Category Archives: World War II Letters

Liberty, Missouri (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: June 4, 1944 envelope front

: June 4, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

June 4, 1944, p. 1

Colonial Hotel
Liberty Mo.
June 4, 1944

Dear Mother,

Just back from the party I told you about on the phone. I met most of the officers, their wives and children. It seems the medical department is composed of me and that is the dependants care as well as anything else navy that comes up. It was interesting meeting all the outfit in one group. About all types and kinds were represented. The skipper and his wife are ex farmers from Southern Ill. And seem to be very fine. There is also the flashy type who sorta feel they should demand attention, and I might say the children are all types and kinds also. It se

It seems they have parties like this rather frequent. It was an outdoor

June 4, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] hamburger fry with salads, onions, olives, cake, ice cream, etc. Just a harmless get together. Outside of hot weather, I believe the duty here should be OK but that remains to be seen.

I hope a room here at the hotel without bath. There are none with bath available. The price of the room is $1.25 per day. There is a lavatory in the room but the bath is community and a tub. There is a shower at the sick bay so I’ll have my bath there.

I have to be at the base by 7:45 and after sick call it’s more or less here and there.

The Dr. I’m relieving is still here. They have 3 children, the oldest of which is about 3 years old. They seem to be very well thought of and a little hard to follow maybe because they were well liked, but we shall see.

Well, I’ll write more tomorrow night but the night letter of tomorrow night should get there first –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/20/liberty-missouri-roscoe/

News from Navy 132 (Lentz)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

E.T.Lentz – Comr. MCUSNR
NOB Navy 132
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
May 29, 44

Dear Yegie – Still here but not for long; am absorbing air and scenery mostly.
Rec’d a letter from John W. who expected to be assigned to Gt. Lakes.
All gone except Buster H. who is giving me the brush off; he is waiting for a relief.
Thanks for sending the note, rec’d ack. of it today.
How is the family? Are they all staying at home. Regards to all

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/19/news-from-navy-132-lentz/

May 1944

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[There are no further letters during the month of May since Gladys and the boys moved to Lake Forest on May 8th. Their stay by the Lake was short-lived however.]

Baby book – May 23, 1944

May 23 – 1944

David’s 20th month. 26 1/2 lbs. – 34″ tall

On May 8 we went to Lake Forest to live. There were chickens in the back yard and David put his finger thru the fence and a hen pecked it – He cried but went back and tried to entice the hen again. We took David to the beach and he had lots of fun playing in the sand and throwing rocks in the lake. We had a cottage on the lake near Zion but Daddy was ordered to Liberty, Mo., so we had just one day to play on the beach. David is getting a good coat of tan. He tries to say anything but doesn’t say everything correctly. He acts like he is playing the piano, can point to his nose, ears, eyes, hair, mouth, tummy, feet and where he gets spanked when we ask him to.

Roscoe’s new orders were written on May 26th and delivered on May 30th. He had five days to report to Liberty, Missouri. His new duties were at the Naval Flight Preparatory School at William Jewell College.

: Change of orders, p. 1

: Change of orders, p. 2

: Change of orders, p. 3

: Compliance of Orders

A Family Tragedy

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After May 2nd, 1944, the letters go silent for a week. While Roscoe and Gladys were writing letters to each other further north, in Clay City, Indiana, a family tragedy was taking place. During the day, Roscoe’s oldest brother Sam fell off the back of a truck while working on his farm. He fractured his skull during the fall and died several hours later. At this point, it is unknown whether or not Roscoe, Gladys & the children traveled to Clay City for the funeral. Romaine, the daughter of Ruth (Yegerlehner) Mutchler, does not recall attending the funeral, although she does remember the sadness which accompanied the tragedy. With gas rationing and other travel limitations in effect during WWII, it is hard to say whether or not the family did go. However, the lack of letters would indicate that Roscoe and Gladys were together.

