he will have to go. Purdue says the county agents are to stay put. Merle Ford passed his physical, along with Jr. Morton and several others in this community. I understand Jr. is in the Navy, but don’t know about Ford.

Mrs. Roberts called me yesterday – just to talk a few minutes and find out any news I might have. I told her I wasn’t too sure about the 18 mo. business and she said Joe had written the same. I told her we would just have to wait and see.

I just worked on the check book and our balance at present is $123.40, but I have to pay groc. bills out of that, and buy a bond for D. The bal. will be below $100 – before I get thru. Also Portteus is going to let us have half a beef and I may have to pay that yet this month, but there isn’t anything else I know of now. Ins. paid up at present.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/12/groundhog-day-gladys/

Sleeping Partner (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 1, 1944

Dear Mother,

It’s really mail time but nothing as yet has shown up but it could be late. My last letter being Jan. 12 makes this a pretty long mail famine again.

We were looking at the ads in the paper today and their wording is different than ours and we get a real kick out of some of them. One I remember in particular was a business in which a partner was wanted. And instead of saying a silent partner they called it a sleeping partner. There were others which weren’t so funny but we were in a funny stage and laughed more than much about most of them.

The mail just came and your v-mail of 1-18 and 1-20 arrived. The one on the 20th told of Tommy B. saying I had called from San Francisco – He surely can stretch stories

[page 2] for that one reached for miles. Hope it isn’t for such a long time.

I didn’t get to send Mark’s money order today because I find they don’t sell money orders every day so I’ll get one the first day they sell them and it should still arrive in time.

It seems as if D. is still very much an active boy and giving his mother plenty of running to do. Maybe I don’t get the ruder side of life but I’ve never heard of him getting a real old fashioned spanking – Yes you have mentioned about slapping his hands. Maybe he is good enough that he doesn’t need any more severe punishment.

Some hours later – It seems I was detained by supper and a stage show which I wouldn’t class as too good but it was pretty good entertainment. I think I’ve told you all about those Tue. Evening shows before and they are about all alike. They make have a habit of singing old songs. A favorite I believe is “For Me & My Gal.” That one has been used every week since I’ve been here. Well time to turn in –

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/11/sleeping-partner-roscoe/ ‎

Furnace Dirt (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-1-44

Dear Daddy –

The first day of Feb. – Yours of Jan. 21 came today. It was unusually warm for Feb. 1 –

Took David for a walk. We went to Jimmy’s and then we all walked again. The boys enjoying playing or riding together. David won’t leave his mitten on, then J. gets a similar idea so we are busy putting mittens on.   we came from our walk, Mark, D. & I went to Sheldon to get a supply of meat and our fresh lard. Harold Portteus (just out of the hospital, just recovering from hernia operation) called today to say we could have

[page 2] half the beef they have ready to butcher, so we will have a new supply T-bone steaks, etc. I brought some strawberries and lima beans from the locker. We had some berries for supper. They weren’t thawed enough – as far as I am concerned I would just about as soon eat chunks of ice. The boys enjoyed them, so that is all that is necessary. The berries I bought last year weren’t so good for freezing – they did very well in the preserves.

Mr. Z. went to Indpls. for his physical today. Several were going from here. I think Jr. Morton was in the bunch. Mr. Z. is registered at Brookville but asked to go with the men from here.

[page 3] Davie Diedam is here this evening playing with Mark and the electric train. Our David likes the train too.

Mary McGee Arnott is visiting in Kent for a few days. She had a bunch of pictures of her baby and a picture from her husband, somewhere in England. He was standing by a jeep on which was pained their baby’s name, Marylin Sue. He had to leave before their baby was born. She didn’t know where he was when she was in the hospital, but she did send a cable to his A.P.O. number.

We are getting low on coal again. I called Chet Harlan and he promised us some when the next load comes in a week or 10 days.

[page 4] I washed the chair cover last night and got them ironed and back on this afternoon. They show up the furnace dirt more than anything else because their light background – Everybody who burns coal “gripes” about how dirty it is this year, but I suppose we should be thankful to have coal at all.

I was appointed by the woman’s club on a committee for Post War Planning. The first meeting is Thurs. evening at the High School. I don’t have the slightest idea what they intend to do but will give you the “dope” after the meeting.

John is working on his essay. You remember he won second prize last year writing in competition with high school students.

