Category Archives: Foster

Without Any Qualification Whatsoever (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 6, 1943 envelope

: July 6, 1943, p. 1

: July 6, 1943, p. 2

: July 6, 1943, p. 3

: July 6, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

July 6, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Out of yesterday’s mail I received 3 letters: 2 from you and one from Mom. Yours were postmarked June 17 and 21. Hers was June 15.

You said you had paid off the insurance loan but didn’t say how much it was but I guess it doesn’t make any difference, and you never did say whether or not this June was the last payment. Probably all those answers are in the mail by now. I wrote the other day that I was going to increase the allotment and was going to send you a check just in case there was a mix up in the allotment change.

[page 2] but so far we haven’t drawn any money nor have I had an opportunity to increase the allotment. If I get that done before the 15^th of July it should become effective by Sept. 1. So you really should get your regular 2 check the first of Aug. I think I’ll leave the $30 one as is but increase the $170 so that in case I’m not able to make it on what I allow myself later on all I’ll have to do it drop the $30. I haven’t decided yet as to how much I’ll increase that to because since the promotion I haven’t had a pay and don’t know exactly how much I’m drawing. I’ve told you all this before I think but maybe I’ve added a little more.

[page 3] Seems to me from the way you wrote that D. needs a little spanking now and then. It won’t hurt to use the old tried and true method of hand persuasion now and then and he is old enough to receive such when his temper seems to be getting the better of his level headed and should I say beautiful mother. Remind me to have him apologize for being rude when I get home. I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I mean every word I say and as you know I’d make him mind if I were there. The other part – the last part – I mean also without any qualification whatsoever.

The rats were terrible in our tent

[page 4] last night. Seems as if there were a few peanuts left in a can. I didn’t know they were there or the rats wouldn’t have had a chance.

I’m all exhausted from watching a sailor with a sack over his side and a stick with a nail in the end spearing little bits of paper and cigarette butts. Just like in the parks at home. He made about 6 jabs at one small piece – really I think he just chewed it all to small bits and then kicked them all over the place.

Well, my usual amount of paper is gone so much [must?] say

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/2014/09/24/without-any-qualification-whatsoever-roscoe/

Wordless Wednesday – John and Grandmother Foster

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Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/24/wordless-wednesday-john-and-grandmother-foster/

A Beautiful Child (Gladys)

5 Replies

: July 6, 1943 envelope

: July 6, 1943, p. 1

: July 6, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 6, 1943, p. 4

: July 6, 1943, p. 5

: July 6, 1943, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 6 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of June 19 & 20 came today – the 23-24 & 25 came last week –

We had quite an electrical storm toady – just getting over now – the lightening struck a tree by Clara Molter’s house. I am going to send one of the boys down when it stops raining to see how she is. I imagine it scared her a lot. John was sitting in the living room & saw the tree fall and he was shaken for a while.

[page 2] I send a specimen of urine down to Dr. M. office this morning and then I went down about 11:30 to get a report – The urine was normal – Dr. M. had the idea Mother has chronic nefritis (I think I misspelled that again) but I told him I thought the trouble came from her bowels so he suggested I take her to the hospital for an analysis of her stool. I am going to call Dr. Cole and ask him about bringing her down. Will let you know when I get a report.

There is still enough electricity in the air to make the telephone ting once in a while.

While downtown this morning

[page 3] I saw John Krull – he is home on furlough and evidently from the odor when I passed him, had been absorbing as much as possible. He had been in Mick’s and was going out. Same old John.

We got a washing hung out when it started to rain now everything is dripping – Maybe the wind will blow them dry now. It is quite a bit cooler than it was before the storm. I’ll have to put some clothes on David. He is wearing a sun suit. He is singing now and entertaining himself in his bed. He was so glad to see the boys. He likes to watch the trains go by over by 24.

