Category Archives: Genealogy

Doctor Check-ups (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 27 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Went to Laf. today and had the final check for John’s eyes. Had to get new lenses (8⁰⁰). I didn’t see Dr. Ade because I took David out to Dr. Cole so don’t know just what was the matter but he told John something but John couldn’t remember what he said. On Dr. Cole’s scale David weighed 9 lbs 13 oz – and one ago he weighed 7 lbs 9 oz down there. So he is gaining fast enough now. He is taking 5 oz at a feeding and the formula is now 12 oz carnation 18 oz water. I had Dr. C. give me an authine [?] for feedings including egg, cereal, fruit etc. as it is time – because it is too much of a job to take the baby down in this kind of weather and the size he is now. I will have to take him when he is old enough for shots but that won’t be till spring. Mark went along with us today. He went to a 10¢ store and got a model airplane and is studing it now.

[page 2] I bought the chest of drawers today from Sears that I mentioned before. I am going to get two sections of book shelves to match, for the den. The chest for the baby clothes.

Dr. Cole was so busy today. I was there about 12:30 and was about to see him when he had to rush over to the Home hospital and do a section – Mrs. Cole had brought his lunch to him and he did take time out to eat before doing the operation – but we went back to town because he couldn’t see any patients until after 2 P.M. I went back out about 3:15 and waited until about 4 or maybe a little sooner. However we were home by 6 P.M. Dr. C. said Dr. A. had written to some Dr. in Laf. and he had told Dr. C. he was about 1 mi & ½ from your camp.

I have to take this to town to mail at the hotel because I didn’t get it written in time to send via P.O. I didn’t have time to write this A.M. and we left about 11 A.M. – hence missing the regular mail.

I will apologize for this letter because there isn’t much to it but promise to do better next time. (Haven’t rec’d the money letters yet)

Love – Mother

© 2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/23/doctor-check-ups-gladys/

Thanksgiving in the South Pacific, 1942 (Roscoe)

1 Reply

On November 26, 1942, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her “My Day” column her thoughts about celebrating Thanksgiving during wartime. A transcription of her thoughts are found at the FDR Library’s website. Transcriptions of all her “My Day” thoughts can be found at the The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project.

Letter transcription:

Nov. 26, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m going to write this early in the P.M. because we have a pretty full evening ahead – chow then hospital rounds then another show and then we plan on putting up some shelves in our new home. We are now living in the back end of a q. hut have electric lights and everything – bed with springs but no water. I took a shower bath this A.M. and had to go about ½ mile so here after I’m going to take a bath out the back in a bucket at night, by the time I walked back from the bath I was as sweaty as before. The toilet is still about as far away as it was and the mess hall is farther but the electric lights are a great improvement and a good smooth deck is really something.

I mailed out Christmas greetings last night to Mrs. Plummer and to the folks and to all the brothers & sister. So I suppose I’ve done all the Christmas shopping I’m going to do. I’ll probably be wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in several letters to come and will

[page 2] send you some new greetings if another type comes out.

I was at Dr. Ash’s place today – had a long talk with him. Their mail hasn’t been coming in so good lately it’s really been like ours. I’ve gotten mail about 2 wks later than his.

I don’t know if I got all our new address on last night but I’ll get it on tonite for sure.

It rained hard last nite but today has been clear and hot and our very welcome wind has slowed down lots and we are suffering some from the heat and it isn’t so cool in the hut as it is in a tent with all the sides up.

Well I’m going to the P.O. now and I suppose it will be after the show before I get back again.

Got one letter dated Oct. 13 and it was mailed regular mail rather than air mail. I just wondered if you gave up writing air mail for a spell. There is more in but we’ll have to wait until morning.

I suppose there was a big to do made about the men in the armed

[page 3] forces getting turkey etc for dinner – we did – really was a swell feed. Had fruit cocktail in the beginning, Turkey soup then the main course of turkey sage dressing but the sage was very very light – mashed sweet potatoes asparagus tips, pear sweet pickle and pumpkin pie. So you see it was really worth talking about.

I’ve slipped this last in between chow & hospital time.

I wish you would have paid the remainder of that federal tax. If you still have the papers and have the money I wish you would pay it for I’m afraid that might cause trouble, but you can do as you like about next years. That will make too much to pile up. So do that if you can see clear.

