Category Archives: Foster

Our tent leaked (Roscoe)

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: May 7, 1943 envelope

: May 7, 1943, p. 1

: May 7, 1943, p. 2

: May 7, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 7, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Just got in from another trip and this I’m sorry to say will have to be short as I’ve had no time to think but must get this off so that the mail clerk will take it along. I noticed by your letters that my mail to you is rather spotty and I’ve told you before that you can expect it to be that way. I know why but can’t tell you the reason.

It has rained almost continuously

[page 2] since I’ve planted my potatoes so I imagine they will rot before they have a chance to grow.

Our tent leaked over my bunk and night before last when I came to go to bed I found a pool of water in the middle of my mattress. Luckily I had two mattresses so I just took the top one off and that was OK. Needless to say I moved my bunk out from under that drip.

In yesterday’s letter I told you I received the

[page 3] uniform money and send 150⁰⁰ home and the other 100⁰⁰ I’ll send in a few days – I’ll just scatter them out a little in case some should get lost .

It’s just chow time so must get going –

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/2014/05/28/our-tent-leaked-roscoe/

Miss Kitsmiller called (Gladys)

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: May 7, 1943 envelope

: May 7, 1943, p. 1

: May 7, 1943, p. 2

: May 7, 1943, p. 3

: May 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
5-7-43

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Apr 3 & 4 came today – but had up to Apr 15^th earlier this week – you mentioned the seed again – which I sent out some time ago – also the lawn – and I had an earlier letter about that and gave you a reply which you should have by now. So much for answers. It is wet today. Had a hard rain yesterday & last nite. I was thinking of going to T. H. to get Mother but since it was raining so hard and didn’t clear away I put off going till tomorrow. John is till home from school and feels “O.K.” but I was afraid he might break out with measles any day. In case you have missed earlier letters – He came home Tues. from school having a chill & with a temp of 102. He hasn’t had any temp. since Tues except Wed he had 2/5 degree.) and has felt pretty good – had headache yesterday. Miss Kitsmiller called

[page 2] this morning to find out why he wasn’t in school. I said I hadn’ let him study any in case he was taking measles – she assured me I didn’t need to worry about that. I think he will make all exemptions again because he has an a average.

I wrote a v-mail yesterday and told you about David’s new toy – the “Cradle Gym” – it is a cute trick – just like a trapeze – cross-bar – hand rings, etc. He tries to pull up on it but hasn’t made the grade yet. He sounded a new low note this morning – John and I were watching him and with an appreciable audience he can really perform. He says Da-da all the time. Maybe he will do like John did before he talked.

Jackie Lamb came out this morning and borrowed the shadow box to use in court to show some x-ray’s. She promised to return it as soon as they are thru with it. I think I told you Newell didn’t get into the Navy. They bought the place Shirly Baze had. Baze’s went to Calif. to live. Shirley was ready to have another baby when they left here.

[page 3] The papers came today but I haven’t looked thru them. I didn’t get up very early and put a new top on David’s bath table so didn’t get much else done, except bathe & feed D, read your letters, and get lunch ready. I hope it clears away today so I can get some washing done this afternoon. You know these babies have to have clean clothes whether it rains or not.

Haven’t talked to Lucile since Wed. so haven’t any word about how Jimmy Ed is doing on D. M. A. – just hope it helps him.

Arlene told me they put Bobby in his play yard and saw him get ready to climb out. He found some boards and was fixing them so he could get over the fence. Her brother’s baby has glaucoma – (I think that is right) and they think they might be able to save one eye – They operated on the bad eye first and in 3 weeks will operate on the good eye. He is just 15 mo. old.

[page 4] John has been reading funnies this a-m. – He couldn’t read them while under suspicion of measles, so he is catching up. He has been listening to a lot of radio programs while he has been home.

Mark just started back to school and then came dashing back in for something – I don’t know what – never a dull moment around here.

The lilacs across the street on Kent are getting ready to bloom. They are very slow this year. The trees have just put out leaves the past week. If it stays warm everything will grow fast now.

I haven’t seen Helen Kline for some time but if I get to go to Laf. next week to attend Hospital Day will try to contact her. I tried the last time I was there to call her but couldn’t get the number. I suppose you haven’t seen Dan since you left the last place.

