Category Archives: World War II Letters

I Like Mail (Roscoe)

: August 15, 1943 envelope

: August 15, 1943, p. 1

: August 15, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 15, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran C.

Dear Mother,

I reread your letters again yesterday and find that I commented on most of the things you asked about or wrote about. The address you use is OK but the USNR should follow my name – putting it after the Navy 60 might be a little confusing. It’s a small matter but anything that might be confusing should be done away with because you know how I like mail.

You asked if we had heard Fibber in a certain radio program – we didn’t some how we haven’t been able to get any of those programs since getting our radio. I think we just haven’t had it on at the right time. We do get the news pretty good and some music – if you want to call it that. The best station has a recording of a

[page 2] base ball game which lasts about ¾ hour. That is really the height of something of other. We want entertainment and they put on a ball game which has been played hours before and they would give the final score and be done with it. One listens to a ball game to see what the final score will be – anyway I don’t like it.

I was very glad to hear that the folks could spend a few days with you. I imagine they got a big kick out of the trip and the visit. I’m sure John will enjoy himself on his own for the week or rather I mean traveling alone. I think things like that are good for them – Lets them know how to get along for themselves.

Well, I’ve got to write the folks today so will get started on that right now –
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

What You Were Afraid Of (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 15, 1943 envelope

: August 15, 1943, p. 1

: August 15, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Aug. 15 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Dr. Cole came this morning and I asked him to write you – then after he left I happened to think I hadn’t told him to use air mail or v-mail so if he uses reg. mail you may not get it so soon. After a careful examination of Mother’s abdomen he is convinced of what you said you were afraid of. He said she has a hard mass that is quite extensive in her bowels. He said he didn’t subject her to x-ray when I took her to the hospital due to her frail condition. I asked him about an operation and he said it was out of the question – said she couldn’t have stood surgery when in the hospital. I suppose that condition has been there for some time and at her age is more than she can overcome. I remember how Mrs. John Simons was and how well she came thru surgery, but I understand Mother’s age is against her. I sent her tray up at noon and she didn’t eat much – a while ago she said she didn’t want anything for supper. I have heard her go to the bathroom several times. I don’t get upstairs so much during the day. Seems with the baby I can’t make it. Then too Mother gets tired of anyone around her very long.

[page 2] Dr. Cole was on his way to Chi. till Tues. He said he didn’t know there could be so much work. Said he was finished, ready to leave the hospital this morning when someone sent came in & another Dr. wanted him to take care of his patient today. He gave orders as to her care – and told the nurse who to call if she needed a Dr. before her own Dr. returned. I know every time I go to his office I see more pregnant women that I ever saw before. Besides the baby cases he says he has so much surgery.

Mark is going to 4-H tomorrow – Funks are going to Wis. for a vacation – Zells are going away – Mr. Z. & Virginia to the 4-H camp – so we should have it quiet around here for a few days. The noise bothers Mother so much.

David is taking a good nap. Bob & Clarice were out to see him this afternoon. He is so full of pep and now he looks so cute when those two upper front teeth show. Dorothy Krull was playing with D. yesterday and he would look at her with an expression that she says is just like yours. Dorothy says she is going to take a movie when D. is a year old.

John & Mark are over next door playing croquet – They moved the set to Zells front yard. – I thought that would get the noise a little further away but I can hear them about as plain as before.

My pol. was returned, so now all the Ins. loans are paid.
Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/10/what-you-were-afraid-of-gladys/

Music Or Furniture? (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 14, 1943 envelope

: August 14, 1943, p. 1

: August 14, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USRN
Navy 60 F. P.O. San Fran Calif.
Aug. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received several letters yesterday. Yours along about the 17^th & 18^th of July and also of July 30 & 31. That one Those came or rather were written after the folks were there and after you had bought the piano and also after you had received the big check. So they really brought things up to date pretty well. This is catty – did you get the piano for music or furniture? Both I hope – what I mean is I hope the musical side is good. Really I’m glad you got it because that old one was so heavy and cumbersome and I’m sure this one must be much easier to handle and nicer to look at.

[page 2] I didn’t make any specifications on what you spend that money for only that you pay the insurance loan which as I remember was around $170 plus, of course, interest. Glad you bought the bonds but don’t cut yourself to low – Maybe I can send some more in a month or two.

The tent is filled with conversation so concentration is a little difficult so will have to reread your letters and see if there is anything else that I should or want to comment upon.