[page 4] Had a letter from your mother and she hadn’t heard from you for 2 weeks. Sometimes my letters are that long in coming while others make it in a week. 7-7-43 I didn’t get this finished yesterday. Took Mother down to St. E. and saw Dr. Cole – He is having her urine & stool examined and will give her glucose if she doesn’t get her strength from eating. I am to go Fri. and can get a report on findings then. She hasn’t been eating much but said when she was taking sulfasuxadine didn’t want to eat. She is so thin and weak. Will send you the full report when I get it.

David had gone to sleep. Just discovered this morning he could hit a higher note and was hitting it pretty high.

[page 5] yours of June 11 & 14 came today and seems you had rec’d some more pictures. David we think is a beautiful child but I agree with you Mark had him bested. Of course there isn’t a baby we have seen yet that can compare with D. I suppose that is natural.

You were right Hilda & Amelia didn’t work long and as I wrote you before Hilda took her children & moved in with her Mother. Rented her house here. I haven’t heard anything about Ed lately – since they are gone there aren’t any news items in the papers here.

About the money situation – so far we are getting by with a balance but I can’t buy

[page 6] any bonds. I assure you I am not spending any unnecessarily – I bought the bike and that is the only thing that has been spent that we could have done without, but it comes in very handy. The boys are running errands for people so much now that they have the bike, besides for us too. I used the travel money to pay for it. I hear the clock strike half past & and I have ironing to do and then David will have to have a bath & feeding about 11 – so must get busy – but will try to finish this little space. John is out mowing Link’s lawn. He left $1.25 to give him – he doesn’t know yet how much he is to get. Mark is still asleep but I want him to rest – he had almost too much vacation.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/23/a-beautiful-child-gladys/

The Gunner’s Mate (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 5, 1943 envelope

: July 5, 1943, p. 1

: July 5, 1943, p. 2

: July 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

July 5, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

July 4^th has come and gone – yesterday I wrote that the crowing event of the day was breakfast but noon day meal was also a good one – steak, French fries, ice cream & pie etc. Again you see most of the emphasis is placed on food.

I think I saw some mail bags today but that doesn’t mean that they are for us but it is always encouraging. I won’t be out until later or late in the day and I can’t wait for this or it might miss the

[page 2] out going. If there is any of course you will get the low down of it in tomorrow’s letter.

I carted my laundry out early this A.M. so I think by the time I finish this and do a little extra work it will be ready to hang but it doesn’t look too nice for a drying day.

Last night the wind blew and it really was cool. The sheet and bed spread were hardly enough. Must be our winter weather setting in. There are a few slight colds around just like in the

[page 3] winter time at home.

It seems I’m having a hard time concentrating again on anything that might be interesting. The gunner’s mate just came in to see if our pistols were in good condition. Mine has been hanging in one place for a long time and it’s been longer than that since I’ve worn it. Too heavy for a man with a small waist line.

It’s about time for me to get out and on the job so maybe as I promised yesterday I’ll be able to think of some wild to tale to write of tomorrow.

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/2014/09/22/the-gunners-mate-roscoe/

To Wilmington and Back (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 5, 1943 envelope

: July 5, 1943, p. 1

: July 5, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 5, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland
July 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I left a letter for the mail man to pick up then learned the P.O. was closed today so it didn’t go out – Thought I would add a line – I went to Wilmington to get J & M. Took Betty & Buddy along. They seemed to enjoy the trip. Buddy took his cap gun along and could buy caps there so had fun making a noise. Mark and Earl had gone fishing about

[page 2] 3 a.m. and got back a little while after we arrived – (10:30). I was able to buy some sardines so will send you a box as soon as I can get some other things to put in. Ruth is getting some things collected to send too.

