Category Archives: World War II Letters

Baby Book December-March

Sadly, the baby book has come to an end. Gladys was less diligent in the last few pages, combining multiple months onto one page. But it does give another glimpse into the family’s life in Liberty, Missouri.

Transcription:

Dec. 25, 1944 –

David’s third Christmas – we are living in Liberty, Mo. After calling on friends Christmas Eve, we came home and exchanged gifts. David was so excited and had as much fun opening his gifts as the rest of the family. He received a large Panda, Books, Wagons, blocks, puzzle, sand bucket & tools, suit and glow in the dark picture.

March 1945. David is now 2 1/2 years old. Weighs 32 lbs. 36 1/2 tall. He is talking quite a lot. Can express himself very well. When we ask him a questions he replies, “Who me, talking to me?” or “not today.” He plays out in the yard and “makes” cottage cheese, meat, pie, birthday cake, etc., in his sand box. He says his soldier doll Bobby and Panda bite him. He likes to go to Sunday School. Sherril took him to a party given for children by the Girl Scouts on Easter Sat. It was so warm today (3-31-45) he went out in the yard and undressed. He loves to take his clothes off. Can put his shoes and sox on but doesn’t lace his shoes correctly, can dress except for buttons. Usually gets his shirts on backwards. Apr. can now lace shoes. June 29 – broke out with chicken pox while visiting Krulls.

YEG1945-01 - Roscoe and family, Liberty MO

Another Birth Announcement

1 Reply

Lt. Julius Rosenberg and his wife had their spring baby as was written earlier in a letter from Julius to Roscoe.

Mrs. Glen Hoffman

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: Mrs. Glen Hofmann was born Dorothy “Dot” Salter, the daughter of Denver and and Rita (Huffman) Salter of Clay City, Indiana. Those readers familiar with the letters will know of Floyd & Ruth. Floyd was Roscoe’s youngest brother. Ruth’s maiden name was Salter, and Dot was one of her younger sisters.]

February 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

February 23, 1945, p. 1

Mrs. Glen Hofmann
2032 Bancroft Ave.
San Leandro, Calif.
Feb. 23, 1945

Dear Gladys and all –

Just a few lines to report to the happenings of the “Seabees.” I guess you know by now that my hubby got home on his 30 day leave. He sure did look swell! (to me anyway. Ha!)

When his time was almost up he weakin and said I could come back with him. So here I am sitting in someone’s house writing to you. When Glen first got home he said there was no place out here for me, but as the time got shorter he changed his mind. Glen and his brother Eddie and I all drove back. We have to drive day and night to get here in time. We sure were tired, but now I haven’t gotten anything to do but rest. Yesterday I did our washing and ironing, and to-day I have been working on myself. I shampoo & set

February 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] my hair, and gave myself “the works.”

You should feel honored. This is the second letter I have written. I wrote Mother 1 letter. The rest have all been cards – you know the same old line on every card.

What really brought this on – was the letter I received from you just a few days before Glen got home. I don’t remember whom owed who, so it was OK. I sure was glad to get those hair clamps. I am sitting here with some of them in my hair now.

Glen has not come home yet, and Eddie has been reading all afternoon so I had some extra time to spend. I guess this is as good a way to spend it as any.

Excuse the mistakes, etc. I am still going in circles. We got ready & were here in 4 days (some trip!)

Bye, Bye for now –
Dot

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/24/mrs-glen-hoffman/

Further News from Lentz

2 Replies

January 14, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

January 14, 1945, p. 1

Sunday Jan. 14, 1945

Dear Yeggie – Just one year ago last nite we made the rounds of the shopping district in Wellington. You took me down because you knew your way around the streets. I remember meeting Billie there and then seeing Howard Witter later – I don’t know whether you remember seeing Howard or not, do you? We stayed with George – didn’t we?

Enjoyed your letter very much and I am glad you had plenty of time to write because it has been so long since I heard from you. Your duties are not so good but there are some worse and some better. When I hear from others I feel that I am not doing so badly here in spite of being on duty every other nite. In fact, you are on call all day & every day, I wouldn’t like the idea of travelling back

January 14, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and forth, especially supplying my own transportation. Here, I am my own boss and my – ahem! – assistant as Lt. Cdr. Arrange our hours, as long as one is on duty, daren’t leave the station exposed. I usually let him go home about 9 or 9:30 a.m. or whenever he chooses. He takes over for me on occasional evenings – we seem to be a pair as far as our domestic problems go, implying that we are in the dog houses; I never confided in you but all has not been well for a number of years. So – it could be worse.