Well, I’ve got to close this before I get something here that shouldn’t be for your ears because the convo is still going –

Lots of Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/09/music-or-furniture-roscoe/

Taylor Tot (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-14-43

Dear Daddy – Another Sat. not so hot today – no mail but had your Aug. 6 letter on Aug. 12 – I was in town a few minutes this a.m. to get some groc., etc. Saw Lucile with Jimmy Ed – his eczema is about gone. She can put sun suits on him now & not cover his hands. He is a cute little fellow. She still has to be careful about what she feeds him & what he wears – no wool. She loaned me the buggy again – a tire came off David’s and Jimmy won’t stay in the buggy – he prefers the taylor tot – as soon as I get David’s cast off will try him in his taylor tot, but I am afraid he will try to climb out – he does so much reaching and climbing – Dorothy was out to see him this a.m. He was showing a little temper & she told him his Daddy would spank him if he were here. He knows what No! No! means and scolds when we say No! to him. Dorothy Diedam is thru nurses training – at present is home but is to go back to the hospital Sept. 6 in O.B. She came out this a.m. I gave Mother a Vit. B shot Tues. & going to give another today – I hope they help pick her up. Diedam told me Dr. Flack was back in Laf. on leave and another Dr. or two but don’t remember who. Flack had been in Panama. If Cole comes tomorrow he can tell me who has been back. Buddy is here today playing with Mark – they are fishing – It’s a good pastime if not profitable – We never overeat from their catch.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/08/taylor-tot-gladys/

The Romantic Type (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 13, 1943 envelope

: August 13, 1943, p. 1

: August 13, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug. 13, 1943

Dear Mother,

The picture would not be complete unless I told you the laundry got dry yesterday. So that is that for another few days.

You remember I wrote you one day about the topics to write about – Laundry was one, weather was one – mail was one – well I’ve hit laundry pretty hard in the past few days – weather hasn’t come in for much only in an indirect way relative to laundry – at that time I said the mail topic was always good. The topic might be good but the mail is again slow. I believe I forgot to tell you a letter came day before yesterday from E. Towers, Sr. It was written on Jan. 5. Seven months – I haven’t answered it yet. If you see he or the girls you might mention that I received such. I’ll try to answer it someday but writing is really a problem as I’ve so often told you.

If I were the romantic type I guess I’d have no trouble writing to you but you know

[page 2] how that is with me. I’ve read pages of stuff like that there! from boys to wives and girlfriends. Really it’s peculiar how many words there are that, shall I say possibly, sound well that have so little meaning to anyone else except the receiver of the letter – and in some instances I wonder! Some of those letters are fun – shame on me! I think someday I’ll fill a letter to you with the different ways a letter might start. There a lot which I hadn’t thought of, or rather a combination of words that are fitted together to express greetings which are I won’t say sensible but usable.

Now to criticize my own letter – most of it is just plain fitting words together in order to fill up space so that I can say I keep up the habit of writing every day maybe that is being a hypocrite but if we understand each other the hypocrisies (awful big word) are meaningless – anyway il I’ll close and let a lot of meaning be conveyed in

Lots of Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/07/the-romantic-type-roscoe/

Teeth Like Yours (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 13, 1943 envelope

: August 13, 1943, p. 1

: August 13, 1943, p. 2

: August 13, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 13 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another hot Aug. day but a cooling breeze – The upstairs is very comfortable. Just went up to see Mother. She says she hasn’t any pain or soreness in stomach or bowels – but one spot in the bowel is shore – not being a Dr. or knowing too much about the anatomy I would say it is her colin [colon] that is sore. She was a lot of gas but I think that is due to not eating enough solid food. Her diet is more on the liquid order. I feed her the canned foods I give David. At noon I thickened some bouillon and gave you some pudding. She drinks milk every meal. Mrs. Jarrel had a chance to come up yesterday & go back today so she is here. Spent the night and has had a nice visit with Mother. I think your Mother is coming next week. Jaunita is planning to come sometime. I have the idea to let J. stay here and run things a few days and let me get a little vacation – not that I am feeling sorry for myself or anything of the sort but I am beginning to get a little tired and feel I should get away for a change. Dr. Cole said he would take the cast off David’s

[page 2] leg next Sat. – a week from tomorrow – and that will be a relief to me as well as to D. He should be easier to handle then – He is getting a little spoiled as things are now. However he has been very good thru it all. Dr. Cole didn’t make it here yesterday so I suppose he will come Sun. He said either Thurs. or Sun.

