Category Archives: World War II Letters

Slow Morning (Gladys)

September 24, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mon. morning –

Dear Daddy –

I haven’t done much so far this morning but make the beds and wash dishes. I was eating breakfast when yours of the 20 & 21 came. David also rec’d a birthday card from Karen Burgee, with a dollar. When Lucile B. was here I had her out one afternoon and said I was going to have a party for David’s birthday and invited Karen if they would still be here, so she wrote a note and enclosed it with the card & dollar. She said it was so cold where she is in Wis., they have had a freeze already. It was so warm here yesterday it was like mid-summer instead of Sept. 23, but it’s raining this morning and it will probably turn cold.

September 24, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] David was up early this morning before anyone else was up. John got up and got his & David’s breakfast. He said David was very windy and kept making up tall tales. With all his new toys he has snitched a bowl from the rack on the drain board and says he is making chocolate. I used paper plates, cups & wooden forks to serve yesterday and I washed the forks and gave them to him to play with. He calls them “boons.”

Here’s hoping that Fleet won’t go out again before you can get a discharge.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/05/slow-morning-gladys/

Listening to the Radio and Reading (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 23, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sept. 23

Dear Mother,

There was no mail today but I did receive the three yesterday so that isn’t so bad. I forgot to say anything about the work on the davenport – Really that sounds like a pretty good high price to pay for a remodeling job and I believe if you could get it into the Den and then see what will happen in the next few months, we maybe can use $100 at a pretty good advantage in places other than on it. That is my feelings right now but you do as you think best.

I’ve spent the entire afternoon listening to the radio and reading. Most of the fellows here went to a football game so I took the convoy duty for a (jg) so he could go. I’d rather just sit and listen. The crowd was about 60,000 and the only way we had of getting there would be street car and I don’t like that way of getting around.

I’m hoping that something will come thru this week – I mean in the way of orders. This is really getting monotonous. I heard a little scuttlebutt that on the 15 of Oct. the points would be dropped to 55, and that would be a big help,

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and that reminds me about what you wrote about Bill F. and what he could do. I still don’t believe I’d like that kind of help right now because they sometimes like to throw too much power around and it might back fire.

The show last night was “I Love a Band Leader” with Phil Harris. That was the first time I had seen him and I was rather disappointed in his looks. He should be on some tooth paste program because of that pseudo smile or rather it appeared to be pseudo. The show wasn’t bad, however, Rochester was good. I suppose I’ll go tonite for lack of something more exciting to do.

You must have made pretty good time getting home last Monday. I was just about getting to Liberty, Mo., when you got home but I guess I wrote that before. It just didn’t seem possible we could have gotten there that fast. The Dr. that was with me and went on to Maryland isn’t back yet. Commercial air is most difficult to obtain and naval air probably doesn’t do in the area he went to. He probably will get by OK but if many more do that it will cause all these leaves to be cut short.

Well, Dear, I’ll have to get to the office so solong,
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/04/listening-to-the-radio-and-reading-roscoe/

David’s Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 23, 1945, p. 1

9-23-45

Dear Daddy –

The party is over and we have had a little supper. We put David to bed before we ate because he ate ice cream & cake and drank punch and then after refreshments he kept eating candy so I didn’t even try to get him to eat supper. We just had some ice cream & cake that was left – I snitched a sandwich but J. & M. didn’t want anything else. Dorothy came out early – they had to go to Chicago this afternoon – and brought David’s gift. She had Lucile Jones bake him an angel food besides. I put the birthday trimmings on it. I baked one too but it didn’t look as smooth as the one Lucile made. I asked Dorothy about ice cream and since the drug stores are closed Sun. afternoons, she had Betty Lou bring the ice cream out from the restaurant before they left for Chicago. I was afraid it wouldn’t keep in the frost chest if I put it in last night. Arlene overslept so she didn’t get here with her youngsters until the party was nearly over, but since we had two cakes, I sent cake home with her and gave the children their favors. I fortunately found some candy that was wrapped individually and different shapes so it made nice favors. Altogether David received $5.00 and several nice toys and a pr. of corduroys. Lucile gave him a telephone with a dial that works – it looks like a real phone. It was quite popular with all the children. Arlene brought a little pull toy – a wagon with two hares that bob up and down like the push toy I got for him. She also gave him the corduroys. Statons brought a pull toy and