SAMUEL A. YEGERLEHNER

CLAY CITY, Ind., May 3. – -(Special)- – Samuel A. Yegerlehner, 53 years old, died at 8:30 last night at the Clay County Hospital from a fractured skull sustained Tuesday morning when he fell from a truck two miles east of Clay city. Mr. Yegerlehner is survived by the widow, Esther; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Yegerlehner of clay City; two sons, Paul and Earl of Clay city; one sister, Mrs. Ruth Hutchler of Wilmington, Ill.; four brothers, Clarence and Ralph of Clay City, Roscoe of the United States Navy at Great Lakes, Ill., and Floyd of Bluffton, and one grandchild. The boys was brought to the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home and will be returned to the residence in Clay City Wednesday afternoon. Short funeral services will be held at the residence at 1:30 o’clock Thurdsay afternoon followed by services at St. Peters Reformed Chruch at 2 o’clock with Rev. Bredeweg officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Reformed cemetery.

YEG1940 - Sam, Esther, Earl, Paul & Leanna

Samuel, Earl, Esther, Leanna and Paul Yegerlehner, c1940s

Lt. Commander F. Edward Walker, U.S.N.R.

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[Gladys included this letter from Lt. Commander F. Edward Walker in her letter dated May 2, 1944.]

Lt. Commander F. Edward Wlker, U.S.N.R.
Room 1110 at 995 Market Street
San Francisco, California
Feburary 26, 1944

Lt. R.S. Yegerlehner, MC USNR
℅ USN Base Hospital #4
Navy 133, ℅ Fleet Postoffice
San Francisco, California

Dear Doctor:

I am pleased to enclose herewith my check in the amount of $1.50 which represents a further refund to you from the Cub 13 Officers Club.

A few days ago we received a check in refund of part of the purchase price of the initial investment of the officers club, which permits us to give a 6% dividend.

I just received your address from George Wingfield and I am happy to forward this to you.

Lieutenant Stanich is now located at the Naval Base Assembly Depot at San Bruno. Commander Porterfiled is located at Quantico, Virginia. Jack Howell is back at Navy 131, officer in charge of Receiving Station.

Commander Rimpau and I are both here in San Francisco, and if you should come this way at any time be sure and hunt us up.

With personal regards and best wishes to you always, I am

Sincerely yours,
F. Edward Walker
Lieut. Comdr. USNR

Can you tell me where following are:

Lt. D.A. Mills MC
Lt. J.W. Gardiner DC
Lt. Criss
Lt. R.C. Comstock
Lt. F.W. Stockwell

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/16/lt-commander-f-edward-walker-u-s-n-r/

Romaine’s Commencement (Ruth)

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April 30, 1944, p. 1

[Gladys included this letter from Ruth Mutchler in her May 2nd letter. Ruth was Roscoe’s sister.]

Letter transcription:

Wilmington Ill.
April 30, 1944

Dear folks,

Just a line before I go downtown this morning. I am sewing & must go down to get some thread. It is raining again this morning as usual.

We have been anxious to know what has become of you. In your last letter you said you had been apartment hunting & we have been wondering if you have found one. It will be nice if you can be near Jake while he is stationed there. Romaine & I were in Chicago, all day on Saturday, two weeks ago. We eyed every Naval officer that we saw. Thinking just perhaps

April 30, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Jake may have been downtown, but – no see –

We went up for her formal. Had a hard time finding one, but finally found one which we think is quite pretty. It is yellow marquisette. She is getting all excited now, the Senior activities are “stepping up.” Had the Senior play Fri. & Sat. nights. She had so hoped grandpa & grandma would come up for commencement, but Mom wrote & said that it wouldn’t be possible for them to come now. She is still counting on you to be here.

Earl & Chuck are trying hard to get their garden in but so much rain keeps

[page 3] them from it. They now have their potatoes, peas & early stuff such as lettuce carrots & onions in. Earl went fishing

April 30, 1944, p. 3

for a little while yesterday after-noon, but too cold for that, got two I think he said. He is so busy at the mine, he hasn’t much time for fishing & gardening.

