Category Archives: Foster

Pineapple (Roscoe)

: March 9, 1943 envelope

: March 9, 1943, p. 1

: March 9, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

I may have asked you to drop the (jg) too quickly – for there were some exceptions near the end and it may take a day or two to get things straightened out. I’ve gotten along this far with the (jg) so it won’t bother to go a while longer only I hate to be all set and then have things changed. I’ll let you know when it is all fixed.

One of the boys brought in a pineapple a few days ago and today we decided it was ripe enough and was it good. The pealing is here in a box beside me and the ants are having the time of their lives between the pineapple

[page 2] and a dead lizzar which got himself in a bucket of water and got drowned. There are no flies present around the affair – ants to thick.

We would all feel better if mail would catch up but somehow we seem to be lost again. We get food OK so we can[‘t] be entirely lost.

Well hold your breath on the promotion thing for a few days and I’ll get the correct dope to you.

Due to lack of subject matter will stop –

Love Daddy

Another possible photograph from the Russell Islands

©2014 copyright owned & transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/06/pineapple-roscoe/

High temp (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-9-43

Dear Daddy – Had two letter from you today and one from Dr. P., but I had received one from you yesterday. He said he would send the box when he received word from you to send it. It is windy today and not so cold. Mark is still running a temp. but hasn’t broken out yet but probably will today or tomorrow (measles in case you missed previous letters). John is staying at Krulls & I am going to ask Dr. M. about giving David Immune Globuline. Mark feels pretty good and is being very good patient. He is so afraid he will hurt is eyes he is satisfied to have the room darkened. After I put D. to bed (after his 6 P.M. feeding) last evening I stayed with Mark a while. His temp got up to 103 in the afternoon and he was pretty quiet but his temp is down this a.m. and he keeps talking to me. He listens to his radio some but not all the time. Virginia Britton kept Tommy out of school, but I think he was exposed before she kept him home because there was a child broke out in the room and he evidently had temp several day previous to that, and Tommy was in school until the day this child broke out. Your notice for dues to the A.M.A. came yesterday but I think you said not to pay it. Also an announcement of Lake Co. Medical meeting to be held in Hammond. Mr. Monroe came this morning and oiled the furnace. He keeps the dates and comes every 60 days and looks things over. He hasn’t charged me anything yet but maybe he will when he get thru in the spring. He has worked on the drains twice. I asked him about the septic tanks & he said they wouldn’t need cleaning – or shouldn’t for several years. I’ll leave the news & gossip for the men around town to write. Don’t worry about the measles – I am sure Mark will get along OK the way he feels now. You know he stands diseases pretty good. I am going to keep him in as long as necessary.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/06/high-temp-gladys/

Promotion (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: March 8, 1943 envelope

: March 8, 1943, p. 1

: March 8, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar. 8, 1943
Lt R. S. Yegerlehner
Note (jg) gone
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster

Dear Mother,

I hope you noticed the (jg) gone from the title. It is sorta peculiar that this would come just 7 mo to the day that we left the U.S.A. Now that gives the same pay and rate as a captain in the Army or in other words two stripes. I can’t send any more money at present because my pay accounts allotments etc are still in Noumea so all I can do is let the whole business pile up until such time as I’ll get there or they are sent to me. Write the folk and tell them and maybe I can

[page 2] spare one sheet of paper for that purpose, but just in case I don’t you write them.

It’s almost too dark to write more just now so I’ll try to finish in the A.M. Our lights here just don’t work.

Next A.M. not much change in temperature or otherwise. Didn’t rain but weather still hot and flies still bad.

Tell others who might write about the omission of the (jg) part.

Lots of Love,
Daddy

Another possible picture from the Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/04/promotion-roscoe/

My mail was good today (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-8-43

Dear Daddy – My mail was good today. Had one letter posted Feb. 20 in which you said you had written three before but haven’t rec’d them. Possibly will this week. Well I feel better now and to get regular mail again will help lots. Still have Mark in bed with some temp but no evidence of measles. If he doesn’t break out tomorrow I won’t know what to think. He doesn’t feel bad has a good appetite, but I am keeping him in bed. John is going to Krulls to stay in case Mark does break out so he won’t have to miss school. Dr. M. said that was between me and the health officer. I told him what happened when M. had mumps and I didn’t intend to have that again. If John stayed home I think he would be the only one. There hasn’t been any in John’s class out with measles so I think he won’t be so apt to get them (I hope). I sent your mother a picture of D. and she said he looks like you did, only he is bigger than you were. I hope you have the registered letter by now with all our pictures. We are still have snow and cold weather. Yesterday it was 6 below but is warmer today. I think everyone is so tired of cold weather according to the ground hog tradition we have another week yet of this kind. We are anxious (Mark & I) to get our garden out. John hasn’t any enthusiasm about mowing lawn – as that is to be his job this summer. Not much outside news. It’s been too cold to go out and now that we are under suspicion of measles can’t take the baby out for a while. It is time for his 2 P.M. vegetable & milk and he is getting hungry.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/03/my-mail-was-good-today-gladys/