I must get dishes washed so will be ready to feed D. at 2 P.M.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/27/miss-kitsmiller-called-gladys/

Uniform money (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 6, 1943 envelope

: May 6, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 6, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco

Dear Mother,

Ten v-mails came yesterday from you and two from others – Your latest letter was Apr. 13, but air mail is still faster but I’ve given you the word on that before.

Now – at least the uniform money came. This in two checks – I’ll send one in today’s letter and one in a later one. I’ll endorse them like I did before. So you should have no difficulty with them.

I’m more or less in a hurry this A.M. so won’t have time to get everything written I’d like but will try to reread the letters again and write more fully next time.

The $150 check I’ll send today and a few days later the $100 will follow.

The taxable salary that I receive now since Mar. is 220⁰⁰ per mo. before that time was 183³³ but that was included in the figure I sent at the beginning of the year.

Well, I must get going –

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/2014/05/26/uniform-money-roscoe/ ‎

Hard rain and hail (Gladys)

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-6-43

Dear Daddy – No letters the past two days but had yours up to Apr 15 Mon & Tues this week (This is Thurs). It is much warmer here but the wind has been acting like March. It looks like rain any time now. I have some pansies to set out if the rain doesn’t come before I get out – stopped to set the “little” plants out – and just in time before it rained. David seems to be a little out of sorts – I think it is because I can’t take him out – had him outside nearly all afternoon yesterday. He has a new toy – it is called Cradle-Gym and it is a baby trapeze – it fastens across the bed and has several things on it. He likes it very much – tries to pull himself up on it but hasn’t quite made the grade yet. John is still home today but is feeling quite god, but if he has three day measles he won’t break out till tomorrow, so have to keep him home just in vase. He has a head ache and I think he needs his glasses changed but I don’t want to take him to Dr. Ade until I find out whether or not he has aforesaid measles. I sent your Mother a gift for Mother’s day today – am sending my mother a card – May get down there to get her before Sunday. John has the ballgame from Chicago turned on – there is a lot of noise due to the rainy weather – The Cardinals & Cubs are playing – Cubs won yesterday. Just had a hard rain and hail. It is time for Mark to be home from school – hope he didn’t get wet. He never takes his slicker unless I tell him too and he got away without it at noon. Our hero just arrived – he stopped in the P.O. while it rained so hard so all he has is wet shoes and I made him take them off. Strawberries are on the market now, but .39¢ a box and that is too much, I think.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/25/hard-rain-and-hail-gladys/

A few more potatoes (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 5, 1943 envelope

: May 5, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 5, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Sometime today I’ll be able [to] plant a few more potatoes – for a fellow came in and gave me two good sized ones the center of which I ate and the outside I’ll plant but I still have my fingers crossed – Yesterday my little garden was under water and potatoes rot pretty fast in warm damp soil – So much for a lesson in horticulture.

There were rumors that some mail arrived but as yet none has appeared but maybe it will gradually be sifted out and get to us we hope.

I’ve been sitting and listening and talking so I’m not sure of what might get into this letter – Nothing bad because our conversation isn’t on a low level today.

Just had a little eye to eye battle with a lizard but he left. He ran under my chair. They don’t look good but they do catch lots of flies.

Well, I’m all written dry –
Love Daddy

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

© 2014 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/24/a-few-more-potatoes-roscoe/

High Winds (Gladys)

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: May 5, 1943 envelope

: May 5, 1943, p. 1

: May 5, 1943, p. 2

: May 5, 1943, p. 3

: May 5, 1943, p. 4

: May 5, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
May 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but two yesterday of Apr 9 & 10 and I hardly expected any today. We are having a high wind today – not cold but sounds like it. John Barce & a Walkup boy are to take storm windows down today but if this wind continues they won’t be able to. – I went to club yesterday afternoon with Arlene – Louise kept the baby – I took him there as I went to club and when I came back to get him he was just waking up. Louise said he & Donnie had slept all afternoon. I got home just a little while after school was out and John was having a chill and running a temp, so I put him right to bed. I called Dr. M. and he said to give him a cathartic and let him know this morning – well I didn’t give him anything but orange juice because I didn’t think it was necessary. His temp. got up to 102 ½ last night but was normal this morning. I don’t know what was the matter.

