Category Archives: Foster

More Water Torture (Roscoe)

: October 18, 1943 envelope

: October 18, 1943, p. 1

: October 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Oct. 18, 1943

Dear Mother,

Blue Monday or rather I should say hot & sticky Monday. I had that same old Chinese torture last night. A drop of water about every 15 min., either in the face, shoulder or tummy. I’m going to try to do something about that today because it is bothersome to have that tent top leak and have that drop of water ever so often. If it were a large stream I guess I’d get my rain coat or something but it isn’t worth while when the drops are so far apart. So much for that nonsense.

Again I’m wishing you a happy birthday and I do hope your next bunch of flowers gets there in time for your birthday. I believe this fellow is reliable and will come thru but according to his schedule it may be later than your birthday so don’t give up hope.

Here it is past the middle of Oct. and I’m

[page 2] still at the same place as in Feb. If anyone had told me then I’d be here this long I surely would have felt as if he were using the truth very careless but time has passed very rapid and I suppose I can say I’ve enjoyed myself as much as am I could have anyplace out of the U.S.A. and possibly more so than at Norfolk. It’s just the distance that makes Norfolk more desirable.

The radio is on in the skipper’s tent and the colored boy is trying to do the “jive” at the same time – trying to clean our tent and neither one is going along so well. In fact my thoughts are going to pot also. He is always asking for something and also thinks I can send him home but he is too healthy for the medical department to have much to do with his going home.

Well, I’m all done up as far as more letter in concerned.
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/2015/04/19/more-water-torture-roscoe/

Tonsil Advice (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 17, 1943 envelope

: October 17, 1943, p. 1

: October 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Oct. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mail letters of 9-28 & 10-4 came yesterday and your air mail of 10-3. That made the v-mail one day later than the air mail – That is the last v-mail. They were both printed or pictured on the same day. Too bad Glen had to go home but finances are an important thing in this day & age.

I can’t give you any advice about your tonsils because I don’t know what the condition of your throat was after your illness last winter. So you will just have to rely on Dr. Ade and yourself. I do believe this however that if removed in the spring you will have less trouble with raw irritation during the winter but maybe just raw irritation wouldn’t be as bad as a full blown sore throat all winter long.

I don’t believe I mention or commented on the new great grandchild – no doubt

[page 2] the whole family is proud and even more so since a female turned up at that time.

Your finances were more depleted than you stated in your previous letter but if you had all bills paid up to Oct. 4 maybe you can skimp along until Nov. 1 when your regular checks come in – and maybe by that time I’ll be able to send a little again.

The boy is here cleaning and he keeps mumbling and I’m trying to write in between. He wants my Jeep this P.M. and I have to think of a good excuse because he drives too reckless. The colored boys around here are have wrecked a few so they can’t be trusted to far. I’ll just have to send a driver but they don’t like that.

Well, I have to go treat the natives again this A.M. and it is about time.
Love Daddy

P.S. We heard Sat P.M. football game between Navy & Penn. State a direct broadcast this A.M. at breakfast time – figure that out.

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/2015/04/17/tonsil-advice-roscoe/

Farewell Emma (Gladys)

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: Gladys did not write a letter on October 17th as she was likely too busy with the funeral and all the visiting relatives. Emma’s obituary appeared in the next edition of the Newton County Enterprise. The paper announced that the funeral had been the previous Sunday (10/17).]

RITES HELD FOR FOUR RECENTLY

Emily Foster, Adda Watkins, Florence Archibald and Dr. Cox Succumed

Mrs. Emily H. Foster

Final rites were conducted from the Hufty-Crane funeral home here for Mrs. Emily H. Foster, 71, Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. V. B. Servies in charge. She died at the St. Elizabeth hospital in Lafayette Friday after a three months illness.

Born at Robinson, Ill., she was married to James E. Foster, in 1894. Surviving are three sons, Jesse, of Arkansas; Glenn, of Nevada, and James, USN, at Norfolk, Va., a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Yegerlehner, of Kentland, and a sister, Mrs. Minerva Metcalf, West Union., Ill. She was a member of the Methodist church.

“Rites Held For Four Recently,” Newton County Enterprise (Kentland, Indiana), 21 October 1943, p. 1.

Emma was buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery, Kentland, Indiana. You may visit her memorial at Find A Grave.

Inspection Time (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 16, 1943 envelope

: October 16, 1943, p. 1

: October 16, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal
10-16-43

Dear Mother,

No mail yesterday again but today is young.

My thoughts aren’t well collected this A.M. so I’m just not sure of what might get into this letter.

Just a thought that I overlooked in your last letters and that is the seemingly superiority of our D. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way but I’m glad you feel that way – first because it’s a parent’s duty and second from what you say it seems to be true. Maybe I’m breaking my arm – patting myself on the back. Hope you haven’t any broken bones from that type of thing.

Today is regular inspection day for our own camp and since I have the Island to look after ours

[page 2] is always a little worry some to me because it should be a good example. It usually is in pretty good condition and I have very little to worry about but it is a continuous fight to keep the little things going. Like having the cooks clean their finger nails and having them change their uniforms before they get to slick or slimy. You know men are men the world over, and this is no exception out here.

