Category Archives: Foster

On Top of the World (Roscoe)

: August 21, 1943 envelope

: August 21, 1943, p. 1

: August 21, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 21, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.

Dear Mother,

This is one of those days when it seems like blue Monday but it’s Sat. Just one of those days that will brighten as the day wears on. They always do so I’m expecting this one to be that way. In fact I’m feeling better already – It’s the writing time to you which is giving me the uplift so you can consider yourself the cause of my morale being raised and while on that subject I think or rather I know that your letters, your pictures and just you have been the uplifting influence for me in this area but I can’t just limit it to this time for that has been going on now for well “neigh” on to 15-16 years. Now I’m feeling lots better – and you?

I hope my writing these feelings of mine toward you don’t in any way have a depressing feeling affect. If that happens to be the case let me know and I’ll surely stop – but when news are so scarce other things creep into the letters just natural like but sometimes I can understand how they might have a different

[page 2] affect than if they were told to you in person. So if you are depressed let me know and I’ll try to keep all these things and tell them to you in person when that day arrives. I’d like to be able to write my feelings a little more – shall I say not so bluntly but you know how I am more on the practical side and less on the – I can’t think of the word or words to express that other side which goes to prove my practical point of view.

So far I’ve used lots of words and tried to say lots but you may have to read between the lines to get my full meaning. Maybe I should write other things but I just don’t like to break the spell or maybe not the spell but my thoughts are about you and I don’t like to have them broken.

Well Dear – I’m not nutty or mentally affected as you might gather from what I’ve written but I’m really sitting on top of the world because I have someone like you back there pulling my way and causing me to be raised out the dumps just by writing to you so I’ll continue my thoughts until tomorrow with

Lots of love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/25/on-top-of-the-world-roscoe/

Blowing Horns (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: August 20, 1943 envelope

: August 20, 1943, p. 1

: August 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 20, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

You have heard and know what those old thunder storms are in the summer time there at home – well we had one of those last night. There really was a lot of electricity and a considerable amount of rain, but it’s fairly hot again this A.M.

I received a letter from Dr. Porterfield yesterday and Dr. Williams was sent out from there recently – not back home but on a different duty. I’m glad I began my duty when I did because I think my chances are better of returning sooner than if I had had duty there so long. That may be just a lot of wishful thinking on my part, but that remains to be seen.

I went to the show last night and got so disgusted with the thing. First they finished a show which had been started some days previous. Then two musical shorts and if those were musical – things have changed. To me it was a bunch of fellows blowing horns etc. without any regards for each other or the audience. Then the real feature of the evening

[page 2] but by that time the coconut logs had made such an impression that no matter how good I wouldn’t have like it, and besides that we missed all our radio programs which all in all makes me more than somewhat unhappy.

I received a box of sardines from Ruth M. yesterday but anymore we don’t go for things like that because our food is so much better. So as I told you before don’t send anything – no use to use your ration cards for us. We’ll probably eat what we have on hand but we won’t get near the pleasure we once did. There is more to that than just the eats. The old gang that arrived here at the same time are all gone except on fellow and myself so we don’t have the parties. Many of that gang were of our original cub – not Drs. – and when a bunch has been together that long we “sorts” feel like relatives. And when the same bunch goes thru a few hardships that has a tendency to increase friendship. So this one fellow and I sometimes sit and go over older times. Of course Dr. Gardiner is here but he missed lots of the times our original bunch had. New faces have arrived and it’s just not the same as in the olden times – That’s what all old people say.

Well, lot of love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/23/blowing-horns-roscoe/

Flower (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 20, 1943 envelope

: August 20, 1943, p. 1

: August 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Aug. 20 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I have been writing v-mail every other day and this should be a v-mail day but decided I would use reg. air mail again. Your mother, David & I went to Laf. today. Dr. Cole cut the cast off David’s leg. He was dreading the job but the case was pretty well soaked so wasn’t hard to cut off. He said he found that something else besides vinegar & peroxide would dissolve plaster. I had told him we called David “Flower” (the little skunk character in Walt Disney’s movie Bambi). He said is may smell like a flower but he didn’t know what kind. I was afraid David’s leg would be very touchy, and his knee would hurt when he tried to bend it but by the time we got home he was getting around pretty good. I put him down in his bed on his back and he pulled right up. In a day or two I doubt if we can tell he ever had it in a cast. I believe he was very happy to get out, he was so happy all evening – tho he is usually that way. Your mother says we should have named him David Roscoe. She says he looks so much like you. Now my dear, as much as I think of you, I still wouldn’t want to do that. We might compromise and call him Jake, or little Jake. Don’t mind me – just running off.