Lots of Love Daddy

Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O. San Francisco Calif.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/22/thanksgiving-i…ic-1942-roscoe/

Thanksgiving 1942 (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 26 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Thanksgiving Day and lunch over – including David’s. He just finished his 2 P.M. feeding. We lunched rather lightly because we are going to Krulls for supper and thought we had better go with good appetites. It is cold today but sunny. We did a small washing and the clothes froze while hanging them out so that can give you an idea of how crisp it is. Yesterday it was warm enough to hang things without gloves on. This kind of weather make me want a warm coat but really haven’t had an opportunity to get one yet. The mail was delivered this morning but no letters from you. I am anxious to get the letters you sent the money in so I can report to you. The one mailed the 18th came yesterday but there are three or four previous to that date that haven’t come yet. They often come in such a manner. Yesterday one came dated the 11th and I had already received the 12-13-14-& 15th.

John and Mark are washing dishes and being very pokey this

[page 2]being a holiday they aren’t very fast doing things. John’s report card was better this month than Mark’s. I mean John raised some of his grades and Mark dropped on his. Mark got A+ on Band but that was the only grade that high.

Uncle Wes stopped again this morning. He and Paul Harris were returning to Chi. Maybe he and Aunt Jessie will come down Sunday to spend the day – since gas rationing will start Monday. He thought I could get a better rating for gas on the strength of collecting bills, but I told him no. He was trying to tell me how to collect some of those accounts but I doubt if anything short of suing would get some – or most. The  check Amel Taylor gave me that bounced I put back in the bank and they are to run it though when & if he puts any more money on deposit. We should be able to collect all those accounts – the way most people are making money now. If I thought it would do any good I would send you a list and have you mail statements from there and make a plea – but I suppose it would be a waste of paper & air mail stamps.

I gave you Dr. Joe’s address some time back but will give it to you again so in case you didn’t get the first you might possibly run into him but that would be almost too good wouldn’t it? I went to see her two weeks ago and she wasn’t home. I should go again before rationing starts.

[page 3] I don’t know why, but it gives me such satisfaction to put a real address on your letters. Maybe you will get better mail service now. I hope. Just hope you get the birthday box & cards we sent.  You should get your Mother’s box before Christmas because she didn’t specify it as Christmas mail. We were instructed to mark all boxes intended for that date as such.

The Zell girls brought some ice cream over for the boys. It had turkey figures on it. They said their Daddy was coming over to clean out our furnace this afternoon. I told them to thank him but John and I had already done the job. I don’t mind having people do things for us we can’t do ourselves but I want to do all we can. Link said he would clean the leaves out of the guttering and I think I’ll let him do that job. Now that the leaves are all off it can be done.

I have been thinking about Christmas gifts for your Mother & Dad and I believe I will send them a subscription for Reader’s Digest. While here this week she read some from ours and I believe she & Dad would enjoy them. Kenneth said he liked to read them. I showed him some articles we had read and he read them and said he thought they were good. That is the most I had been around Kenneth. He certainly is a fine boy. He seemed to enjoy his visit and I [he] never seemed to be bored like some his age would have been without someone his

[page 4] own age to be with.

Bart told me he had written you and filled his letter with town gossip so that takes care of that sort of news and I won’t try to include such in my letters – in fact I don’t know much about the local scandals.

There was a notice from the Laf. Life Ins. to the effect if you want a urine [?] analysis you may have a free examination – but I hardly think you will be interested. There were slips from John Hancock for those dividends we take off our premiums every year. I don’t know whether I am sure about what to do with them or not – as you remember we have had a mix up on that every time. Don’t worry about the taxes. Agnes is taking care of things in that line for us, so just forget about it. I won’t quote the bank bal. today but will give you a report after the checks come the first of Dec. I haven’t been spending anything but am getting a chest of drawers for the baby things. It is in the unfinished wood and will fit in the den with some shelves of the same make. I am getting this from Sears. You know the shelves we wanted to put in the Den when we built the house. Now that we can drive only so far a week and aren’t spending money on much else I thought I could squeeze out enough to buy the things I mentioned and maybe consider would you want me to send you a good wrist watch? Let me know – if so I will

Love –
Mother (over)

J.M. Roberts Lt Cmdr Mobile Hosp #4 U.S.N.R. Fulcrum c/o P.M. San Francisco Calif.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/21/thanksgiving-1942-gladys/

It’s My Birthday (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Wed Nov. 25, 1942

Dear Mother,

Today being my birthday I didn’t receive any mail other than 3 copies of the Newton County Enterprise Dated Oct. 1, 8 & 15. They were pretty good reading and my roommate said he wanted to read the want adds and farm notices.