I am about out of paper.
Love Mother

P.S. another picture of D. enclosed.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/10/furnace-dirt-gladys/ ‎

Another Month All Used Up (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 31, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m writing before mail time again and hope. Of course, mail came only two days ago but it wasn’t such late mail. Just a little over 2 wks. and generally we get the latest in just a little less than two weeks.

Notice the date another month all used up and then we go into the one which we hope has a meaning but which isn’t too promising I’m afraid, however. One never knows.

I forgot to tell you – about 3 days ago I had a woman patient.

[page 2] The wife of a U.S. service man. I was so excited I hardly knew what to ask her – She is going to have a baby and came in for her first prenatal check up. A patient with that diagnosis is an unusual thing for me. That here isn’t my usual work, but since the usual Dr. who takes care of that was busy he asked me to pinch hit. No I don’t mean that. I didn’t pinch or hit the lady either one. Anyway we got the little lady taken care of.

One of the Dr. here it seems run low on white shirts and has laundered one himself and hung it on the fence outside my window and I’m watching

[page 3] it with interest because it might blow off. Maybe I just want it to blow off or something. I don’t think it can now because one sleeve is now well anchored on the barbs of the upper strand of wire. He will probably have to med mend a hole if the wind blows hard enough to tear the thing.

Just saw a bus go down the road and noticed something I don’t believe I’ve mentioned before. Baby carriages on the back. That is very common.  In town there are hooks on the front of the street car for the carriages and one often sees 4 or 5 of them there. When Mother and babe

[page 4] get off the car, the conductor gets out and takes the carriage down and away they go. I mean the mother and babe. I can’t imagine that at home but maybe with gas shortage, etc., thinks have changed there.

I’ll get a money order tomorrow for Mark’s birthday. I can’t send money because we don’t get any American money anymore but we can use this to buy money orders. At first we were paid with New Zealand our money and then could get it changed but now it’s all foreign. It doesn’t matter because one finally learns how to make change, etc.

Well, I guess I’d better do something else for a change
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/09/another-month-all-used-up-roscoe/ ‎

My Fountain Pen (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-31-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 21 today. Another warm Jan. day. I will have to cover the tulips. This warm weather is bringing them up fast. There was a shower last night. The weather prediction is for colder weather soon.

My sinus condition is better. Yesterday about 4 PM my nose started running and I spit for several hours, besides holding a tissue to my nose. By bedtime it seemed to have cleared up and I slept soundly last night for the first for 3 nights. I felt stiff this AM. I had slept so soundly. My throat wasn’t so irritated this morning as it usually is from the night drainage. I don’t believe it

[page 2] will be necessary to go see the Dr. unless of course it gets worse and I don’t believe it will the way I feel now.

David is taking his afternoon nap. He likes to watch Mark’s train, now that it is working again. He seems to understand so much we say to him, but he doesn’t improve in his toidey habits. I told him this morning as much as he understands he could tell us when he needs to go the bathroom. He is learning to feed himself. Still wants to turn the spoon over before he gets it to his mouth, but did a pretty good job eating his dinner.

You wondered what the dividends from J. Hancock meant – instead of deducting those from the polic prems.

[page 3] they sent us checks for the dividends and I paid the prems. as they appeared on the notices. I would say the long way to do it, but we got the benefit just the same, or, I should say deductions.

Today is tin can day. I open all the cans, flatten and put in a box for collection once a month. Sat. the scouts collected paper, so we are rid of cans and waste paper today. Bun hauled the clinkers last week so we feel very clean, with all the above disposed of. If we could just keep the basement clean, but that is out of the question. The coal isn’t treated this year and the dirt from the stoker is bad. I keep thinks straightened but in a few days the coal dust on the floor is thick enough to write in.

[page 4] Lucile came out with J.E., for a little visit again today. We were in the nursery talking and David came into the dining room. I called to him and he had my fountain pen and ink bottle – the lid wasn’t on and you can see what happened to the paper. Should see the floor. I have most of it up but ink goes right in this floor. I had been filling my pen and hadn’t fastened the lid down enough. I didn’t spank – I should have had the bottle tightly closed. I know he shouldn’t take things but I am working on that all the time. Maybe I haven’t spanked hard enough when I did spank. Just so he doesn’t do any more damage than spilling ink. I must get this finished and see if I can get D. quieted down – he is on a little rampage now.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/08/my-fountain-pen-gladys/ ‎