Category Archives: World War II Letters

Next Draft Leaving Friday (Roscoe)

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October 3, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 3, 1945, p. 1

10-3-45

Dear Mother,

Just got off the O.D. duty and have the news about the draft. I’ll leave here on Fri., Oct. 5, at about 3 p.m. The date is certain but the time is not definite as yet. If everything is about the same as before I should be there as I have it figured Monday about noon. Now again the problem of what you are going to do and what I’m going to do – well since air travel is the way it is they are going to try to get me transportation back from here so that will set the time. I’ll either wire or call you later. If I can get it all on a wire I won’t call – you should get this letter either Fri. or Sat. and that will give you some time to think. If you do meet me you will know where – and if you don’t you can call the O.D. and leave a message.

If you think it would be easier for you just to come to Chi. Let me know, but on second thought how? I think I’ll know

October 3, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a little ahead of time here how long I will be able to stay so possibly will let you know by wire or phone.

Two days in a row now without any mail. It possibly is the no Sunday take up of mail in Kentland that accounts for the delay.

It is now 10:30 and we are beginning to get the World Series on the radio on the ward. I don’t suppose you are interested enough to listen. In fact I’m writing this in preference to listening but I want it to be sure and get off on today’s mail.

You had better bring some money. I missed pay day when I was home last time and this time I had just drawn my money for the drafts and didn’t take any on the 1^st so I have it on the books but see to miss the regular pays.

Well, I hope before this time next week I will have been with you for several hours. I’ll write again tomorrow –

Lots of Love,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/25/next-draft-leaving-friday-roscoe/

The Real Dope (Gladys)

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October 3, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 3, 1945, p. 1

Kentland, Ind.
10-3-45

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Sept. 29 & 30 came today. Just hope that talk about Oct. 15 is the real dope. You rec’d a letter from the Community Club of Mulberry asking you to consider coming there.

It looks like the Nu-Joy will be up here by us temporarily. The street from our corner up to the hotel is being repaired. Mrs. Z. was telling me today that it is to be up here until they can get the new one built. I suppose that means the buses will be coming up this way. If so David will have to be watched.

I have been figuring on our financial status. Counting our monthly $170 dep. – which hasn’t come yet – and all bills paid I know of the balance as of now is $384.87.

October 3, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Dorothy called and asked me about Hurgess at Sheldon. Says Bobby’s cold is worse. She is going to take him over there if he is in. Statons called him over here Sun. evening. Jimmy was sick but not seriously, because he is alright now.

John tuned in the ballgame at noon. So far the Cubs are winning. The last I heard it was 7-0. It is over now, but I didn’t get the final score.

The mail man left a letter for Mrs. N.E. Baer here today – I saw the return address first, then saw the address. I wondered what Comdr. B. was writing me about. I sent the letter down. David took it and when he came back he said the lady gave him a dime to put in his piggy bank – he very proudly carried the dime.

Bun Loughridge told me that they were to get some word today as to when they can expect to get new burners. I keep reminding them about how anxious we are to get ours installed.

Here’s hoping you get the trip to G.L. soon.
Love,
Mother

P.S. It isn’t raining.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/24/the-real-dope-gladys/

Officer of the Day (Roscoe)

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October 2, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 2, 1945, p. 1

2 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

This is my day for the duty. So far it has been assigned to me six times and of the 6 I’ve only had to take it 2 times. Drafts came up or something so unless something comes up in the next 45 min. I’ll have to go on.

Yesterday a slip came out for us to fill out as to length of service, age, dependencies, overseas, etc., and number of points. So maybe something will come of it. Things like that are always encouraging. It is my firm belief that I will be out of this before Christmas. That seems a distance away but I do think it is true. Maybe I’m psychic.

There is no new news on a draft. In fact right now the patients are low so I doubt if there is enough for a draft. I’m afraid you may have had something wrong. You sorta expected the draft to come on a weekend. That was just a happen so the last time. It was really nice that it happened that way but I’m afraid that won’t work that way again. I still keep remembering the wonderful few days we had together and how I would enjoy another just like it. Memories like that are really something to live over and over again but new experiences are better

October 2, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] so maybe anticipating the next meeting will have some little corner which will make time pass a little faster and easier.

Cmd. Howell, Stanich and I were going out to have a dinner together tonight but due to the fact that I caught the duty we had to put it off. The last time it was put off because I caught the draft home and then Geo. W. was in on it. I suppose by the next time Stanich will be gone. It seems we have a hard time getting together. I see or talk with them on the phone but we can’t seem to get together.

There is an opera again Friday night and we are trying to get tickets. The last fellow who was going with me last time has been detached but there is another here who wants to go.