Our trip yesterday was something different – Fred, another Dr and myself climed [climbed] into a peep [jeep]. Me in the back seat and the other two ahead. Around town the roads were rather smooth and the going was good but a little farther out the roads became very very rough and my rear end took a lot of slapping. Those in the front seat didn’t fare so badly.

Along the route we saw lots of banana orchards with the green bananas hanging in bunches. There were a few orange trees but the oranges looked small hardly larger than a good sized plum. There seemed to be growing wild and not much

[page 2] cultivated.

Niaouli trees

Some of the roads run along on the side of the mountains and at times one could see the road we just came over winding back and right along side almost but of course over on the edge of the other hill. Some of the peaks are about I would judge 5000 feet. Some are sloping while others seem to go almost straight up. The trees are not large either in the valleys on on the mountains and occasionally there were a few tall pines but the nailoa [niaouli] tree is very much in the majority.

On our journey back we picked up a trooper from Australia and got some interesting sidelights from the other side. He rode in the back seat with me and took the bottom slapping the same as I did. When we got back we had traveled about 70 miles. It was interesting but the scenery around here is not

[page 3] the prettiest in the world. Not even as good as the flat lands of Indiana. I saw corn growing in all stages from 3-4 inches up to 4-5 feet, beans about one foot high and other vegetables such as cabbage, onions, etc.

Howards of VirginiaThere is another show tonite and I think I’ll go. It is right here in camp the name “The Howards of Virginia.”

The show is over and it was pretty good. It was a story of the Revolutionary War. Lots of things are similar even in this one today.

Postcard of Noumea, New Caledonia

Postcard of Noumea, New Caledonia

I’m sending you a picture post card & save it for there are some interesting things I can point out. It would be telling if I marked them out now.

I’m sending out some Christmas greetings tonite. We have two kinds one is the V-mail and the other is one made here in camp. I sent another kind to Mark & John the other day. I’ll send one of each to you. That is these last two kinds.

We have another little change in address- just an addition. See envelope.

Well, this letter is more jumbled but maybe you can make head & tales of it I hope.

Lots of Love

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/20/its-my-birthday-roscoe/ ‎

Happy Birthday Roscoe (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 25 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Happy Birthday again. We sent cards but don’t know yet whether you received them. Dorothy Krull called this morning to be sure about your address and your letter telling of your New Caledonia address came so I told her. She is sending you a birthday card and said you would know she remembered it, although you wouldn’t get the card till later. Remember last year how we surprised you? I didn’t get a cake baked today. Your mother & Kenneth left – was going to leave about 9 a.m. and I said if they waited till the mail came maybe there would be a letter from you and there were two, so I gave your Mother your new address too. It was about 9:30 or a little later when they left. I had to hurry then and bathe the baby and feed him. I managed to get a washer full of clothes going and things straightened up a little when Uncle Wes stopped. He and Paul Harris had been making some trips and were on their way to Monticello. I gave him your new ad. And he said if you didn’t get the letter he

[page 2] wrote about the baby, he has a copy and will send the same letter again. Also he is going to send you the maps you want. Said he had just the thing. I read that part of your letter to him. The letters you sent with the money for all of us haven’t come yet. Probably will come this evening or in the morning (I hope). This is another unusually pretty fall day so think I’ll take David out after while. I hung out some white things today it was so sunny. Kenneth’s deferment is up the first of the year. He wanted to go to Laf. to inquire about enlisting in the Air Corps but it was so late when they left here I doubt if they went that way. They were going to stop in Rockville to see Uncle Charlie and I think your mother was getting in a hurry to get home.

I have to go to the Court House and get a certified copy of my power of attorney and send to Dan W. Flickinger so they can mark their records for the addition of David to the policies. I signed the necessary form but they have to see the “power of attorney.”

It is almost 4 P.M. so I must get along with this little “feller” and get in the sunshine.

Love Mother

One of your two letters today came in 7 days.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/26/happy-birthday-roscoe-gladys/ ‎

November 24, 1942 (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Nov. 24, 1942

Dear Mother,

This will have to be a little fast because we have a show which starts in a few minutes and it will be too late afterwards and since we took a pleasure ride this P.M. I didn’t have time then. I want to tell you about the trip but not when I’m in a hurry. Sure saw lots of interesting things. And on top of all else I didn’t get back in time to go to the P.O. so don’t know if any mail came. I had another fellow to pick it up but he forgot so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if any came.