[page 2] I asked Dr. C. if he had written you about Mother – he said he hadn’t had time to even address a letter since he has been back – (Took Sun., Mon. & Tues. off). I said I didn’t suppose he would have since he came back. I asked him if he got to rest any while away & he said he slept the clock around. I don’t know when you will hear from him. After he told me Sunday I wrote Jim & Glenn and Jim called me last night. He wanted to know if anything could be done. Dr. Cole said Mother couldn’t stand surgery. I haven’t had any more word from Glen – Had an air mail from them Mon. & answered with a night letter & told them to come on – they wanted to know if Mother would be able to have them come for a visit, or wait until later. Since they haven’t answered I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come in any time.

Mark has gone to bed. He is still tired from his 4-H camping trip but I sent him to bed so he will feel rested by tomorrow. John is playing with a toy I got to give Bobby Funk for his birthday (Sept. 6). Also got a gift for Donnie – his birthday comes Aug. 29. I got a wedding gift for Earl & Imogene – they will be here tomorrow to get your mother – Ruth M. had me to get her gift at Loebs – so I got mine (ours) there too – a set of glasses & sherberts to match. Your mother said the shower will be next week & she is saving her gift till then but I will give them ours tomorrow. I had the store clerk wrap them ready to give in white tissue & ribbon – Well I am tired & John is going to take this to the hotel to mail so must sign off – with Love – Mother

Earl and Imogene (Photograph courtesy of Don Yegerlehner)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/22/flower-gladys/

New Piano (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943 Letter to John

Letter transcription:

Aug. 19, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Calif.

Dear John,

I started writing you and Mark last night but Mark was as far as I got so now that I’ve finished Mother’s letter I’ll see if I can think of some of the things I wanted to write you.

First of all I’ll bet you are really glad to have the new piano. I’ve wondered if it will hold the pitch as well as the old or I mean better than the old. Hope it is really a good piano.

Mother wrote me you were having some pimples on your face and nose – I wouldn’t be alarmed about those since that is very natural for boys your age – but let me give you some advice don’t pinch or squeeze them – use a wash rag and wash them rather vigorously once or twice each day and if they are broken open all the pus from them will be washed away, and new ones are not so apt to reappear.

School will be very near by the time you get this and I suppose you will be glad to get back to the old swing of things.

Well here is hoping you like the new piano and don’t forget to give that kiss to Mother from me

Love Daddy

John (January 1943)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/21/new-piano-roscoe/

New Mess Boy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943, p. 1

: August 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 19, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I started writing the boys last night but Mark was as far as I got – Had too many visitors but I think I can write John today and get them out on the same mail.

Yesterday was really a pleasant day. Cloudy and therefore fairly cool all day long but old Sol is really putting it down this A.M. trying to make up for lost time and I think from the way if feels the lost time will be made up very rapidly.

As you gather from the things I’ve written I’m having a hard time thinking and writing but if I keep writing maybe something will finally click.

Our mess boy is here cleaning now and he is telling some cock & bull story about some of his colored friends – his story are a little vague but he laughs just the same and of course we join in when he laughs just to be sociable. We now have a new mess boy and he does much better than the previous one. He even sweeps from behind the bunk. The other one just cleaned out the center.

[page 2] The news we are getting of the war sure sounds good but I sometimes wonder if maybe we aren’t a little over stating our damage to the enemy. It’s hard to really say. So far as I know it seems to be rather accurate but I’m not in the know to any great extent.

I left my good Asia map at the last station and I miss it so much but I’ve got out good connections out for another. I did bring the one from Europe and Uncle W. sent me a small one of the So. Pacific. However I guess the war would go on even though I didn’t have a map.