Must run along now. Let us hear from you, haven’t Jake’s address so can’t write to him, so send it along when you write again. Hope you are all well

Love Ruth

Come for commencement if you can. It is May 26.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/15/romaines-commencement-ruth/

Acute Housing Situation (Gladys)

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May 2, 1944 envelope

May 2, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 2 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

I am enclosing the mail that came for you & Ruth’s letter. I rec’d two letters from you and can’t understand why you didn’t get the letter about David’s accident. Mark mailed it Wed. evening – the day he fell or rather pulled the radio over on himself. His lip still has a scab but the stitches were removed Sat. He made it bleed yesterday. I am not going to touch it, but just let the scab come off as it will. Dr. M. said to take him to the dentist as soon as his mouth is healed. I think the inside has healed entirely.

Just like the radio serial you were comparing our letter to – I wonder if you have found anything yet. Maybe I’ll have to go up and spend a day yet to find something. We should have spent your vacation house hunting. Just keep working on it – something has to be found.

There is a high wind. I washed this morning, then this p.m. put in two woolen blankets and the couch cover. I accidently picked up the red (old drapery) cover and it got washed too. The color runs out of those old drapery curtains and the result is, the couch cover has a new tint. It really is better looking than before. The wind is so strong I brought David back into the house. The wind didn’t bother him, he still wants to go bye-bye.

Mark doesn’t have any school today because of election. He has been mowing Staton’s lawn. They have taken their lawn mower over to their cottage. They must have quite a place over at the lake.

May 2, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Just retrieved a piece of something from David’s mouth – don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t to eat. He just made a puddle on the floor – right after I had put him on the toidey. I think I am going to have to use a little spanking on the young man if he doesn’t try to cooperate a little better.

I am a little tired. D. woke up before I had a chance to rest any – and after he gets up there isn’t much rest for anyone. Mark being busy with the lawn mower can’t help me right now.

I added a P.S. to yesterday’s letter about Smith. He was here a few minutes to see about the house. He & Mrs. are coming back Sat. He said he would like to lease it for a year. I told him your future was too uncertain to do anything like that. Maybe we can work out something. Helen Bartlett said she used to teach under Smith and says he is a good school man. I know Bart worked to get Smith here. Smith’s own their home in Delphi and Helen said they were interested in buying here. They may find a place for sale but I don’t know where they could rent anything. Alene Miller is coming back to their house – the one Statons used to have, but the people in it now can’t find a place to move.

I’ll certainly be glad when the housing situation isn’t so acute – at least for us.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/14/acute-housing-situation-gladys/

No Children Allowed (Roscoe)

3 Replies

May 1, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 2, 1944

Dear Mother,

The letter you wrote of D. accident finally came today – where it was and why I don’t know. It seems that was just like the letters you used to write and wanted them to get there in a hurry.

I thought for a short time this PM I’d have something about a house but it fell thru. It was a furnished home in Libertyville $60.00 per month but the old “Itch boy” that owns it doesn’t want any children in her house – She thought that she could rent it to people without children. I was a little upset when I walked into the ward and the nurse asked me what was troubling me. I told her the lady didn’t want children in the house and she said “well

May 1, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] why?” and that was a little to much – I told her the baby would “pe” on the bed. That slowed her down and even brought color to her face. Probably to mine also. Hope the lady who owns the house has splinters in her pants and one of them point starboard every time she sits down. Maybe there are other punishments just as bad but I won’t whish wish them on her at present. Dr. Glick put me wise to this house.

I’ve got my leave started on the way and should be able to give you the dope tomorrow night. Joe gets off or rather will take off at noon on Sat. and I’m going to try to do likewise. It may not go thru for 12:00 or for that matter maybe not for

[page 3] 4:30 but we will try.

May 1, 1944, p. 3

I sent my blue suit to the cleaner today – so had to wear khaki. It was nice and sunny when we got up but it got foggy and cold later but this eve it was pretty nice again. Khaki is a must for me for the next few days until my blues came back, rain or shine.

We are all set to listen to Fibber in about ½ hour. Right now Gabe Heater [1] is about to come on so I’ll just sign off and say will the splinters punch the lady hard enough and often enough –

Love Daddy

[1] Gabriel Heatter was a radio news commentator. During WWII, he was known for his trademark phrase “Good evening, everyone…there is good news tonight.”