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a set of graduated blocks. Dorothy gave him a Mickey Mouse toy that turns somersaults. He likes cards so much and seemed to enjoy his cards very much. Mark gave him a magic slate this morning and he was quite delighted with it. John gave him a card with a dollar. When he saw the bill I said, “What is that?” He answered “Money.” He put his pennies in the birthday offering and planted three flags in the sand. He is so much more grownup acting than the little Smith boy (McCloud) who is just a day or two younger, but David has been with J. & M. whereas the Smith children are younger. I had the boys bring up that old play table from the basement and with a good dusting off and a white table cloth it served perfectly for the little folk to eat their refreshments. Also brought up that old bench and with a covering it served for chairs. Martha, Myra & John Hufty, Jimmy Ed and David had a good time at a table by themselves. John, Mark, Jimmy, Betty & Virginia were seated in the den at a card table and the mothers were seated at the dining room table. I placed the play table by the south dining room wall so the mothers could keep track of the children. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The children played with the toys and the mothers visited. After the rain and cool weather yesterday it was so warm today we stayed out in the yard except when we came in to eat. It has been warmer today than it has been for some time.

Mrs. Washburn in Club President this year and is having the opening meeting at her home in the country. Lucile dropped club so said she would keep David for me. I told her I was planning to go. I kept Karen & Jimmy not long ago and she said she would keep David for me sometime.

September 23, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Dorothy didn’t get to go to Laf. last week so she said today she is planning to go sometime next [week]. They are serving Rotary Thurs. evening. Nick served them Thurs. noon last time, but they would rather have evening meetings. John & Gladys are opening Wed. this week. I wonder if Rotary will go there. It’s a cinch John will have all the business he can handle – so maybe he won’t want special dinners.

John is doing homework and keeps asking me for words. Mark said he had a headache and wanted an aspirin but I told him I didn’t think he needed one – so he went out of doors and came back in much improved, he says.

So far my thumb is still stiff – It seems to have affected the joint. The allergy is gone and it’s about all peeled off but I can’t bend it very far. I can use it but without bending it much. Jimmy had another attack of asthma and Lucile thinks it was caused by red beans. She said they had chili for supper and that night Jimmy began to stop up – the next day he was in the kitchen and ate two red beans she was preparing for lunch. She said while chewing the second one he began to cry and said it burned his mouth and wanted to spit it out – He had a severe attack after that. In checking back Lucile said they had had beans before another attack of asthma he had.

David was so tired I think he must have gone right to sleep. I haven’t heard a sound out of him since he went to bed. John decided this was a perfect day for the birthday. It has been warmer than any Sept. 23 in the past 3 years. I remember last year it poured down rain in Mo.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/03/davids-birthday-gladys/

Illinois vs. Pittsburg (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 22, ‘45

Dear Mother,

Three letters today – Sept. 18, 19, 20. Now maybe that the mail has started it will keep coming regular.

Right now we are listening to the Ill.-Pitt. football game. It is 1230 and it is almost at the half. There was a game in Berkeley this PM which we could have attended for free but I decided I’d rather listen on the radio and not have to buck the crowd, etc.

Well, we had another gossip visit at Stanich’s last night. We had meat loaf, baked potatoes, etc., a very good meal and I really enjoyed it. Mrs. Stanich said she would like to have you come out which sounds like a good idea but I’m not so sure it is practical at present. There is no news as to orders, etc. Of course, I think I wouldn’t forget to mention things like that.

I was glad to get all the news from home in your letters – What was Mr. Smith doing when he fell? Some people I would have been suspicious but not Smith.

I suppose it would just be our luck to have the oil strike cut off the oil supply just about the time we get the oil installed. Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as the newspapers here make it, at least, I hope not.