Killer Flies (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: March 7, 1943 envelope

: March 7, 1943, p. 1

: March 7, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sun Mar 7, 1943
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster San Fran

Dear Mother

Another hot sunny Sunday P.M. but the only way one knows it is Sun. now is by the dose of atabrine. Thru the week we get ½ tablet on Sun one whole tablet. That is the anti malarial drug we take at present. That dose is supposed to keep malaria away and as for me it has done so.

It’s funny the things some fellows will think of and tell – one fellow claimed the flies so bad that when he got inside his misquito netting and moved his foot they dive bommed [bombed] his net and were very angry. This is true – There are countless numbers of flies but they will not fly on fly paper. They are more educated

[page 2] than our flies at home. We aren’t bothered much by mosquitoes of which we are very much pleased.

We were issued a coverall suit and a pair of green pants. The coveralls were too big and I gave them away. The pants were size 38 and much too uncomfortable so this A.M. I altered them. I took my trusty pocket knife and a needle and thread and even if I do say so it’s a good job. I just took out a v-shaped piece from the back – V – for victory.

I hope you drop the folk a line now and then. I’ve written once and will write again in a few days but not too often on account of paper shortage as I’ve told you before. I believe the paper I have will last until the shortage isn’t so acute if I use it judicially. Anyway – Lots of Love

Daddy

___________________________

According to the previously linked article by Dr. Snead, during the early afternoon hours on March 6th, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the Russell Islands. There was limited damage but one individual was killed and twelve were wounded. It makes me wonder whether or not Roscoe treated any of the wounded. The above letter from the day after has (as usual) no information about his daily activities.

Another possible photograph from the Russell Islands

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/03/killer-flies-roscoe/

John is getting so tall (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-7-43

Dear Daddy – After writing yesterday I went to Lafayette. It was snowing and blowing but the roads were clean. I didn’t drive went with Nesbitts. I wanted to do some shopping for the boys. I got each a new suit. There seems to be quite a merchandise shortage partly due I think to people buying more than necessary and storing. I haven’t done any unnecessary buying and don’t intend too, but John and Mark needed suits. John is getting so tall – he has grown inches this winter or so it seems. Mark is still in bed today under suspicion of measles. He has a little temp. but no indication otherwise of measles. He was exposed about 10 days ago in school. He is staying in his room and I have the blinds closed. John is staying downstairs and I am thinking of sending him someplace to stay so he won’t have to miss school if Mark does break out. There aren’t very many cases in the high school so think John chances of exposure are questionable. I am to help with the Red Cross drive tomorrow. I am to solicit all east of 41. There aren’t very many I have to see. – – Later – Have put D. to bed, mixed formula, had supper & washed dishes. D. is learning to sit up. The buggy I have is small and is perfect for him to sit in. He looks like he has some teeth about ready to come thru and he drools when he sits up so have to keep a bib on him. He weighs 16 lbs and will be 5 ½ months old tomorrow. Sleeps from his 6 P.M. feeding until 6 A.M. I think we have to give Mark a 1 P.M. bottle until he was several months older than D is now. I wanted [to] take some more pictures outside but it has been too cold to take D. out and now it is even colder than last week – Was 6 below this morning and lots of snow. I wonder if this winter is going on – even after the middle of Mar. By Easter coming late we may have lots of chilly weather yet. I don’t know what these Mar 17^th potatoe planters will do – That is 10 days away so may be warm by then (I hope). John is working on an essay – he is entering a contest. He asks how to spell words once in a while, and who does that make me think of? I haven’t talked to Mrs. Roberts recently but I intended going over then the weather turned so cold then the measles epidemic started here so thought I had better stay at home. Of course there wasn’t any indication of Mark or John taking them until yesterday when Mark started running a temp.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/01/john-is-getting-so-tall-gladys/

Dry spell (Roscoe)

8 Replies

: March 6, 1943 envelope

: March 6, 1943, p. 1

: March 6, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sat. Mar 6
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster, San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Not much to write about since yesterday – In other words business as usual. It’s hard to understand our long dry spell after so much rain at first but it sure does help to dry out the damp clothing. I’m glad I left my blues in Noumea because it is dry there as compared to here.

My mail from here should be getting to you by now, I hope, but as yet none of yours has come thru.

I forgot to mention but the other eve. we had a good chicken

[page 2] dinner and you can believe me it was appreciated after eating out of can. Also had some fresh steak for dinner so things aren’t so bad. And we have some pasteries now and then so that isn’t so bad. Of course, at all times we can have milk from the nuts that are abundant but I told you the other day of my experience with those.