Seems from your letter that the old Wm. Jewell is closing. I’m glad in a way we got out because that would have changed the boys school program, etc.

Well Dearie it is about my O.D. time so lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/23/officer-of-the-day-roscoe/

Literary Club (Gladys)

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October 2, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 2, 1945, p. 1

10-2-45

Dear Daddy –

I just wonder if you are on your way home, or if you will be and this letter is being sent without any reason. Well in case you don’t get to the Lakes I think you will want it. I took David and went to Literary Club at Mrs. Tilton’s. It was over by 4 o’clock, then we came home. Dorothy came out with Bobby and visited a while. She said Bobby has a sore throat and wanted to know what to do – I told her it was hard to do anything for a child that young – that had a sore throat.

At Club, I was asked by Mrs. Glick if we were buying out Mathews – they had heard that and Birdie Steele asked me the same thing. I said we were planning to remodel the old office – and knew nothing about the proposed change. Mrs. Glick said Max thought so much of you. Said he spoke very highly of you. He always was friendly, wasn’t he?

October 2, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I talked to Mrs. Coaley and she thinks Ellsworth will soon be home. He was transferred at the last minute and didn’t have to go out on the ship he had been assigned to.

Dorothy & Nick are planning to go up to Funk’s lodge Friday until Tuesday. It seems Bill has invited quite a number for this weekend. Dorothy is planning to leave the baby with her mother.

I noted in yesterday’s letter about Clarence Simmons coming to see if you would be interested I going to Mulberry and if so he said they would get you out of the Service – There is no doctor in Mulberry. I told him I didn’t think you would be interested but if so I would let them know.

David still gets up according to the way he did before the time change and it’s too early to suit me. Maybe he will gradually get to sleeping later – (I hope).

Staton’s dog is sick and he acts like he won’t get well. Coco’s brother-in-law is due to arrive somewhere on the coast but he doesn’t know where. He has 57 points.

Love Mother

October 2, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Ed has moved across the street so our office is ready to be remodeled.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/22/literary-club-gladys/

Purses and Cokes (Roscoe)

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October 1, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 1, 1945, p. 1

1 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

Monday a.m. and things going along the same as usual. Yesterday p.m. I intended to listen to the football game here but it wasn’t on the radio, so I read another E. Stanley Gardner book – very educational. I also finished another office plan and if I didn’t leave it at the room I’ll include it in this letter. I have it so I’ll send it along.

No news on the point system nor on the draft so far today. We haven’t gotten too many patients in so the draft to Chi. May not be as soon as I expected. I guess I shouldn’t write so much about that but after all it is one of the major things in life right now.

I looked the purses over and I’m afraid to make my own selection at that price. I also priced and looked them over at Klamath Falls and the price was the same there and the selection about the same.

Just stopped to get a cold coke. There is a big machine right outside our door but it is empty most of the time. It is filled three

October 1, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] times each day but still it is practically always empty. It holds about 10 cases and I don’t think the coke ever gets cold only the extra supply in the top which is put in at the time of filling.

I’ve just finished writing a letter to the folks – It had been some time since I had written. Mom said if they had known when I was coming before they would have come up but it is too uncertain about how much time I’ll have off. It would be alright for them to come but if I didn’t get much time then you would be in Chi. Also. The priorities going off on air travel may make a difference in our time off. They may get them directly from here and if they do it may mean only a few hours off but that remains to be discussed later.

Look this last plan over and see what you think. After I had it finished I saw some things I didn’t like but that will be true of any.

Well, Dear I’ll sure like to see and be with you – We hope it won’t be too long.
Love Daddy

P.S. 3 letters just came.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/21/purses-and-cokes-roscoe/

Reduction of Five Points (Roscoe)

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September 30, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 30, 1945, p. 1

30 Sept. 45

Dear Mother,

I suppose maybe I feel in a little better mood today. No special reason only same subtle B. One of the Cmdrs. here said he had it on two pretty good sources that the points for M.D.’s was to be reduced by 5 points wither the 1^st or 15^th of Oct. Well, if that is the case my spirits are very high. It won’t be long now until we find out about the 1^st date.

I suppose you have heard or read about the fires out our way. I saw some of them yesterday coming back and the whole area around here seems to be filled with smoke but it isn’t much different than the usual fog. In fact this morning I thought it was fog but soon detected the smell wasn’t fog.

I worked some more on the office plans last night and maybe will send a drawing tomorrow. I have a hard time getting anything to measure with so can’t tell exactly whether the rooms will fit as I want them to fit. And I can’t remember how far that alley door is from the back wall but I’ll send them along in a day or two and another thing I wonder if a 3 foot hall would be wide enough – or possibly 3+ feet. It seems I’ve

September 30, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] darn near drained the “barrel” dry writing of those plans but after all it is one of the primary interests at present.