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I’m try to listen to the game and concentrate on writing but I’m not having too much luck at either. You can substantiate the writing angle – I should wait until after the game but I’m afraid it would be too late for the mail. It is just now time out in the game so if I hurry maybe I can get a few thoughts in.

One of the Drs. here wondered if there was any athletic gear we might use. I looked at him with a very disgusted look and he said we don’t all creak like you do. Seems as if I’d heard things like that before but it makes no difference to me “I yam what I yam.” I suppose Mark is listening to Great Lakes or some of the local games. I just heard Ind. is ahead of Mich. This radio seems to be doing pretty good even though I haven’t gotten a longer areal.

Bill Stern announcing the fame said it is raining in Ill. We had a fairly heavy rain this morning, the first I’ve seen since coming here. It was really more than one of those heavy fogs, and strangely enough, there hasn’t been any fog for a couple of days, but it has been rather cool.

Well, I hope I have a few little things in this letter other than football – I was glad to hear you say or rather write that you had a good time over the weekend. It sure was mutual and I’m looking forward to better times –

Love,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/02/illinois-vs-pittsburg-roscoe/

Office Plans (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

9-22-45

Dear Daddy –

It is a rainy Sat. We have been cleaning the house getting ready for David’s party. I washed the wall in the hall where I had used the paint and it washed nicely. The dirt came off easier with a brush. I am not planning to paint the hall now because it looks good enough as is. Will just wait until spring and maybe we can have a painter do the whole house. David rec’d a birthday card from Sherill Thrailkill and one from Ruth & Floyd. John asked David what he wanted for his birthday and he said a card, so John is going to give him a dollar with a card. Mark got a magic slate for him. Lucile bought a telephone for him one time while we were shopping together in Laf. I got the horses for him but he found it and has played with it two weeks. I thought I would buy him a wagon – there is a war model at the variety store, but Norma gave him the old tin wagon their girls had – she says they don’t play with it. Dorothy never did make the trip to Laf. so I didn’t get a chance to shop there. John wanted me to go today but I have been so busy getting ready for the party and since it has started to rain would rather not make the trip.

The boys are listening to a football game but there is quite a lot of static (Illinois & Pittsburg at Champaign).

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Just heard Ind. is leading Mich. 13-0 at first half. J. & M. went to the ball game here last night. Mark got to play in the 7^th & 8^th grade game. John asked him who won and he said it was a tie. I stayed at home and knitted. I started Bobby Krull’s snow suit. I finished the jacket & cap and Dorothy seemed well pleased. She is still having some cold, but was downtown yesterday afternoon.

I went to Cosmopolitan club yesterday at Mrs. Harry Hufty’s and met Phyllis Merrill’s mother. She said she had met me once before in C.C. I attended a Past Matrons meeting at Mrs. John Gilsons – (you remember or do you). Mr. Gilson works for the Lbr. Co. in C.C. I remember attending the meeting, but don’t remember Mrs. Merrill. There were a number of people there from Hymera.

John Krull is having his opening the 26^th – pretty good time after the fire. He should have plenty of business – especially at noon, since Nick still closes from 11 to 3. The Nu-Joy site is about cleaned off. Just curious to see if they rebuild there.

You said something about a central hall thru the back room – I still think the hall at the west side would be better because it would lead directly to the door that goes over into the room back of Mildred’s place. I am enclosing two plans, and you can see there would have to be a turn in the hall if it goes thru the center.

David is cutting waste paper to amuse himself – it’s hard on him to stay in – he seems to be the outdoor type.

Love,
Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/01/office-plans-gladys/

A Letter From Mom (Lovina)

1 Reply

September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 22

Dear Roscoe,

Well how are you? Hope you [are] well and can come home soon. I baked a cake this morning to take to the church tomorrow. They have the homecoming. I don’t feel very much like working. I’ve not felt very good for a while. I had rheumatism or something in my right ankle about all week. I could hardly walk but is better now. Pop is out fixing fence.