[page 2] He says he feels pretty good but he may be having measles – one of those delayed cases. He is in bed with the blinds drawn in case it is the measles, listening to the radio. He said after he attended the band contest he didn’t care if he did get measles. I went to town to get some oranges and took the baby with me. Saw Massengill salesman, Berry – He was always showing his twins pictures so I got to show him our baby. He told me they had another baby boy but it died – it was a 7 ½ mo. – lived a day. – While I was talking to him Dorothy came along and took D. She told me Betty Lou was sick so maybe she and John are just having a touch of flue. At any rate John isn’t sick today but has to stay in bed just in case of measles. There were both kinds going around so he may be having the 3 day king. I heard more yesterday about Eddie Ray. He was injured rather severely. Doctors told Wilson’s he had a 50-50 chance. Ellsworth said he thought he would make it now – He was injured last Sat. and this is Wed. I think that may stop some of the children around town from climbing trees for a while. Mark says he isn’t going to climb up on anything.

[page 3] I wanted to work out in the yard but this wind is so strong I am afraid it would be difficult to do much. I worked after supper last night till it got too dark to see. It is time for the lawn to be mowed again but John can’t do it today and the mowing is his job this summer. Our garden needs hoeing and that is Mark’s job so he will have to do that after school today. I wish I could get a Technicolor picture of the shrubbery & tulips – The tulips are in bloom – all colors – and the evergreens are looking good. We are to get a replacement for the west tree – I don’t know when but soon. – – Had callers, Lucile & Jimmy Ed. She had taken him to Dr. M. His skin is in a terrible shape. She has to keep long stockings on him to keep him from scratching his legs and mitts on his hands. His skin peels off in large white flakes. Dr. M. put him on lactic acid a long time ago but it hasn’t helped so now they are to give him S.M.A and start him on vegetables. He is such a nice big boy and has gotten along so well but for this skin condition. It has Lucile so worried Dr. gave her a nerve tonic to quiet her down some. I do hope they get him straightened out. They have tried to take such good care of him. She thinks it

[page 4] strange that D. has such a nice soft skin and me with my allergies. I do hope he doesn’t develop any such trouble but that is hardly to be expected as old as he is. Lucile had talked to Ellsworth today and he said six Drs. had seen Eddie Ray & said he would get along. However they haven’t been able yet to do anything about his left arm – The Drs. say it will be a slow process – his recovery – and they can’t move him yet for x-ray etc.

I went up a little while ago to take John temp and it was just 2/5 of a degree. He feel pretty good so maybe he will be up tomorrow, or broken out if he has measles.

Mark is home from school and is watching D. – He is in his buggy taking a nap. – Mark is pushing him on the walk in front of the house. Mark heard him say “Da-da” – He can hear more works that David says. So far it has just been so much jabber but both J. & M. hear words – if you get what I mean. – Mark just reported in that he got D. to go to sleep. – I must go out and see if he has him in the right position so the wind won’t blow directly on him.

Love – Mother

In case you missed my previous letters about Eddy R. – he fell out of a tree & fractured his skull & broke his arm.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/23/high-winds-gladys/

Potato Eyes (Roscoe)

10 Replies

: May 4, 1943 envelope

: May 4, 1943, p. 1

: May 4, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Believe it or not I made garden yesterday. I was able to get 3 good sized potatoes and by carefully cutting them so that I had plenty to eat out of the center I got 20 nice fine eyes to plant. Not knowing the time for planting potatoes here and not knowing if the light of the moon or dark affect spud growth here I am at a little loss but I haven’t put out any financial funds and not too much physical effort – so if my crop is a failure I’ll not be disappointed.

Our mail is lagging again – True I’ve gotten some letters but the latest one was that which you wrote at Clay City so you see that is getting rather old now in fact I think it was just a month ago today that you wrote that.

Somehow I never did get word as to whether or not you received that second necklace I sent. There were some other things in that box but I don’t even remember now what they were – you may have received it and the letter saying so did not reach me.