I intended to write you of the trip and also write Boonie but the time is too short. I finally did get Bob H. & Ed J.’s letter off – seems as if things always happen when I want to write.

[page 2] I’m writing this on a road map of the U.S. right smack on Indiana. Why I don’t know – it just started that way. I’ll write more after the show. It’s over. The name of it was Maryland – was a pretty good show but our sound isn’t so good and the fellows who run them don’t know what it’s all about.

Tomorrow being my birthday it just missed Thanksgiving by one day and I hear we have turkey for that day so it’s to bad it couldn’t be my birthday it really will be at home with the time fussed up the way it is. Or maybe it 2 days off I just can’t figure it all out.

There are several guy here trying to talk business and I can’t think straight so I’ll just cut off until later.

This is the third time but it’s morning – the morning of my birthday and it’s sprinkling and it looks as if we are maybe in for some wet weather

[page 3] but it could be just a small rain as we have had some in the past.

The show last night was pretty good but things are not adjusted as yet and that makes it bad but you can’t walk up and demand your money back because none was paid in the first place. We don’t get any news shorts nor do we have to watch previews. We just have one show and that’s all period.

Well, I’ll write a longer letter tonight and I hope then won’t be so many pauses.

Lots of love,

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/25/november-24-1942-roscoe/

November 24, 1942 (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 24 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Didn’t get any letters today but hardly expected to since five came yesterday. Your Mother & Kenneth came last night just as we were finishing supper. I didn’t have much that I could fix them but managed to get a lunch of cheese, bacon, eggs, and a few odds & ends. We are going to the locker and get some meat this evening after the boys come home from school. I had one sirloin steak left and fixed it for dinner, so will new something for supper and for us the rest of the week. Our company start home tomorrow morning. They are going to stop at Rockville and see Uncle Charlie McQ. This morning I had Kenneth take the car to the garage and had the tires changed and the thermostat put back in. I wondered why we couldn’t get any heat out of the car heater – and then Nick asked me if I had the thermostat put back in. I had forgotten all about it.

Had a letter from Inez Ley today. John Ed is in San Antonio Texas at a Classification Center. He has passed his physical & mental exams so far. He is now a classified pilot. He will begin pre-flight in a few weeks. Bud is in Will Rogers Field, Okla, getting ready

[page 2]  to be shipped out. Helen is living with Inez & John. Nadine is home working in the Post Office. I had written to Inez and told her it wasn’t easy for me but that I felt like I must keep “my chin up” and carry on, as I know you want me to do. She said Helen read my letter and said “if she can carry on I surely can.” Inez said to tell you hello! From all of them.

This is going to be a short week. Company the first part and must go to Lafayette Fri or Sat. Haven’t ironed yet but it seems like I can’t get to it – Maybe I can tomorrow. Makes me think of you doing your laundry work. Of course you don’t iron things the way I do. I dn’t iron for the baby. He wears knit suits which do not need to be ironed & of course the while pants aren’t ironed either.

Report card time is here again, but I will let the boys write and make their own report to you. Maybe by tomorrow their Christmas money will be here and they can thank you in their “report” letters.

Kenneth is lying down in the den. Your Mother is on the davenport “snoring” and David is taking his bottle and is half asleep, if not altogether – all this sleep makes me want a nap too but I can’t see any place to lie down. This will be short but will try to do better next time, when I won’t have company. Tomorrow is your birthday and I hope you get your cards & box.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned & written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/24/november-24-1942-gladys/

November 23, 1942 (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Nov. 23, 1942

Dear Mother,

This was really a red letter day got 4 V-mail letters and 4 regular air mail letters. 3 of the V-mail letters were from you one from John. One letter each from Boonie, Bob Hufty, Ed Johnson and Mom. So with the 2 letters yesterday and the 8 today that makes pretty good mail. Your letters of course five news of home but the others give me news of the town and the country in general. The road change seems to be serious as far as the town of Kentland is concerned but I suppose it is all settled by now so no use for me to worry about it now. The letters I got today were dated Nov. 11. Except the V-mail which were dated along the first of Nov. So the V-mail are slower.