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] They round Doyle Cordell. They say he is alright and well. Willis is with him. I don’t know where he was but he is Manilla now. You might get to see him when he comes through there and Hershel Steiner is on his way home. He was in Okinawa. He wrote the 5^th of this month he would leave the 7. He is in the 34 Batt. Minnie told me yesterday evening his folks didn’t know where he was till now. Don Kirkling was gone so long before Minnie heard from him. He was in Norway and Scotland.

September 22, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] He thought he would soon be back over here. Ralph is laying the brick for his hen house. Clarence has some of his soybean down. It’s been so cloudy and rainy can’t put them up. If we know you were at Kentland last Sunday some of us would of come up. I have my canning all done. We haven’t had any frost yet but it’s been pretty cool. I must get my dinner ready, want to go to town this after

September 22, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] noon. We had our dinner for town.
Love Mom

[Editor’s note: Doyle Cordell was reported missing in March 1943 while serving in the Philippines.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/31/a-letter-from-mom-lovina/

You Must Do This Again Soon (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 21, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 21, 1945, p. 1

Fri. Sept. 21

Dear Daddy –

I dated yesterday’s letter the 19^th so consider it the 20^th – if you can tell which one dated the 19^th was the 20ths. It is very nice today. Just hung out a washing and David is out on the front sidewalk playing with an old trike Mrs. Z. loaned. He doesn’t use the pedals yet but it’s a little hard to propel that way. So far he just puts his feet on the ground and pushes along that way. I am sure there are no trikes on the market yet – If there were I would get him one for his birthday. Yours of the 18^th & 19^th and David’s came. I read him the letter and he enjoyed the faces. We put the money in his piggy bank – (sticking out) and I put the bank up where he couldn’t get it. I’ll put the money in something he needs for his birthday. If Dorothy wants me to go to Laf. today I may find something down there. She may have called while I was out hanging up the clothes, but otherwise I haven’t heard from her about going. I called her last night to tell her I have Bobby’s snow jacket & cap finished but Betty Lou said she had gone to the show with Nick, so her cold was better (I would think).

The mornings seem to go so fast. It is 10:55 and that means time to start lunch. They aren’t going to like it but they get leftovers in meat. I baked a peach cobbler yesterday and Mark said, “You must do this again soon.” John was telling me about a conversation with Miss Sizelove – she said Mark had made a B on a test and was well pleased. She said he could have made an A if he had tried. She insists that he has a good mind, if he would use it – in other words, he is a little lazy.

September 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Gail Dye told me yesterday that she is to meet her husband (Sat. I think) in Chicago. He is to go to Camp Atterbury for his discharge and that it that. It’s been nearly two years since he was home – a year ago Christmas for 10 days. Well his long term away is about over and he can resume his regular work. I didn’t ask her any questions, but they own a home in Valpo so they may go back there to live.

Jimmy Ed is having asthma again. Lucile & Karen both have colds – there seems to be quite a cold epidemic around – just hope I don’t get it – not with my sinus – the way it can act at times. My thumb is in the peeling stage now and very tender where the new skin is exposed. I still can’t bend it very far, but it doesn’t bother me.

Our first light bill came and it $2.91 for 13 days. There is a charge of $1.95 for the stove switch but I think the electric part is about the usual amount – according to the way our bills always run.

I still have a washer of colored clothes to run, so I must run and get lunch – however I am not going to hurry as much as I sound like. The boys helped me change the beds this morning before we came down so I haven’t had to do any big rushing.

Love,
Mother

George Wingfield Jr. Gets A Discharge (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 20, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 20, 1945, p. 1

20 Sept. 45

Dear Mother,

Well I spend last eve with the Stanichs and I was afraid I’ll wear out the welcome but now they insisted I come out for dinner Fri. eve. He is coming after me again. They are perfect strangers to this town and I think have no social life so they appreciate someone even me. I found out last night that Geo. Wingfield is now a civilian and is back in Reno. Got out on the points. It seems Geo. was in some time and of course has a daughter so all in all he had enough points. Stanish has enough points but his C.O. claims he is too valuable to release just now so he is waiting – just like the Drs.

Drew Pearson had another article in his comments again today – more power to him. Maybe something will get stirred up.