Now you will have to admit I’ve written something but as far as it being interesting or informative it is nil, but it did serve as a kind of visit with you which otherwise would have been missed

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/2015/04/15/inspection-time-roscoe/

Funeral Arrangements (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-16-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but two yesterday. I had to go to Hufty’s to complete arrangements & Bob showed me the death certificate. It gave carcinoma of Pancreas as cause. I haven’t rec’d the autopsy report yet. Will write you details when I get them. I looked up pancreas & after reading description can understand the case better. No doubt the thing was too far advanced for help when Dr. Cole started on the case. Your mother is here and plans to remain until next week then I want to take her home. J. & M. won’t have school after Wed. (Teacher’s convention). I don’t know who is coming. I wired everyone I thought should have the word. Jim is coming to Laf. tomorrow & Mayrose are going to meet J. & T. at the train & bring them on up here – I was thinking about what you said regarding the prescription I didn’t have filled for John – Well, I know what bromides are and to my way of thinking wouldn’t do John any good. The headaches are gone and the nervousness he displayed for Dr. V. is only under such circumstances – I really got a “kick” out of what you said. I read your recommendations to John about his face treatment & chocolateless diet – He didn’t care for either. His face is some better but don’t worry about squeezing anything on his face – you should know better.
Love Mother

Foster, Emma H. (Laughead) - Death, 1943

Indiana death certificate for Emma Foster, October 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: ttp://genealogylady.net/2015/04/14/funeral-arrangements-gladys/

Stomach Happy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 15, 1943 envelope

: October 15, 1943, p. 1

: October 15, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Oct. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

No mail yesterday but I hardly expected any since a bunch came the day before.

Was I stomach happy last night? Here was the reason. I was invited out for dinner. The first course was an oyster cocktail; next a combination salad; then the main part of the meal. T-bone steak, nice thick & rare – French fried potatoes, Tiny tender peas, next came apple pie. Then raspberry ice cream and last of all a basket of oranges – I brought mine home on the outside. I forgot both ripe and green olives. Too many for me to eat them all. No celery however, but I won’t complain about that. It was truly the best & biggest meal I had had since leaving the states, and I don’t expect another like it until I get back and possibly not then what with rationing & everything. We left the meal in

[page 2] time to go to the show. “The Crystal Ball” was the name of the show. After the show there was a slight beer party in the ward room. It seems that three of our officers were promoted and they dug up some beer, peanuts, pine nuts, pecans and a few other tidbits. So you see I had a nice full stomach to retire on, but this A.M. I don’t seem to have any after affects and strange as it seems I slept well also.

It must seem from what I’ve written that all we do is eat and sleep. I can assure you it will be a long time before another meal and evening like that rolls around again.

Well, I must get to work in order to get some of that excess food & drink out of my system.
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/13/stomach-happy-roscoe/

Mother Just Passed Away (Gladys)

5 Replies

Letter transcription:
Fri – 11:45

I didn’t get this letter mailed last night. Mother just passed away. I am still at the hospital but getting ready to leave. Your Mother just came in on the bus. Alma met her at the bus. Alma has been “old faithful.”

I am having autopsy done – after I get the report will let you know.

I have to go to the telegraph office and dispatch some messages.
Love Mother

Emma Foster, circa 1940s

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/12/mother-just-passed-away-gladys/

Flowers (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 14, 1943 envelope

: October 14, 1943, p. 1

: October 14, 1943, p. 2

: October 14, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran C.
Oct. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Yours of Sept. 24, 27, 29, 30, Oct. 1 & 2 came yesterday. I’m at a little loss to know why 24, 27, & 29 were all post marked Sept. 29. Probably was a little slip up some place along the line and doesn’t make a great deal of difference. In one of those letters the 7 months pictures and the letter you wrote way back there were present. I can’t understand that either but I guess these P.O. in the field have a lot to do.

So glad you got the flowers – I just knew this friend wouldn’t fail and I don’t feel badly about sending that amount of money. You should get another bunch of flowers along about your birthday from another fellow. In case you don’t get those all I can say is happy birthday. What I meant to say was I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday because I can’t send anything – not even money in time and I didn’t send any sooner because I didn’t have any and won’t until the last of the month. So I have you get the flowers in time.

[page 2] I’m sorry your mother’s condition fails to improve. If it isn’t a carcinoma it has to be a hardening of the liver and the treatment of either is futile but I still think it is carcinous and the Gall stones have nothing to do with the condition. I’m afraid you are going to be pretty short financially because you only had a little over $150 so early in the month. You hadn’t mentioned before about paying the hospital as you went along which I think is a good idea if you can but it if cuts you so low that you can’t make the rent & insurance stall them off for a while – don’t ask Jim for more than half the expenses and I guess Glen isn’t able at this time to aid in that respect. I’m sure the finances will work out OK so don’t let that worry you.