I’m afraid lots of the fun and sport of the folks will be spoiled by the fact that they can no longer guess where I am for the new address will clear that situation completely, but if we should move on then the guessing would start all over again. I wrote 5 letters yesterday – and will have to write more

[page 2] again tonite to answer what I got today. Of course I wrote the folks yesterday and won’t write them again until next Sun, but will have to write Bob, Ed and Boonie. I suppose I should write one letter and have carbon copies made but they are very close and would compare them. Ed said he read my letter to Rotary – wish I could remember what I wrote in that letter but it’s been so long I just don’t know and I’ve written him two so don’t know which it was. Bob said I didn’t answer his letter but I did each time the day after he wrote so it either got lost or else there was a mix up in the going & coming.

One of those V-mails was from John but I didn’t get one from Mark. I thought you said Mark wrote also. It probably got lost and will be coming along later. I still have that blank space from Sept 20 to Sept 26 with no mail and now it will be from Oct 27 and Nov 10. With no packages as yet, but some according to the way you wrote haven’t [?] been sent long enough. You said you got the box of shells and there is still the other box containing the bath mat and that wonderful necklace I made. I haven’t been to the sea

[page 3] for so long – maybe we’ll go out for an outing tomorrow P.M. The boss promised Fred and I the P.M. off. I never have told you about Fred. He is very much the opposite of Knoby Walsh. He is tall – very much excitable and not one bit true to his love – his wife at least not while in the States here of course he hasn’t had a chance to be untrue. He argues much on politics and religion and get drunk when he gets a chance of course around here on duty he is very tender hearted etc. He is a Lt (jg) and he and I work and are the only two (jg) left. He as I said is tall 6 ft. 2 in. and around the camp we are together all time because we have the work to do. He’s not as bad as I say – only a great big boy who strays very easy. He’s perfectly OK until someone offers him a drink or asks him to go someplace and it doesn’t take the second invitation. Don’t be alarmed at my association because you know me.

So much for my friend. The last mail is in today so I don’t expect anymore. So I’ll close this letter and won’t forget it. I sometimes don’t close until late and then get busy and forget. So Solong until tomorrow. I love you

Daddy

P.S. I happen to know the address you gave for Dr. Joe is New Zealand – So you might tell Mrs. R

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/24/november-23-1942-roscoe/

Two months old today (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 23 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Things, as you say, took an upturn today – 5 letters came, however not the money – but that will no doubt will come in the next mail and that will be in time for Christmas by a month. The children as well as their mother got quite a thrill from the 10 yen. John of course was curious to know the value for sure (since you weren’t) and looked it up in the encyclopedia – and figured it to be $9.80. I know your Mother will enjoy seeing it too. I will get her & your Dad something nice for Christmas but thought to give her something directly from you that I would let her select some shells from the box you sent Sept 30. The other box you mentioned has not arrived yet. Your mother & Kenneth should be here Tues. and I hope they will stay for Thanksgiving. Mark got quite concerned about our Thanksgiving dinner. He wanted me to be sure and have chicken, if not a turkey. He also wanted pumpkin pie. I got a little ahead of schedule and baked a pie for him this morning. Since we are on sugar rationing I used a receipt using honey. I thought about you and your idea about pumpkin pie and tho.[though] the children couldn’t tell the substitution I wondered if you would have been able to. I doubt if even

Baby book entries for November 23rd & 27th

Baby book entries for November 23rd & 27th

[page 2] you would have been keen enough. As you said about the porthole – that is a question that can’t be settled now. Before long we will be on meat rationing. That has been worrying John quite a lot. I figured it down to two hamburgers a day. Of course he doesn’t think that is enough but I think we will get along well enough. Today David is two months old and weighs 9 ½ lbs – so he is doing well enough since he had to start from 6 lbs – and was only 6 – 3 ¼ when we came home from the hospital at two weeks. I just gave him orange juice & Oleum. He sometimes throws up the juice but I keep giving it to him every day and maybe he gets too much. He is asleep on his tummy now. He was getting his head out of shape so I put him on his tummy a lot. Since he has gotten used to that position seems to like it but at first would cry. I didn’t take him for a walk today. It is foggy, damp, misty, etc. – so will wait for dry weather. John just came to the front door and started a commotion trying to get in. The front door swells in this kind of weather and is difficult at times. Mark hasn’t come yet. John & Mark have both written several letters but you evidently haven’t received them. Mark is still tooting the cornet and does as good on it I believe as he would on any. You know his perseverance isn’t

[page 3] too strong. I brag about his playing and try to get him to practice but he gets tired awfully soon. I got him some model airplanes to build when in Laf. Sat. There are 10 different designs. I can’t keep him in knives. He breaks or looses them. He used a razor blade a while yesterday but I won’t allow him to do that again. It is too dangerous. I was going to call Mrs. Ash when in Laf. but had so much to do didn’t get to a telephone. I will try to give her a ring the next time down. Also I intend to stop at Klines. I know Gertrude will want to see the baby. She was so good to come see me while I was in the hospital.