A Place by the Lakes (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 1-2, 1944 envelope front

: May 1-2, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

May 1-2, 1944, p. 1

5-2-44

Dear Mother,

At least there is something to report – Joe found a house – a small but livable and reasonable enough. All for $48 per month but not furnished. He called Mrs. Roberts and I suppose she will call you before this arrives. They were able to get it by a friend in Wilmette writing to a friend in Lake Bluff and these people had a friend whose brother in law had a house so you see how things go. Maybe something will turn up in that way for us. The lady in Wilmette is still looking for one for us.

I’ve thought of this for us – Maybe we could take a place at the lakes for a couple of

May 1-2, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] weeks – and that would allow us to be together and would also give you some time to look around and if nothing turned up at the end of that time you could go back home – what about that? We can talk of that when I come home this weekend. I haven’t asked as yet but will tomorrow.

Somehow I’ve contracted a cold and using a few hankies but it isn’t bad. It’s turned so warm today. I’ll wear khaki tomorrow for the first time and have my blue cleaned & pressed for the weekend.

Well, I hope I’ll be able to write of house news tomorrow eve –
Love Daddy

Mrs. Henry Molter (Gladys)

1 Reply

April 30, 1944 envelope

April 30, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-30-44

Dear Daddy –

April just about gone – It rained this morning, but it’s warm. I took David to church this morning and he behaved very well. His lip looks fine and baring falls will look normal again soon. I have noticed however that one front tooth is pushed back out of line. Dr. M. examined his mouth rather thoroughly for loose teeth but they seemed intact. Sat. when he took the stitches out he said as soon as his mouth heals to take him to the dentist. It wasn’t the broken tooth that got pushed back but the other one. Dr. M. said he felt like doing something to me for allowing him to fall and cause the bleeding around the stitches, but someone would have to carry him around all the time to keep him from falling. Dr. M. was afraid there would be a scar but after he got the stitches out it looked pretty smooth.

The sun is shining now. I hope it keeps shining so I can take D. out after his nap. He is getting quite a tan. Was out so much yesterday.

Mark went with Zells to Morocco to see a show last night. John stayed home and did homework. I ironed something I couldn’t do on the ironer. I thought after I went to bed David might be getting the measles. He would cry in his sleep – did that several times, but finally settled down. It will be two weeks Mon. since he was exposed. I am hoping he is going to sail thru.

I got a suit for John in Laf. but had to send it back because the sleeves were too short. I went to the tailor here to see about getting a suit made for him but Mr. Corbin said he wasn’t able to do much now so wouldn’t take the job. I thought I may go to Laf. again

April 30, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] next week and try again to get a suit and Mark a pr. of shoes. Mark doesn’t have school Tues. I asked Lucile if she wanted to go but she said she had a woman coming to help clean Mon. & Tues. and couldn’t go before the last of the week. I asked Dorothy if she could go to Evanston one day to house hunt and she said a week from Thurs. – but I hope you will have found something before then. I do hope you can find a cottage on the Lake. I think that would be much better for the summer.

Mark has been working on a plane for Bobby and I have had to keep after him to finish it. He says all he has to do now is cover the wings then he will be thru. I told him he couldn’t go out today until he finishes it. He starts a plane and if I don’t keep after him he forgets all about it and the plane never gets finished.

Al thought yesterday that Smith would be in town and if so would bring him out – If they came it was while we went Sheldon to get some meat. I brought all of Clara’s lima beans back and took them to Henry’s (instructions). Mrs. Molter was home alone so I put the beans in the refrigerator. Mrs. M. doesn’t walk. I knew she was an invalid but didn’t know her trouble. She said she had arthritis in her spine. The local Dr. is Glick. She has had operations and been in the hospitals for treatments but doesn’t improve. I was surprised to see such a young woman. I have heard Rose & Clara speak of Henry’s wife but had never met her before. I suppose you have met her. I know you were on two calls to see Henry.

May add a P.S. later.
Love Mother

P.S. Took David for a walk – Stopped at Johnsons & we walked with Lucile & J.E. awhile. Ed took a picture of D. & his mother – hope it’s good. I called Lila and had a little gab. She asked me if one of letters was late. I told her I would wring Joe’s neck.