Back to the Stanich people – we just sit and talk and the time seems to fly. Vince and I have a couple of drinks and then about midnight Mrs. fixes some coffee, cheese, etc., and then he brings me home. Not too exciting by but it does get one off the hill for a few hours. They never mention playing bridge, poker, etc., so I don’t [know] whether they do those things or not.

One (jg) got orders yesterday but that seems the entire extent of the pack. The scuttlebutt is

September 20, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] now that the third fleet is coming in and we are to be used as replacements. That may or may not be true but if things hold off for a few weeks or months maybe I can talk them out of sending me out.

No mail so far but I hardly expected any this early – I believe there should be a letter tomorrow, at least I hope so.

Our patients are very few again – Right now we have just about as many as Drs. I won’t even be able to take a draft if more don’t come because there won’t be enough to make up one car load.

Kenney left Monday for some place near Japan. I talked with a friend of his who is leaving for the same place tomorrow. I imagine he will enjoy that kind of work. They are going to set up a small dispensary for a recreational center.

Well, with all this monotony there is darn little to write about. But one thing is sure, orders of some kind will have to come thru in time. They can’t just let us sit here indefinitely, or at least I think they can’t.

Lots of Love,
Daddy

[Editor’s Note: George Wingfield, Jr., was an important enough person in the Reno community that his discharge made the local papers. Follow the link to read one article.]

Strings Attached (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 19 (or 20), 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 19 (or 20), 1945, p. 1

9-19-45 [sic 20?]

Dear Daddy –

After a warm day yesterday we had a thunderstorm last night. It is sunny today and brisk after the rain. David is playing out in the sunshine and getting along very well by himself. Martha doesn’t come over so much. He is learning to grab and hold on and when he doesn’t give up to her she tells him she will go home if he isn’t nice to her. This morning he didn’t seem to mind her leaving. He stayed with me in the kitchen while I was getting lunch ready. I had to go get groc. before lunch. Saw Dorothy and she was still not so good. She said she needed a good Dr. I also saw Geneva Simons and she said they had all had the flu and I asked if they had ever had the baby’s tonsils taken out – she said no, they were waiting for you to come back.

The Gas Co. sent us our meter refund less the $1.53 – guess they woke up after so long. They hadn’t rec’d my not when this was mailed. The whole amt. was $8.36 – less $1.53 – ck. for $6.83.

Had a letter from your Mother. Our letters crossed too. I had written her Tues. Uncle Wes wrote her that you were coming home so she knew something about it before getting my letter.

Last night Arlene called me and asked if I could come down. Bill was out of town but came home while I was there. He said they got Dale Jones discharged. However he had been in the Army 3½ yrs. with 23 months overseas.

September 19 (or 20), 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Bill had been in Indpls. Yesterday and had called on the Gov. He said the Gov. didn’t get up to the Lodge with Ira Dixon’s party – but Bill said a number of his “Henchman” did. (That’s what he said.) Bill seems to think he could so something. However I told him I didn’t think so. Anyway I would rather just wait – because thinking of the past, people around here didn’t think much of the trips to Wash. to keep certain corn men out of service. I think you have expressed the same feeling in the past – just wait and get out on your gown then no strings attached. I think some people would enjoy reminding you that they had done so much for you. What am I yapping about? You haven’t suggested anything like that.

The Nu-Joy wreckage is getting cleaned up fast. They were burning some of the debris yesterday and there was such a high wind, they had to call the fire dept. So much of the equip. that wasn’t entirely burned was moved up to the Nu-Joy hotel or barn.

David is pestering around so I must go out in the yard with him (as promised).

Love,
Mother

Birthday Greetings (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 19, 1945

Letter transcription:

19 Sept. 45

Dear David,

I’m sending you a little birthday present. Hope you can find some use for it. It is not as much as I give the older boys but maybe you don’t need as much. I’d like to be there and help you celebrate but it doesn’t seem possible just now but maybe you and John & Mark & Mother and some of the kids in the neighborhood can celebrate. Hope I can be with you on your next birthday.

Lots of Love,
Daddy