This Dr. that went on to Maryland as I came to Great L., stopped in Wash., and he said they told him there that if he had been out there would be nothing to worry about as far as further sea duty is concerned, but I’m afraid there is always a chance for a slip up.

This being near the end of the month I suppose you will send me a rough financial report. I like to keep it in mind because things might be different before the end of the year.

There is no further word on the Draft to Great L. but I’m still hoping it will be the end of this coming week or the beginning of the next. Do you want to come to Chicago and spend the time? Or should I come home? There is always the problem as to how much time I’ll get.

Well, I’ll have to run along to noon day chow and get this in the mail but I’m afraid it won’t be go out until tomorrow –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/20/reduction-of-five-points-roscoe/

A Nice Visit (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 30, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 30, 1945, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 30, 1945

Dear Daddy –

It’s past 3 o’clock (peace time) and our company has gone home. Ruth & Earl came at noon. I didn’t know what time they would get here so we didn’t wait dinner for them and we were just about thru but we had a roast & gravy so there was plenty for them. They brought a watermelon and we cut it for dessert. They left for home about half an hour ago. I thought we were to set the clocks back tonight so we didn’t have ours back and got up and went to church at 8:15 – I wanted to go early to get the Sunday School things in order and maybe it was a good thing I did because some of the children came early and someone needed to be there to keep order. I am sleepy – I fought mosquitoes until past midnight and then David got me up early so I didn’t get the benefit of the extra hour. I went to bed two or three times before I got rid of the mosquitoes.

Ruth & Earl had quite a nice visit on their trip home. They got to see a lot of the relatives. Ruth & Floyd were down home for the week-end so got to see them. Mom forgot David’s birthday last week, so she sent a card and book by Ruth.

It is cloudy and cold and raining a little. I am glad we have the coal – which I hope lasts until we get the oil installed. We heard over the radio today that the Standard Plant at Whiting was settling their strike. Just hope it all gets settled. I would hate to get an oil burner & no oil.

Arlene asked me to come to come down last night, since she was alone with the children.

September 30, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Her “maid” is still with her. She married Shorty Davis but he lives in a trailer and I imagine she would just as soon work some place as stay in a trailer all day. She hasn’t said anything about leaving Arlene and Arlene is planning to go up to the lodge for a week and leave the children with Francis. John Funk was at the lodge working for Bill and he got sick and Bill had to go up so he wants Arlene to go up there for a week. Arlene was down to see Dr. Cole Fri. and said she invited the Coles to the lodge for a vacation. She said after she extended the invitation she thought about Rosemary who is due to go to the hospital anytime. She didn’t want to withdraw the invitation and she didn’t want to take the Dr. away from Rosemary. Arlene also told me that Bernard’s baby had been in the hospital 10 days under Van Buskirk’s care and that they had brought him home and are going to take him to Cole now – they aren’t satisfied with his condition. He still has a rattle – he almost had pneumonia.

Mrs. Mathews asked me as we were leaving church when you were coming home. She said she was hoping you would get home before winter.

David is full of pep this afternoon. He wants to push chairs around and has his little chair going around in circles. He has a hard time when he has to stay in.

Love Mother

Mon. morn – Yours of Sept. 26 came today but yours of the 27 came Sat. so I don’t feel like I have the latest news. Maybe the next one will be in this evening. I’ll go see when I mail this. Still raining and raining. At least it is warmer and that is something. Clarence Simmons came to see me this morning. He wanted to know if you wanted to get “out” and if so they need a Dr. in Mulberry & they would get the Procurement Board to let you come there.

Thanks from Madelyne Moynihan

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[Editor’s Note: The following letter from Madelyne Moynihan was included in the letter dated September 29, 1945 from Roscoe. Faithful readers may remember a previous letter from Mrs. Moynihan requesting vaccination records for her children. The Moynihans were stationed in Liberty, Missouri, while the Yegerlehners were there as well.]

September 20, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sept. 20, 1945

Dear Doc,

I received your letter with the information I wanted. It came the day before school opened and served the purpose very well.

Mont is still on Guam, waiting patiently for orders to send him back to Pearl Harbor and then the States, he hopes.

He is very impatient to get home and see his little daughter. I should have named her Mont instead of Kathleen, she looks so much like him.

Madelyne Marie is getting along pretty well in school now, but for the first week, she very conveniently acquired a pain in the stomach every morning. That trick didn’t go over with me because I had tried the same one myself with little success when I was going to school.