Going back to the fish subject, Mark & Earl had luck and brought in 10 bass. Earl cleaned them and we brought home several. I put them in the frost chest until tomorrow. Mark had a grand time as well as John but Mark overdid his and is a little nervous again but I think I can soon get him calmed down. I am sure with proper rest here at home he will soon be

[page 3] over it. He won’t rest away from home so I’ll just have to see that he does. They enjoyed their visit & I know Ruth enjoyed having them and does so many things to help them have a good time. She took John to one of her neighbors to play for her. The woman used to play the organ but hasn’t been able to play much for a long time – so she enjoyed John’s playing for her. Mark has lots of friends there and has been there enough that he looks to seeing them all.

Clara M. came up three times today to see about Mother. I am going to see Dr. M. tomorrow

[page 4] again about her and if she isn’t any better I think I’ll take her to the hospital for some checking over.

We drove home thru a hard rain from about Donovan on to Kent. We could see the black clouds in the east when we were coming south of Kankankee and finally got into the rain.

David had a good time. I thought he would be so hungry, because he went half an hour over his supper but he wanted to play and it took about half an hour to feed him.

I am so sleepy think I’ll go to bed –
Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/21/to-wilmington-and-back-gladys/

Independence Day 1943 (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: July 4, 1943 envelope

: July 4, 1943, p. 1

: July 4, 1943, p. 2

: July 4, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

July 4, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal.

Dear Mother,

This being Sunday and a holiday no doubt we will spend the day with firecrackers and later a picnic supper on the sea shore. Sound like a rather enjoyable day don’t you think? I have other ideas about the enjoyableness of such a situation.

The crowing event so far as the day is concerned has already past and that was two eggs sunny side up with bacon and toast. That is not the usual breakfast however. Just a pick up by one of the officers in his wandering

[page 2] around. Of course those eggs were either state side or New Z.

Have been giving the regular routine yearly shots and since I’ve been in over a year mine were due also, so my arm is a little stiff but other than that there are no bad affects.

I saw in the Newton C. E. issue the law about the car insurance and I think ours is OK, but you said you were going to check with Ira. Since it isn’t due until Aug. 11 (I believe). You will have had plenty of time to arrange to make it OK if it is not.

The bell just rang for 8:30 and

[page 3] I’m supposed to begin giving shots at 9:00 so before long will have to get things arranged for the bunch that come in. Just something like the days when the kids came from school to get their shots. Only none of these cry and carry on but some do get very white and act as if they would like to pass out.

Well, I’ll promise to do a better job of writing next time as I so often do –

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/2014/09/20/independence-day-1943-roscoe/

Staycation (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 4, 1943, p. 1

: July 4, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 4, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another 4^th and traditionally hot. It was cool this morning after a good rain during the night but this afternoon the heat was so intense and the humidity so high, Mother was all in. She went to bed early. She thought she would go with me to Wilmington to get J. & M. but thinks now the trip would be too tiring. I went down to Clara Molter’s and asked her to come stay with Mother. She can’t come all day but is going to come up several

[page 2] times during the day and come at noon & fix her lunch. Mother has been taking sulfasuxadine a week now but is thru with it. Is still taking Bepron. She said today her stomach & bowels feel better. If she could just get her strength. She ate a pretty good meal at noon. If she doesn’t improve next week I think I’ll take her down to St. E. for a thorough check-up and glucose if necessary.

It is thundering and lightening some. May have rain and storm before morning. It hadn’t rained for a week when it rained last nite. Things were getting dry. A few days like this & Indiana corn sure will grow.

[page 3] Bun Walkup brought Iva Jean & the girls out this evening. Iva Jean had never seen D. I took her upstairs to see him – he was asleep but not too soundly – he woke up and was so hot I brought him down and we compared babies. He is 4 hrs 14 minutes older than their Carolyn. She weighed 8 ½ at birth & D 6-11 – He now weighs more and is quite a bit taller besides having more tan. Susie is a cute little child with curley hair. David’s hair curls when it’s damp but Carolyn’s is definitely straight. She has six teeth to David’s two. However, I think he will have more before long. He was so hard to do anything with today. He misses J. & M. (and so do I). They help so much in taking care of him.