“The Shadow” is on while I am writing, so I may get scared, if you see any incoherence then you will know why. I have one of my radios here. In fact, I practically live here – my corpsmen are well trained, the chief had 30 yrs and does all the paper work and is very conscientious. Two Ph. M. had combat duty and one had hosp. training, have 2 colored Ph. Mates or the OB Battalion

January 14, 194,5 p. 3

[page 3] All are trustworthy and I find no difficulty – we are like one happy family. We have set up a small galley and the Marines supply us with coffee, etc., so we have occasional meals every day.

Am finishing up that damned annual San. Report – had a lot of new construction, – Battalion barracks, etc., to describe. Must submit it in rough to C.O. of station – he is an old fusspot as I do the monthly reports. Can you beat that? No more monthly reports but the quarterlies will be headaches.

Heard from Frank Olrich a number of times and from Bob O’Donnell recently. He has an average of 23 admissions daily, 125 in ward, duty every 3^rd nite. Not so good – all car [?] fevers & pneumonias.

Had a H.R. from Detroit Grosse Point with signed by J.R. Delaney. So he is near home.

Frank said he is on full duty and all are slated to go again – scuttlebutts – His hearing is the same. His boy was operated on for hernia – less than 2 yrs old.

January 14, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] You know he is at Shoemaker Calif. Ted Anderson is at Parris Island S.C. I haven’t heard from tohers.

My brother is still at Charleston S.C. Asst. Dist. Med Officer – soft job, no nite work or Sundays either. My kid brother – is ferrying planes now, has been all over U.S.A. and Canada & Mexico. Is being shipped to Florida for some short intensive course on Bombers – he was a P-47 pilot 81 missions. My nephew is in Burma – you remember him visiting me when I had the typhoid chill – he was a paratrooper, was injured, fracture leg, int. injuries, etc. – but now is in “air dropping,” cargo plane work in China Burma India area. A brother-in-law, Lt. Col., is Dep. Provost Marshall of some area. Got a letter from him yesterday.

I hear from W. and [?] as good and as well as the mail service goes.
My Xmas was quiet – had a few drinks; spent New Yrs weekend on station.

Well – write when you can – Regards to all the family – Don’t work too hard-
Sincerely,
Ed

[Editor’s Note: To read more about Dr. Lentz, his brothers, and nephew from a contemporary newspaper report, click here.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/21/further-news-from-lentz/

News from Lentz

1 Reply

December 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

December 20, 1944, p. 1

Dec. 20, 1944
MERRY XMAS

Dear Yeggie

Well – about time I wrote you a few lines. Really haven’t had anything new to tell you, everything is quiet, still 24 on & off, every other weekend.

No word from anyone recently – not even Bob O’Donnell. Did get several letters from N.Z.

Just think – you were down in N.Z. a year ago, perhaps in South Island over the Glazeeewr. Just about a year ago I was ComServPac and boarded the ship Xmas eve with “Want any help Criss” and MacClatchie. In a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my first trip to Majestic & St. George.

I hear that all is quiet in N.Z. – all the Americans are practically out, a few stragglers as O.W.I., J.P.B., A.R.C.

December 20, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] get in occasionally. Dammit it would be nice to get down there to do some inventorying.

Our weather is cold & snowy and it was down to 15° last nite. I am not used to it and my feet get cold.

Saw my Brother the other day (Lt. Cd. MC USNR) Ass’t Dist Med Officer, Charleston D.C., lucky son of a gun; he was on a 10 day leave. Won’t get holidays at home, due back in S.C. Thursday this week. The Kid Brother is up near Detroit in a ferrying command now.

My cruise box (Bokis) & sea bag arrived 2 weeks ago, all intact. Lucky! Did you get yours?

Am sorry I didn’t write sooner –
Regards to all the family –
Merry Xmas –
Ed Lentz

WRITE I hear from Frank Olrich occasionally & see John Willard also

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/20/news-from-lentz/

Update from Julius Rosenberg

1 Reply

November 27, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

November 27, 1944, p. 1

U.S. Naval Hospital
Chelsea, Mass.,
November 27, 1944

Dear Yeger,

Been meaning to write you for a long time, but I’ve been busier than hell. I took the N-P course at Philadelphia and really enjoyed it immensely. Red Dryer and Bob Walker were there while I was there and we had a swell time. The course was very interesting and I’m now an N-P man.

I was assigned to the above hospital and met Joe McGinn & Perry Snyder who are here too. Recently Stan Myers, who is on duty at Longson [?], came here as a patient to have a herniated nucleus pulposus removed – remember how we laughed at his back ache? He’s OK now. Bob Walker is on duty at Newport, R.I., only 1½ hours from here and I should be seeing him soon. From him I learned that Jerry Goodman was still overseas and crying like hell. I hope I’ve given you all the news.

It’s pretty nice duty here, although I work very hard – this N-P service is really kept stepping, but I’m enjoying it. We had a hot and uncomfortable summer at Philly – did I tell you I met Ed Lentz there? But it’s nice here. We have an apartment in a 2 family house out in the suburbs of Boston and it’s very comfortable. I have a car now and we get around quite a bit.