After the Christmas season I will find another box and send to you and you might mention a few odds and ends I could send – besides sardines & crackers. There are surely a number of small things you want that I can send. But as you say, now isn’t a very good time with so much mail to be handled.

Mark just blew in from school. He was late and said he had to stay in to finish some arithmetic. He had a horn lesson today and said the music teacher was pleased with his “blowing.” He really beams from a little praise.

This has been a rather choppy letter, try to do better next time –

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/23/two-months-old-today-gladys/

November 22, 1942 (Roscoe)

1 Reply

In this letter, Roscoe mentioned that he wrote a letter to Ruth M. (his sister) and sent a V-mail to each of the boys. Only one of the V-mails appears to have survived, the one to John. These were special V-mail Christmas greetings, and I believe they cost a pretty penny. I have included the card further down within in the letter.

Letter tanscription:

Nov. 22, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’ll have to say I received your most interesting and longest letter to date. This was written on Nov. so you see it wasn’t so old. And you had it full of things that seemed to hit the spot. Maybe it was because I haven’t received any mail for some time. I also got one from Ruth M. which was written on the same day so I really had a big day – as Eleanor – The President’s wife would say – My day. The pen and pencil set will certainly be fine because one would be lost without one and in case these should become lost or broken it would be bad. Many of the boys brought two sets along. Some even brought two watches – so far mine has been OK but one of the boys dropped his while we were on board ship and now he goes by the bugle.

There is just one question I’d like to ask about the baby’s milk. Isn’t it apt to sour after it is warmed? Maybe it won’t. I’m not saying that just so you’ll have to be up longer but I just wonder.

I wrote Ruth M. and one V-mail Christmas greeting to each of the older boys and also my usual letter to the Folks today. I should write Ruth & Floyd in answer to the birthday greeting but haven’t gotten to it yet. If I have room and can find a copy of our Sunday paper I’ll send it. Which we are allowed to do now since our address is announced. That is one reason why I’m writing so small. If you have written all the letters like the one today I’m sure you must take lots of time but I sure do enjoy that kind. So far I haven’t received the Enterprise and have received only one copy of the Clay City News.

If a bill comes for my lodge dues you might pay if you have enough money and send me the receipt or have them send it direct. I don’t think I’ll pay my medical dues until I get back unless I get the bill here. I don’t believe they will throw me out of the organization. I haven’t heard from Dr. Mathews since I last wrote maybe he is peeved – have you heard anything to that affect? Guess he’ll just have to be

[page 2] is all I can say.

At church tonight the crowd was so big the foundation gave way under the tent floor and are all dropped. It was only a foot or two so no one was injured but it was a surprise. It is one of those long narrow tents about 16 feet wide and 40 feet long. Some probably was there who hadn’t been for some time and the floor fell instead of the roof.

We had roast duck, peas, mashed potatoes, asparagus tips, cake and soup for dinner today – Really was good. For the most part our meals have been very good lately even though there are more here than when we first came. For supper we had cold cuts and a few things like that.

I’m glad to hear the boys are still working on their music it will be good for them later on if they can just stick with it. As yet we haven’t had any shows.

I think Agnes Molter must be wrong about the State Tax but maybe you didn’t mean that – And I don’t believe there will be much federal to pay you might have her go over it and if it isn’t to much get it off now because I don’t want to come back with obligations because I’d like to take things easy – a vacation in a tent. I don’t even want to see a tent but I do want to not start right back to the grind – a few weeks at least and you can bank on that.

I’m going to see if I can find the paper now and I don’t think it will be too much for the regular air mail. We may get more mail now that it has started again and I’ll be looking for those packages.

And just in case – I’ve sent you and David a check for $110 and John & Mark a money order for $10 each.  Just repeating so you can let me know if they don’t arrive.

Hope I get more letters like the one today but I realize you can’t do that every day, but even a line is appreciated – With lots of love

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/15/november-22-1942-roscoe/