Emmett Miller & Olene were at Statons last night – they were going to spend the night and today here but got a call from Emmett’s home to come immediately – his father wasn’t expected to live thru the night. I haven’t heard any further about his father. They think E. will soon be sent out. He is to go to Tenn. next. By leaving so unexpectedly I didn’t get to see them.

Buddy is here this afternoon playing with Mark. Mark had to go to the dentist this P.M. Had one pulled & some fillings. He said Dr. Limp said his teeth are like yours – he can stand to have drilling done – and was he proud to think he is like Daddy about having his teeth fixed. Speaking of teeth – I am going to try & get a good picture of D. now with all his 5 teeth shining – they make him look even cuter – and his hair lays in soft ringlets all over his head – you can imagine the ah’s & oh’s he gets about his hair. Mary Parttens said it was a shame to waste that beautiful hair on a boy but I

[page 3] disagreed with her. I said that was just part of being “David.” Then she said yes it did help to make him cute – She says he is the cutest baby she has ever seen. Listen to the proud mother run on & on.

The detassling camp is broken up – They had some bread left over & Arlene sent the neighbors each a loaf. Bobby delivered. Donnie will soon be big enough to do things. Just think this time next year they should have a baby 8 mo. old.

The breeze seems to have stopped and am I sticky – I had such a big washing today – have to get Mark’s clothes ready to go to camp Monday.

We are to have a black-out next week but think I had better skip lightly over the subject. Just don’t tell anyone I told you.

Mr. Zell has to go with the 4-H group next week – Virginia is going to camp too, Mrs. Zell, Betty & Martha Jane are going to her mother’s so with Mark gone, we should have a quiet time from Mon. till Thurs. When all the children in the neighborhood get together it gets noisy around here.

David has awakened from a nap and John is in talking to him. He should talk early if talking to him will help.

The papers have come this week but I will try to relay the news in the next letter.

Love Mother

Mark (January 1943)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/06/teeth-like-yours-gladys/

Ants in the Pants (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 12, 1943 envelope

: August 12, 1943, p. 1

: August 12, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 12, 1943

Dear Mother,

From where I’m sitting I can see those poor clothes on the line trying to get dry and maybe they will today but they’ve been there since Monday. Maybe I should take them in and hang them around the stove.

Today marks another milestone in this career of mine – Six months ago today I left the last station. At that time six months would have seemed an infinity but looking back now it seems only a short time. Many things have happened since then and I will say the time has gone very rapidly and as pleasurable I’ll sure be pleased.

I don’t believe I’ve ever mentioned it

[page 2] before but we have had open air shows here for the past 3 or 4 months. I haven’t been a very regular attender but went last night and it was Fibber, Molly, Edgar B. and that bunch. It was a pretty good show but not as good as they are over the radio – just a little disappointing. Imagination of characters sometimes is better than the real characters – anyway it was a pretty good evening’s entertainment.

I’ve wondered lots whether Jim has any idea of when or where he may be sent out. Possibly he was just as certain as we are – That is he knew nothing. We all get itchy britches now and then to be on our way to someplace but now since I’ve been away from home I’m getting the proverbial ants but that possible won’t help any.

Love Daddy

Those Two Neighbors (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-12-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Aug. 3-4-5-6 came today and John’s birthday letter & $2⁰⁰. He has written you. Mark wrote you a v-mail Apr. 13 & addressed it wrong & it was returned today – will put it in John’s letter. It is hot today – was cool & cloudy today but now the sun is shining and we are all feeling sticky – all, but D. I don’t believe he minds it much. He just had his 3 P.M. meal & is in good mood. John is practicing the oboe & Mark is out pulling weeds along the driveway. Dr. Cole said he would come today or Sun. but so far he hasn’t come today. Mother is feeling a little better I think – Dr. C. told me to give her Vit. B. shots and I started Tues. If he comes today will have him give the next one. This hot weather makes her feel worse. Dr. Cole said he didn’t think she had carcinoma. He didn’t have x-ray done due to her frail condition but had the lab analysis of her stool. A week from Sat. Dr. Cole said he would take the cast off of David’s leg. He has been good as could be all along. It seemed a shame to put such an extensive cast on for just a crack but I can see it was the right thing to do. Arlene came up and brought Mother flowers this a.m. She has been so good to come & see Mother all along. Zells have been solicitous too – I am glad for those two neighbors – they certainly have been good to us. Mrs. Z. helps out so much when I have to go to Laf. for medicine or take David to the Dr.