[page 4] I would take him out in the yard & put him in the buggy – most of the time he was standing or trying to hang out head first. Maybe I am a little indulgent with him, but he seems to have such an urge to climb it seems out the question to hold him down. He knows what no-no means – when he want too. If he is in a good mood he laughs at it – if not he trys to cry – and if in a bad mood crys with all stops open.

I called Ruth M. to tell her I would be over to get J. & M. – Earl & Mark are going fishing tomorrow. Both boys said they weren’t ready to come home but I don’t want them to wear their welcome out and I need them here. Link left a $1.25 for John to mow his lawn next Wed. Statons went to Monticello today for a week. I think I’ll spend my vacation at home.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/19/staycation-gladys/

To Begin With…(Roscoe)

3 Replies

: July 3, 1943 envelope

: July 3, 1943, p. 1

: July 3, 1943, p. 2

: July 3, 1943, p. 3

: July 3, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.
July 3, 1943

Dear Mother

Your letters air mail of June 12, 14, & 16, v-mail of 8, 13, 15 and air of May 13 and one from Uncle Wess of June 17, and a v-mail from each of the older boys and one from Ruth M. arrived yesterday.

To begin with we need say no more about the uniform and travel money because I got the word that you have received all. I may report the same thing in a letter or two but it’s a relief to know it all arrived OK. Along the same line I’m going to increase the allotment sometime

[page 2] this month but it won’t be effective before Aug. or Sept. Sc The old one should carry right along until the new one takes place but I’ll try to send you a check in a few days to carry you over in case there is a mix up. Our pay accounts are here now and in the next week or ten days I think I can send you the check. If the allotment comes thru OK you can use the check to pay off your insurance loan and/or buy some bonds, etc. More about that in letters to come.

The pictures were swell – sure gave a good idea of how D. and the rest of the family is coming along.

[page 3] The views of the house and surroundings were equally good. The grass did look a little long on the back terrace but with all the rain you’ve had there it must certainly grow fast.

You mentioned something about Salmon – don’t send any. Of course if you have OK – we have that here, and since the sardines take so many points don’t send those either. In fact I don’t believe it’s necessary to send anything because our food is good and it may become lost on the way and besides that it takes good ration

[page 4] points to get those things. I’m

I’m sure your scrap book will be interesting – The two items you mentioned were swell and by now you probably have others.

You wrote of Joe R. – you will have my letter telling of his visit etc. before long. His commanding officer has been on duty here and sure is a swell fellow. It would be OK to be in an outfit like that – Not any better than what I’m doing at present but there are lots of others worse.

Lots of Love Daddy

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

She Doesn’t Eat (Gladys)

3 Replies

: July 3, 1943 envelope

: July 3, 1943, p. 1

: July 3, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 3, 1943, p. 4

: July 3, 1943, p. 5

: July 3, 1943, p. 6-7

: July 3, 1943, p. 8

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I am starting to write again before the mail comes, hoping I’ll get this finished before he gets here so he can pick this up. I got the bank statement and dep. checks, went around and paid bills, came back home and figured everything down so I could give you the bare facts about our financial standing, and it isn’t too high but a lot had to come out this time. As I wrote you I pd off the Ins. loan on your

[page 2] old pol. And it was $246.91 – also paid Link for the bike 35⁰⁰ so that took about all the extra you had sent. The Hancock has to be pd in July so I have already written ck for the three premiums which total $77.28 and that is deducted from the bank acct and I now have a balance of $91.13 – but that includes the last two cks. mother rec’d (52⁰⁰). However half of that amt. I think should be considered outs. There is nothing of any size that has to be paid now until the auto Ins. is due in Aug. & that won’t have to be pd. till Sept. There is a new law that everyone operating a car has to carry $11,000 liability – and if there