I don’t know which was the worst: Madelyne crying because she didn’t want to go to school, and Buddy crying because

September 20, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] he couldn’t go, and Kathleen just crying to make noise. Woe is me.

I told Mont when he comes home I’m going to put the three of them on his lap and go places and let him take care of them. That will be the day.

Well Doc I won’t take up any more of our time with my dribble so I’ll close with many thanks from,

Madelyne Moynihan

Up and Then Down (Roscoe)

2 Replies

September 29, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 29, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 29,

Dear Mother,

Just back from Klamath Falls, a bath taken and your letter read – The one which you seemed to be down. I got back just in time to hear the tail end of the N.C. & Ill. Ballgame. I’m now listening to the Navy-Marine game.

You wrote of being down. Well, I’m up and then down – There is one bright ray however and that is that I’ll be bringing a draft that way before long as I’ve told you before – It sorta depends on how many patients came in that are from the Mid West.

I just got a call from (jr.) Dr. Cummins his orders were changed to read to Pearl Harbor and he is flying – leaving in the morn. So he is coming out for a while this eve. There isn’t anything else I want to do so I’ll talk with Jr.

Before I forget – I didn’t write yesterday – only very early in the a.m. – I was busy most of the day getting rid of patients and getting transportation home – Had to come on the train this time. It took about 15 hours to get back. So since I wrote you last I’ve spent about

September 29, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] twenty-seven hours on the train. Coming back I had a lower berth but it wasn’t bad. It, however, is not as good as a drawing room. After I sent the letter and diagram the other night I did some more figuring and I believe I have a better plan although it is very similar. I’ll give it to you after I have a chance to do some better drawing.

About you coming out. I’d like for you and I want you to but I think you should be there until the oil burner is put in and working and maybe by that time I will know more. I’m going to write one of these days and see if I can get those orders to read permanent in order to get your transportation. I’m sure we could find a place for you to stay a while – a room or two but I’d like for that oil burner to be put in and working so that cold weather won’t catch us with our “dampers” down.

I’ll mail this when I go to chow this eve, then I know is will go out tomorrow and in the meantime keep the spirits up as much as possible. I know what you mean when you say you are on the down.

Love Daddy
P.S. A letter I received today.

I’ll Be All Ears (Gladys)

7 Replies

September 29, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 29, 1945, p. 1

Sat. 29 – 1945

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Sept. 27 came today and you mentioned the possibility of another trip to G. L. next week. Well I’ll be all ears waiting to hear. I wrote you a long letter yesterday and pretty well exhausted my news supply, but will do the best I can. Our rain seems to be over but it’s cold now – not just chilly but cold. We have a good fire going in the furnace. John needed a Latin book he couldn’t get here, so this being Sat., we went to Laf. He got his Latin book and I got a pr. hose and a replacement on the Jiffy mop that went to pieces and that was about all – except a box Fannie May caramels. The town was so full of Sat. shoppers we couldn’t get waited on in so many of the stores, we just gave up and came home. Lucile went along and stopped at her sister’s in West L. I tried to get material to put a new cover on the studio couch but couldn’t find but one piece I would consider and it was $1.50 yd. – it would cost at least $10.00 and I would rather wait and see what we can do on new furniture. If I can find material later that suits I may get it but there wasn’t any choice today. Mrs. Tobias called me and said Mrs. Byfield was there so I went over to see her. Geo. is in Europe and expects to be home by Christmas. He has a little boy 2 yrs. old and Mrs. B. has been visiting with George’s wife. She (Mrs. B.) still lives in that apt. on Penn Ave. in Indianapolis – her son who is a musician has a daughter studying music in Indianapolis and she lives with Mrs. B. Marvel is in Hawaii and is to come home soon.

September 29, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] David was tired this evening when we came home so he has retired. Everything made him cry. Last night he woke up when we were getting ready to go to bed. He went to the toidey then said “I want to sleep with you tonight,” so I let him. However I won’t let it get to be a habit. He said, “I won’t suck my thumb.” One time I told him he couldn’t sleep with me if he sucked his thumb. I put his clean clothes out on the cedar chest before I go to bed and when he gets up (which is always before anyone else) he gets dressed. He used to run around in his pjs but this way he gets his clothes on and is ready to go down when we are dressed.

Arlene just called me and asked me to come “and sit a while.” Bill is out of town and she is alone – I mean except for the children. I’ll take my knitting and go down for a while.

Mark brought a football at Woolworth’s or one of the 10₵ stores – you know he loves to spend money regardless of value rec’d. I think he paid $1.89.

John wanted a new shirt and some sox but couldn’t find either at Loeb’s so decided to wait and see what B & B has.

Mark is waiting to take this to mail so must get it finished.

Love Mother

P.S. will be anxious for your next letter