You wrote of picture – The last I’ve gotten are those of you and the boys and the one of Virginia with D. If there was any since then I haven’t received them.

Well, hope everything is OK with you
Lots of Love
Daddy

Virginia Zell with David

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/20/new-mess-boy-roscoe/

Wedding Presents (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943, p. 1

: August 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 19 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I was just about to get off to a good nap when John brought David in. I had to change him then put him down in his bed with a thumb guard on – which didn’t please him at all. He is trying to take it off, but he has a sore on his thumb, so must have the guard on. He needs a nap so doesn’t take much to make him cry. Your Mother is here. I think we will go to Laf. tomorrow & take David to Dr. Cole to get the cast taken off. I had an appointment for the next day but your Mother is going home Sat. so will go to Laf. tomorrow if I can get an appointment with Dr. C. Also your Mother would like to go to Laf. to shop. She wants to get Earl & Imogene a wedding present. I bought some glasses at Loebs and Ruthie M. liked them so much she had me get her a doz. – then decided they would make a nice wedding gift so I am to get a doz. for her to give Earl & I. I intent to get some kind of matching glass if I can and give them. They will be here again Sat. to get your Mother so will give them the gifts then. I didn’t know Imogene, but she is very nice and rather pretty.

[page 2] Mark is due home this evening some time. I suppose he will be worn out. The week John was gone to your folks, Mark had to stay in and help me and didn’t have time to run & play. He had been shaking his head a lot & batting his eyes, but after he had to stay in and not run & play so much I noticed he had quit all those nervous habits. I supposed that proves he spends too much energy for his own good. – I believe having the tonsils out is just beginning to show results too. He has been out a lot and has a good healthy look.

We gathered beans & canned four qts. today. I am about to use up all the jars wwe have. I have beans (33 qts.), peas 4 qts., spinach 28 pts. and 4 qts. tomatoes so far. I have been buying corn, peas and fruit with our points so have a small supply ahead.

David can unscrew the bolts on his bed downstairs and John just had to run in and put the tap back on. I am going to have to invent something to keep him from taking things apart. I am afraid he will get the taps in his mouth sometime when we aren’t looking. I know he will be happy to get the cast off and I know I will be.

Mother is about the same. Your Mother is up talking to her now. I didn’t tell her what the Dr. said to me Sunday about her condition. I suppose it will become painful in time – she complains of gas now some, but I think it must be from the source of her trouble. Hope you got Dr. Cole’s letter explaining things –

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/19/wedding-presents-gladys/

Grandma’s Sheets (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 18, 1943 envelope addressed to Mark

: August 18, 1943 Letter to Mark

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 18, 1943

Dear Mark,

Seems as if I wrote John last so it’s about time for one to you – I’ll probably write to John also. You understand the last letter to him was for his birthday – on your birthday I’ll write you a special letter but I must not forget D. comes in between you and John and it won’t be long now before D.’s letter will be due.

Mother wrote me of the accident you had with Grandma’s sheets. Little things like that happen to most everyone now and then. The main thing is always to be honest about things that happen – especially to tell mother the truth which I know you do. I guess that is enough advice just now.

I’ve gotten some pretty big fish stories about you and Uncle Earl this summer – I’ve been fishing a time or two and the best we could do was a 30 pound tuna fish. Some other fellows here have caught some about twice that size.

You’ll be all hot about school by the time you get this and I’m wondering if you like that or if you would rather work in the yard and garden.

It is about time for me to get to bed – will write to John tomorrow.
Love Daddy

P.S. Don’t forget that Kiss to Mother from me.