[page 3] is an accident and the person hasn’t the correct amt. of Ins. he not only loses privilege to drive but his car is put up for a certain period of time & can’t even be sold. I think it’s high time drastic measures be taken. – Well the mail man beat me again, but I don’t care, your letters of June 24 & 25 came and you had mine of June 8, 9, 10 & 11. – I sent a bunch of pictures on the 12^th Maybe it will reach you next. Also last Sat. I sent you a single picture of David made by a photographer. You don’t need to worry about Mother carrying D. downstairs. She hardly lifts him at all now since she isn’t feeling

[page 4] well. I took her back to Dr. M. yesterday and he told her to keep taking sulfasuxadine two more days then bring in another urine specimen. She doesn’t eat and is so thin. I fix things I think will help her eat but she doesn’t and I don’t know what to do! I think it’s that old bowel trouble. Dr. M. said he thought she had cronic nefritis (I think that is misspelled) but she says she doesn’t have any pain in her kidneys or bladder and she does have pain in her bowels. She is still taking Bepron and says it doesn’t hurt her stomach – He told her to keep taking it. I have been thinking about taking her to the hospital for observation

[page 5] but thought I would give Dr. M. a chance to see what he can do, but if she doesn’t improve soon I will do something else. I don’t want to be unreasonable, I know how you used to get put out with people who expected a miracle cure.

David is in his bed in the nursery – we have it in front of the window so he can “watch the world go by.” He is singing a sleepy song. He certainly can get around. I wrote you about the “cradle Gym” I got for him. It is stretched across the bed and he keeps breaking the springs which are made of plastic. He is so rough he breaks any toy that is breakable.

[page 6] He has such strength in his arms he can pull himself up almost entirely with his hands & arms. His legs are sturdy but he depends on his arms to get up. He now has one shoe and sox off. He is supposed to be able to do that feat when he is a year old but he beat the book by a few months. When he was still wearing bootees, before he got to standing he kept someone busy putting his sox & bootees on. Every time I take him out and someone sees him for the first time, It’s always, “He looks like his daddy.” He still sucks his left thumb but not all the time. The last two mornings he has slept till 7 a.m. – and I want to keep him

[page 7] on that schedule 7-11-3-7 if I can.

I told Mother we would go to Ruth’s for the week-end if she had better sleeping accommodations, but with the boys already there, I think we will wait and go over Mon. and just spend the day. Ruth wants us to come to Bluffton and visit sometime this summer. She is working in a little factory at present so could hardly have company & work. However, I think we will at least try to make it over some week-end – – Just had to stop & give David some attention and a drink of water. I am trying to teach him to drink water out of a cup so he will know how to take milk when it’s time to do without the bottle –

[page 8] This is a lazy Sat. morn. Mother is lying down – It’s not too hot or cold and I haven’t done anything yet but write and change David. I washed yesterday and with the boys gone there isn’t much that has to be done today – except cook something for Mother & I. I saw Irene take Jimmy with her this morning. Mrs. James left for Ft. Wayne yesterday. Link & Irene are going to Monticello next week – I suppose they will go this evening. It certainly is quiet around the neighborhood now, but John & Mark will pick thinks up a little next week.

I hope I convey everything in
“Love Mother”

A Quickie (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: July 2, 1943 envelope

: July 2, 1943, p. 1

: July 1, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.
July 2, 1943

Dear Mother,

This will have to be a more or less a quickie as I have some work coming up. I’ll just hit the bare surface and promise more tomorrow. I’m afraid if I wait until later in the day the whole mail will be missed and might be late and of course you might say what if it is since it’s no letter at all.

Another of my tent mates is being shipped to a different

[page 2] location so that means someone else will come in – Seems when I get to a place I stay for some time and then all of a sudden I leave, but so far there are no indications of my leaving here but it all happened so sudden at the last place, and th life is getting pretty good here – good food etc – I mean.

Well, I promise to at least try to do better next time.

Love Daddy