November 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] By the way, I have hopes of having a Junior soon – at least we’re expecting his (or her) debut late in March. Everything is OK, so far.

Enough of me – how are you doing? How is the wife and how are the boys? I hope you are enjoying your duty – I know you like it better than being overseas – I know I do, even though I work much harder. I lost your address so I’m addressing this to your home address, and I’m hoping you get it finally.

Don’t be like me – please drop me a line soon and let me know all about yourself. By the way, when are we getting our promotions?

Best regards to you family. My wife sends her best
Sincerely,
Rosey

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/19/update-from-julius-rosenberg/

A Reply from George Wingfield

2 Replies

October 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 20, 1944

La Forge Cottages
Touro Park West
Newport, R.I.
Oct. 20, 1944

Dear Jake,

Thanks a million for your most excellent dope. Really appreciate it.
Nothing new since I last wrote but you’ll hear from me when I get settled on my next set of orders.
Great news about the Phillipines – we’re sure moving.

Best regards,
George

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/18/a-reply-from-george-wingfield/

Update from Robert P. O’Donnell

1 Reply

October 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 20, 1944, p. 1

Saturday Oct. 20, 1944

Dear Yeggy

I am really ashamed to have not got a line off to you sooner. You might think that the old O’Donnells had forgot you completely. The first day I arrived in here I looked you up in the phone directory for the base and then I found out you had been shifted. You letter was forwarded to us by way of the folks.

We got a letter from Lentz the other day he is still organizing things so he won’t have so many watches. Something tells me that you have the bes set up that way. It seems that I have a night watch every other night. Duty here could be a lot worse than it is, but it’s not like old Silverstream.

Pat is working here on the compound with me. She’s in the recreation building over on the Naval Hospital Side which makes it very convenient for us. We still haven’t got a car – somehow I just can’t pay out to your “landsman” the price they want. You haven’t seen anything good down where you are have you? If you see anything that looks like it’s a buy let me know. Most of these people up here just dust out the car they get from an individual and then charge $250 more than they paid for it.

We have a 3 room kitchenette apartment here in Waukegan that we got with the usual luck of the Irish, the first night in town. I sure hope that regardless of how interesting my job here is, we may be able to stay here, for I could never get anything like this anywhere else for 2X the price.

Since both of us are working we don’t gad about much.

October 20, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] We play a lot of acey ducie at night and see some shows. We’ve only been in Chicago three times. Getting home to Rockford takes so long via Greyhound bus that we’ve only been out there twice.

Right now I am listening to Dufy’s tavern here at the station. As usual I have the duty. Dotty LaMour is giving the low down on the beautiful tropical islands. I think even Sniveling Jacks in the Tribune has changed the inhabitants of the S.S. isles to scroungy looking natives instead of beauties.

Roberts is still here. Which reminds me. When are you going to be a Lt. Comdr. Not that Robert’s has made it, but you have been a “real” Lt. for 19 months – What next? Also are you planning another south seas trip before this conflict is over? I wish I could give you some word on it. All seem to have got rid of all the Medical officers around here who have never been overseas. Now they are weeding out all those guys who have been overseas less than 18. There seems to be a lot of guys who had a split time over there. 9 months, 12, 10, 6 etc. They were returned for sickness, deaths in the family, or for some other screwy reason.

It’s apparently only a matter of time before they start in to send out men with a full overseas tour. The only thing that will influence this is a very sudden change in the war. We picked up a lot of MOs who had been in some sort of a pool in England. They were there for about 6 months. 5 before the D day and one month after. As soon as the beach head was successful they quickly sent them back to the States with 15 days leave and then sent them to the South Pacific. I imagine there are a lot of guys in Europe with less than 18 months duty. They will all be eligible if things fold in Europe.

October 20, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Incidently what do you think of the work they’ve done in the Pacific since you left. If they do as much in the next year as they’ve done in the last we’ll be getting som where.

What have you learned from our great student Lentz? I sure would like to have the 3 of us get together again. Pat talks about it a lot too. But I suppose that someday we’ll be free and able to move around. What kind of post war plans do you have? How about Indiana? I don’t know what I’m going to do for sure. Nevada looks awfully good. I may go out there and try and mine some gold before the depression which is a sure thing for my money.

I cast my ballot for Dewey the other day as a member of the armed services. Sidney H. for my money should be number one man on some beach raid.

Before I forget it I want to thank your better half for that swell letter she wrote the folks saying that Pat and I were coming soon. That’s a long way back and I realize now that you don’t much about our trip.