I guess school will soon be out and the boys will be home to help you more or maybe hinder you more but I guess from the way you talk you will all be busy with your gardens and yards, but I hope you don’t try to work too hard on those things, and surely your food tickets will be sufficient. I’m really expecting that the locker meat

[page 2] will be rationed in one way or another. Wish you could send out a frozen chicken. That would be a real treat.

We I mean (chappic) chaplin and I are alone in the tent and he is reading his Bible so you see I’m able to write a little longer letter but probably just as drab to you as the others before hand – we have no library or place to go to write and when one is off duty others are also and since I’m the only daily writer I have to write in the midst of heated arguments and various un written writable phrases.

I’m anxiously waiting the arrival of a few packages of seed so that I can go into the garden business much more elaborately.

In Noumea we could see the female sex occasionally some white French live there but here I’ve seen only one such animal and she at some distance but dressed in native attire wich which consisted of the skirt only so In all probability when we do get to civilization we will just stand and stare. When one actually thinks of the thing it is preculiar and reminds one of that old song “Ruben, Ruben I’ve been thing what a queer world this would be etc”

Well, I’ve rambled enough so

Love Daddy

A Grand Day (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-4-43

Dear Daddy – Two letters came this morning – but they were older by a few days than the four of yesterday. With getting yours of Apr 15 yesterday I felt pretty well up to date – – It is a grand day – just like May as we think of it – after all the weather we have been having. John Barce & a Walkup boy are going to take the storm windows down tomorrow. It has been too cool so far – maybe yet but I think we can chance it. I worked out in the yard yesterday – getting flower beds ready. Mark worked some in the garden pulling wild parsnips. There is quite a few and I thought pulling would be the best way to eliminate. Bun Walkup hauled the trash yesterday – He is always comparing their girl to David – as you know D. is just a few hours older. Their girl was quite a bit larger at birth but they are both the same now. D. is taking a little nap now. He looks like he is about to get a tooth, but none yet. Will try to get a good picture of him today – it is so nice out. Arlene got back from Green Bay and wants me to go to Club, but I would have to get someone to keep D. and I think I would rather stay home and work in the yard. Rec’d an invitation from St. E. to attend Hospital Day Ceremony given in honor of their Doctors n the Armed Forces. It is next Wed. (May 12) so think I’ll plan to go. – Louise O’Brien is going to be married this month so Arlene will lose her. I think I’ll go to T.H. about Fri and get Mother. Mark is waiting to take this as he goes back to school so must hurry.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Happy Mother’s Day (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 3, 1943 envelope

: May 3, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 3, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Francis

Dear Mother,

This is a little late but I’m enclosing a mother’s day greeting to be given you by the boys. It’s a little beating around the bush for me to send to you for the boys to give you – I also got one for mom and put it in her Sunday letter.

While I’m at it I’m now wishing you a happy wedding anniversary which comes as I recal about 3 wks from tomorrow.

I’ve been out this morning doing some running around and it makes one tired riding in the truck like vehicles over roads that aren’t to smooth.

They are building a tent for the chaplin so maybe we won’t spoil him in the next few days. He had his church service yesterday morning so didn’t have to go out last night.

Well, I’ll be writing tomorrow

Love Daddy

P.S. Your v-mail of Mar 26, arrived this AM.

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

Censored for female reading (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 2, 1943 envelope

: May 2, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 2, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Sunday morning and up and going. This as you know is my day to write home and I’ll do so when this is finished. My last letter to them was only wed. because of the mix-up.

Yesterday a chaplin moved into our tent and I’m not sure who will be converted us or him. He seems to be a very swell fellow and a Catholic. He’ll probably want a tent of his own when we can get around to it.

The officer who received the shrimp broke down and opened two cans yesterday P.M. and we got some catsup to dunk them in and were they good. You’d be surprised at the amount of happiness an sult can receive from a can of sardines shrimp etc. The last you wrote you sent have not arrived. This fellow that got them yest said his wife had to almost bribe the store keeper to get what she sent.

We have the usual conversation going on in the tent and really this should be censored for female reading but I’ll try not to inject any of the words and phrases that are going rampant. Really we’re not a bad lot but we have to have our little fun now and then.

There is a little lull in the conversation and maybe I can get an inspiration but I’m a little afraid things have started again and I’m at the end of my ropes.

So solong
Love Daddy