Mow You Down (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 18, 1943 envelope

: August 18, 1943, p. 1

: August 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 18, 1943

Dear Mother,

You mentioned in several of your letters about people asking you if you had written me relative to D. accident and some had advised against such. I think you did exactly right because after all I’m not a weakling and can take those things. In fact I’d feel terrible if I didn’t know and I’d be disappointed in you. Sure I’d feel badly about anything that might happen but hypocrisy is the worst thing imaginable and it’s something you and I have never participated so why start such at a time like this. This is war and as I mentioned before it’s bigger than families so we have to take things and bear them. I’m certain you have always well written me things as they are at home and this is best. I can’t always write you things that happen here for various reasons which you understand. I haven’t felt so sorry for D. as for you because I know how he will get along – but the extra work, worry and self accusing, which I hope you haven’t done to[o] much of, will have a tendency to “mow you down,” but you know

[page 2] dear I’m for you and know that you have executed the best judgment at all times – so what do we care about what other people say. I say we because any criticism against you is equally shared by me.

Your letters of July 28 and 30 came yesterday and in them you told of receiving the check etc. Also got letters from Ruth M. and Mom. So now I’ve been well told about the family’s visit of course it was from different angles but and none repeated to me monotonous. The folks and Ruth M. were all very much impressed by the way you are carrying along and nothing but praises came from them so that makes me feel swell also. They were very much awed by D.’s behavior in the cast and his personality – I wonder – mothers or fathers!! Could it be both. I’ll vote for the maternal. Of course my ego is a li enters a little into the picture – self imposed ego of course.

I hope I haven’t made you feel badly by this letter. I really meant to make you feel better – Not by so many words but I’m all for you and you know it and I wouldn’t have any changes in you even if it were possible –
Lots of Love Daddy

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

Visitors (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-18-43

Dear Daddy – Your Mother came today – Tillie Z. – Earl Y. & bride, Imogene, were going to Whiting so they brought your Mother here. We did intend to go over to Ruth M.’s but with Mother not so good we won’t go. There too the gas has been cut to 3 gal. a week and we may have to take Mother back to the hospital. This noon she threw up her dinner, then said bile came up. I am going to call Dr. Cole & tell him if she does that again. I have to take David down Sat. to have the cast off so will see what he thinks about things by then – I wired Glenn to come after receiving a letter saying they were planning to come and I am waiting to hear from them as to what they are going to do. Rec’d yours of Aug. 7 today. I agree with you, patience is the only thing to have about getting home. We are as anxious to have you come as anyone but know it won’t help to get impatient about it. Just hope for an early return. Grandma Y. & John are out in the yard with David – Mark is still at 4-H camp. It was cool enough today for the heat to kick on. Emmett & Olene Miller were at Statons again & I talked to them. His father died last week. They are going now to Tenn.

Love – Mother

An Officer’s Salary (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 17, 1943 envelope

: August 17. 1943, p. 1

: August 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Yours of Aug. 2, 4 and 6^th came yesterday – The one with the financial statement was missing but you repeated a little so I have a fair idea. I don’t believe I would pay Ruth & Earl anything now that you have bought the bonds, etc. better keep a small reserve on hand – buying a bond once per month if you can. That was a false rumor about our pay so I couldn’t send any if I wanted to. If I were you I’d pay off the piano and then buy one bond per month unless of course it cuts you too short. We can always turn the bonds in and pay Mutch provided the our tax isn’t more than the bonds. So it’s just what you might call dealer’s choice.

I got a letter from Wayne W. and he was complaining about the amount of work he had to do and also said he hadn’t gotten away for a vacation as yet. Poor boy. No doubt people are working harder and trying to do more but they just can not forego the pleasures and vacations they once had with out some amount of complaining. I’m not feeling

[page 2] sorry for myself because an officer’s life isn’t so bad but it’s a 24 hour job seven days per week and it’s really tough on the boys that have to work hard. Of course that is true not only in this area but on all fronts – so it is a little “vexing” to hear one complain about not having a vacation.

Sacky has been was on the verge of being drafted when I left according to him and probably is still a little alarmed but maybe the hot breath of the draft board is finally blowing on the back of his neck. Officer’s salary does sound pretty good but I just have a $130 board bill to pay and what board especially in the beginning. Of course in the States there is also room & board – an enlisted man has none of that to worry about so there isn’t so much difference in the pay as one would expect.

My total salary now runs around 4000 but that is not all taxable and as I said above there is a deduction for food.

Well this letter has been more or less on the complaining side but I’m not that way all the time. I’ll try to be different next time.
Love Daddy