I came back in a tanker from Wellington leaving there on May 6^th and reaching here May 23^rd. Pat followed me on the 12^th of May and reached San Francisco on June 1^st. I landed in San Pedro with Mason, Rutter, and Sherrovk from Silverstream. It took them 5 days to get my orders fixed. On the 6^th day I left Pedro and went to S.F. on just a hunch although through a cable sent me by Ed Lentz I knew Pat had left N.Z. by way of Auckland.

October 20, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I met Pat’s ship in S.F. and took her off. Criss, Witter and Cathcart were all with her which made the trip a lot of easier for her. Hudgins helped her out a lot to with food as she acts like her husband does when the ground swells start in.

We had a honeymoon in S.F. staying at the Mark Hopkins then came on to Rockford for about 10 days. I had a total leave of 15 days plus travel time. I will always be glad that I talked you into that trip to the South Island.

Well bud, I’m going out and get a coke. Wish I could just run down to your room and have one with you.

Let’s hear from you and not the way I usually do.
Lt. R.P. O’Donnell
414 South Jackson St.
Waukegan,
Illinois

Commander H. Frericks

1 Reply

[Editor’s note: Herman Frericks was Roscoe’s commanding officer during his time stationed in the Russell Islands. Frericks was not a doctor. He served in both WWI and WII. He was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. When this letter was written, Commander Frericks had been stationed on Saipan Island, Marianas Islands for only a few weeks.]

October 18, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 18, 1944, p. 1

Oct. – 18-44

Dear Doc: –

What a surprise when I got your letter, the last thing you said when you left the ARD-5 is that you would drop me a line from your new station. I’m not going to wait that long. You no doubt know that I was home on a thirty day leave but right back out again. I am executive officer of this base and it is a big job, plenty of work. I do have a nice place to live, I have a nice house for myself, living room, bedroom, complete bath even a flush toilet and a nice small galley and a stewart’s mate to look after it and cook my meals, I eat right here and am going well, I had cutting meat for supper and real eggs for breakfast.

My leave at home was wonderful

October 18, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] and I rather had hoped for some state side duty, but here I am. I did all the things I wanted to while home and sure enjoyed every minute and look forward to my next leave. Old Vince was here but is on his way, sure wish I had a crowd of officers here like I had at Navy 60, the gang here is terrible, at least about 90% of them. Just a word more about my house, I have a swell desk, radio, desk lamp, a really nice place to live, so I didn’t do bad for only being here about a month and a half.

Best of luck to you Doc and I sure hope we can get together again sometime, my regards to your family and I hope you are all well and happy

Sincerely,
Matie Frericks

George Wingfield Asks for Advice

2 Replies

[Editor’s Note: George Wingfield, Jr., was the son of George Wingfield, one of the wealthiest men of Reno, Nevada, in the early 20th century. George Sr. owned several mines, hotels and other financial interests in northern Nevada. His son, George Jr. enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and eventually ended up in the Russell Islands in the spring of 1943. Roscoe and George shared a tent together for a while. The two men corresponded after their separation. About a half dozen letters of their correspondence survive.]

Letter transcription:

October 12, 1944

Dear Jake,

Thanks for your letter of the 8^th; am sure glad to hear that you like the life down there and that your organization is so informal and agreeable. That sure makes a difference.

I think I have a pretty fair idea of my whereabouts when school ends, at least for a month or so. Expect to get order to Naval Air, Alameda, for further assignment. When I get there, the Admiral is going to put me on the first carrier that comes in or keep me until he goes to sea himself within the next 6 months. In any event I’ll be close to home for awhile and should end up with a pretty fair job afloat.

Have a rather difficult problem to work out which I need some friendly and frank medical advice on. Would feel reluctant to talk it over with a strange doctor and would respect your judgment most of the ones I know. Hope you don’t mind and that you will give me good forthright dope. Realize that one like yourself wouldn’t want to be positive on anything of this nature and so if you would care to oblige, I’d of course understand that any advice along this line is dependent on the individual. Anyway here’s the problem: I have been going with a girl back here and am thinking seriously of marrying her. She is 20 and has a history of T.B., having been in a hospital in Arizona four years ago with her right lung infected. She appears to be in good health now except that she is subject to asma and has to live in a dry climate and so she is now living and working out in Arizona. Up until the last month she has been taking treatments of some sort whereby air is injected in the region of the lung someplace by hypodermic. This has been discontinuted. Her last xrays show only a very tiny shaded shot in contrast to what it was once over almost the entire lung. Her lung is functioning. She is normal in weight, in fact a few pounds to the good but she is enemic.

What I want to know before I go too far in this matter is:

Under the circumstances, is this girl apt to be o.k. if watched carefully and if she lived say in Reno where the climate is dry but cold in winter?
Would that climate be o.k. for asma? Is asma hereditary? Tendency to have T.B.?
How big a risk do you think I’d be taking marrying a girl like that, frankly and as my friend?

Yours very truly,
George