Well, I’m all run down and it’s time for evening chow so all I can say is watch the newspapers and listen to the Radio –

Love Daddy

Sat. Mar. 6, 1943
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M.
San Fran. Calif.

______________________________________

Since Roscoe was beginning to send hints to Gladys in the form of “read the newspapers or listen to the radio”, I tried to find some newspaper articles about this time of the war in the Pacific in order to embellish my posts. But I found something a whole lot better! On the Digital Commons @ Liberty University website, I found a wonderful article by David Lindsey Snead titled “Obscure but Important: The United States and the Russell Islands in World War II.” Roscoe was in fact on the Russell Islands, and a member of Operation Cleanslate. This is the first time I have been able to find any detailed information about Operation Cleanslate. I actually had chills when I found the first reference to Cleanslate in the article. Several of Gladys’ letters to Roscoe have Cleanslate written across them as their forwarding address. Among the family photographs are four large pictures that were obviously taken during World War II, but I had no idea when they were taken. I don’t know if Roscoe took the pictures himself or if they were military stock photos. At this point, I believe they were probably taken on the Russell Islands.

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

The measles have arrived (Gladys)

6 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-6-43

Dear Daddy – We are having a snow again today. The air is white and as far as I can see there is a white haze. I think Mark is taking the measles. I have him shut up in his room with the blinds closed and he is listening to the radio. He got up this morning feeling so good and then he said he didn’t feel so good. I took his temp. and it was 100 2/5 so I put him right to bed. We don’t know yet what we will do with John. He wants to go to school and I don’t know whether he will be allowed to. I will keep the baby in his room downstairs and hope he doesn’t get the measles. There are so many children having or had the them, maybe they won’t be severe, but we will no doubt be over them by the time you get this. Had a letter from Uncle Wes. He and Aunt Jessie have had bad colds but are about well now. They are coming down some day after the weather clears up. John had a letter from Duane and he said Kenneth passed his physical. Freida Holley’s husband has had to go. Their baby is still small. I suppose she will go back to Buddy’s. D. is raising a fuss. It is time for his nap. He just had his bath & feeding. He played a while and got some attention now he doesn’t want to go to sleep. I didn’t deduct those dividends from the Dec. prem. but I wrote in and they are going to deduct them from the next prem. (apr). No uniform money yet. It will be like finding it when it does come. Will send some more pictures in a few days.

Love Mother

Friday’s Faces From the Past – Shop Entrance

2 Replies

During the 1930s, Gladys took a beauty course to help support Roscoe’s education and medical school. She learned how to cut hair and do nails, etc. Could John possibly be playing outside Gladys’ shop? Was the shop located in the back of their house? And does this look like the same tricycle from the earlier post Unknown girl with baby?

Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/30/fridays-faces-…-shop-entrance/

Mail and laundry (Roscoe)

8 Replies

: March 5, 1943 envelope

: March 5, 1943, p. 1

: March 5, 1943, p. 2

: March 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Mar. 5, 1843
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner MC USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I spent part of this A.M. over a hot laundry bucket getting all the goat smell out of socks and underwear. Needless to say there are no commercial laundries so you must know that yours truly must do his own as well as everyone else.

In digging a little deeper into my sea bag this A.M. I found the letters I received just as I was leaving Noumea. I had read them before of course but did not mention them before – One was dated Sept 17 and was the first letter you had written after receiving my first one from overseas. It seemed rather peculiar that I receive it the day I left there some 5 months late. Another in that group was one you

[page 2] wrote from the hospital on Sept. 24 and that was one which if it had come straight thru would have been muchly appreciated. We are now waiting very patiently and eagerly for mail to arrive which will bring things up to date a little past Jan 25.

I told you in a letter of several days ago that I had a pretty good beard. Well, eight days was as long as I could stand it. It was looking pretty good with two very dignified gray streaks on either side of the chin but it couldn’t last because you know how yellowish a beard gets when tobacco juice druels out of the corners of the mouth. It’s off now.

Just stopped a few minutes to collect a bucket of water from a passing water truck our faucets aren’t so good here if you get what I mean.

[page 3] Your letter of Sept. 17 had the air mail stamps but they were all stuck together and after dipping them in water they all came apart but now the glue is off so if some letters come thru with the stamps stuck with chewing gum you’ll understand. No need to send stamps and if I conserve on the writing paper I’ll be OK for some time but I’m not writing to everyone I did at first. The papers would be all gone in a short time if I did. So people who you come in contact with can be told not to expect too many letters. I’ll try to write the folks now and then but other than that writing will be confined to you –

Well, must get going
Lots of Love
Daddy