Now about you – Your invoice sounded good but let me warn or prepare you – In sickness an individual who is responsible for the care of sick will often go on their nerves – Then when it is over if proper care isn’t taken a relapse or let down is evident and that is what you have to guard against. Get plenty of rest – sleep and let the house work go for a while. Your indigestion is probably like what I had when

[page 3] Openshaw, Mathews, etc. were out of town and I was run ragged remember. Don’t blame the strep you had last winter too much. Of course you might have a recurrence but you didn’t have a strep the year before and one got you last year so just because you did have that last year is no reason to expect one this year.

100 pounds, dark hair, Green eyes, 5’4”, pleasing features, a little slim but just my type. Do keep healthy Dear – just as if you won’t try?

The one year old pictures were good and but don’t try to send the movie films. Of course I’d like to see them but don’t take the chance of losing them and I don’t know the size nor the size of our machine here. Where is the pressure coming from for D. hair cut? Don’t tell me just let me guess. I won’t express myself on the subject. You probably know how I feel. Isn’t that a big help?

Those letters are such a big help when they come in as late as those yesterday – Thanks and lots of love
Daddy

P.S. I received a letter from the fellow who sent the flowers and he told me he had done so. He is from Reno, Nev.

[Editor’s note: The fellow from Reno, Nevada was mostly likely Roscoe’s former tent mate, George Wingfield, Jr., who was transferred a few months previously.]

YEG1943-05-15 - David on stoop with tulips

One of David’s 7th month photographs

The Hospital Called (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 14, 1943, p. 1

: October 14, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

St. E. Hospital
10-14-43

Dear Daddy –

I was called down this morning. Mother doesn’t seem to know much, was seeming to be in pain when I came but is dozing now. She looks terrible, and breathes hard now. The hospital called me – our telephone was out of order and they called Foulkes & Coke called me to the phone. The storm yesterday put a lot of phones out of order. This is Thurs. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole but suppose he is around town someplace. He does take week-ends off sometimes starting from Thurs. I hope he hasn’t this time.

Alma W. & Caroline Wright came down with me. Ruth stayed home with the boys. We had intended to come down Thru Brookston and leave her off there but when the call came I got ready & came on & she stayed to get lunch for the boys & take care of D.

Alma told me Nellie Riggs went home with Polly as soon as Clarence’s funeral was over. Polly’s husband has double pneumonia & was in an oxygen tent. Polly had a premature baby several weeks ago – It lived almost two months, but it was only 6 ½ months & not strong enough to make it.

After the storm & rain yesterday the sun is shining today but it’s cool. Alma & C. went on to town & I told them to get my coat out of storage. It may get cool enough to war it any time now.

[page 2] I think Bernard Funk’s have a new baby but I don’t know any of the details. I asked a 3^rd floor O.B. nurse about Mary Tues. when I was here and she thought Mary was on 4^th.

I had been bringing flowers down all along from our flower beds and had quite a nice bouquet to bring down Tues. but I think the frost last night nipped everything that was not under cover last nite. Ruth & I mailed some letters from the Hotel last night & it had cleared off, so I was expecting a good frost – it was so cool.

Ruth wrote to your Mother Mon. and had an answer today. I intend to call your Mother from here sometime today. She said she would come up. Ruth is planning to go home tomorrow, but she is waiting developments here. – – It is 12:30 midnight and we are getting ready to go home. The nurse thought I should stay all night but I have about decided to go home and come back early in the morning. I called your Mother and she is coming on the bus to Laf. in the morning. The blood vessels have bursted around Mother’s neck and some on her face. She doesn’t see now or recognize anyone. – I am in the chart room – there was a woman just brought in – supposed to be in a coma (with police escort) but the police thought she had too much to drink. They found her on the street.

Love – Mother

Water Torture (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 13, 1943 envelope

: October 13, 1943, p. 1

: October 13, 1943, p. 2

: October 13, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Oct. 13, 1943

Dear Mother,

No mail again yesterday and this is about the longest time between late mal mail in a good while, but I guess it will be coming along in a day or two.

We are having a slight drizzle this A.M. Just like one of those spring days back home – reminds one of a good cucumber shower at home. Rain & then sunshine. We were lucky in getting our laundry in yesterday. Many of the officers didn’t bother to get them in when dry so they are now very much damp again.

I didn’t sleep so good last night

[page 2] because there was a leak in the tent just above my face and a drop hit me there first. I sorta curled up and then was hit on the shoulder. You see it wasn’t a fast leak so I’d just about get to sleep when the next drop would come – well I “schrunced” in the other direction and then got a drop on my belly. Well I just got up and moved the bunk out of the line of the drip. Sleeping practically in the nude as I do those drops really were cold. It all reminded me of that old drop drop of water used on prisoners in days gone by,

[page 3] because it seemed I was too sleepy to move.

Today is my regular time for getting out to do some high powered inspection and of course I’ll have more enemies this Eve than now but they get over it easy and I don’t know that there is much they can do if they don’t get over it, because that is my official duty. I’ll get my neck jumped on if I don’t and I’d rather be on theirs than have some one else on mine.

Well maybe I’ll hear from you today I hope.
Love Daddy