Love Mother

Clothes Line Broke (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 11, 1943 envelope

: August 11, 1943, p. 1

: August 11, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 11, 1943

Dear Mother,

As I stated in yesterday’s letter, there wasn’t any mail. It wasn’t too disappointing because after three straight days one hardly expects mail on the fourth day.

One thing you mentioned and I didn’t comment upon was the bill you were going to send Lloyd Tilton. I think that is OK provided you paid Geo. The bill we owed him. You wrote as if you had paid it but you never did say for sure. It would be swell if those things could be collected but I’ve given up hope long ago. I just want you to keep the records so those people can be remembered later on, but why worry about such things now.

This is getting well on with the time of the cast for D. I’ll bet you have a time keeping him off that foot and I doubt if a little weight on it will bother too much. This will of course get there too late for you

[page 2] to get much relief and I suppose you have almost worried yourself sick trying to keep him quiet – but Mother must not worry too much less her features be spoiled – beauty I mean. I’ve had many comments on your pictures. However as you said in most of the snap shots the camera was moved and the pictures weren’t clear, but I can still see you haven’t lost your beauty. I’m not try to be funny – I’m very much in earnest so don’t get me in the dog house with the Mother of my sons.

There is one little wee suggestion I might make for your mother – Ten drops of HCL in water with or after meals – yes, the same that you take for your eczema. Don’t however do it if she is getting better but if her stomach still bothers you might try a dose or two.

This is Wed. and the rain has kept our clothes wet so I’m going dirty because of lack of dry clean clothes – one fellow’s clothes line broke and you should see his sheets & other white clothes –

Space all gone – Lots of love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

T-Bone Steaks (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 11, 1943 envelope

: August 11, 1943, p. 1

: August 11, 1943, p. 2

: August 11, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 11 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had up to July 31 this week. It is hot today – but there is a good breeze. We picked green beans yesterday and canned 8 qts. today – we aren’t thru, but I had to stop & do some other things – one being to feed David – Mark now has him out in the buggy. Sammy & Buddy came to play with Mark. I told Mark he has to take care of David – all three boys are walking up & down the street (sidewalk) – Mark pushing the buggy. At present John is practicing – He just finished sorting music. The new piano bench wouldn’t hold all he had – so he decided to sort out all he doesn’t use & put it away. I have been so busy with the canning & David’s routine I haven’t had time to go upstairs today – I changed the bed before I came down this a.m. so could get the washer going early – John and Mark do the running up & down for me.

[page 2] Buddy was here for dinner. He said they were going with Funk’s on a trip. I suppose they will go some place in Wis. Bill has been so busy with the detassling this year. When it was over Arlene said he was worn out. They kept the boys at the Fairgrounds and this was the most they had had so far. There was a write-up about the camp in Prairie Farmer. They had a broadcast one day from the camp on the dinner bell hour. Bill’s job (one of them) was to see that there was enough food. There was a start of diahrea and he was worried about that, was afraid it would go thru the camp, but got it checked. Mr. Nelson is here now helping on a new elevator for the corn. It is almost due south of us, where the other buildings were built last year.

I sent John to town to get some meat this a.m. – he came back and said the only place he could find meat was Ford’s and they had two T-bone steaks – I sent him back to get them – the two cost .76¢ and took 16 points – We have a few can of salmon on hand so had salmon for dinner – I have some bacon & hens in the locker but won’t use them now – the meat situation may not improve so will save in case it doesn’t. We have beef promised from Parttens when they butcher this fall but might need some

[page 3] before then. Don’t worry about us and out meat problem, because we will get along. I still have chicken your Mother brought up. She may come again and if she does will have her bring more.

Kenneth is home on furlough and he drove the car to take John to T.H. – John said when he got off the bus in Laf. there were two girls who were meeting an uncle and they said “Hello Uncle Roscoe – “ Somehow he laughed about in incident. No offense whatever – I just mentioned it thought you might laugh too.

Mark & his company are in the front yard having some tall arguments. The children like to tell moron jokes. They are always coming in with something new about the little moron. Mark sometimes gets his riddles mixed up & tells us the answer first.

It’s 4 PM and more beans to work on and other things to do so must get busy.
Love Mother