Category Archives: World War II Letters

Smelled Rags Burning (Gladys)

: July 31, 1943 envelope

: July 31, 1943, p. 1

: July 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The last day of July – The folks went home this morning and John went with them to stay a week. Mark and I have to take care of things. After lunch I was all set to take a nap but David insisted on staying awake and is still singing to himself, so thought I might as well write. Dad said he never had seen a better baby than D. He has been very good to have a cast on one leg. I am to take him to see Dr. Cole Mon. I put some fresh tape around on the cast this morning.

Had a letter from Ruthie. Floyd had a nail accident and had to have a tetnus shot and got a reaction from it. It got red and itched terribly. Ruth had a letter from Herschel Steiner.

No letters today but the 28^th got your of the 20^th Also have the big. ck deposited and bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds to make one a month for this year.

[page 2] It is cloudy today and not so hot. It got so hot yesterday, Mother felt it so much. It is quiet around here today so I think she will rest better. There was a lot of confusion yesterday with everyone around & the piano coming. Ruth & Romaine left in the afternoon and Dad, Wilma, John & Mark went along so it was quiet all afternoon yesterday. This morning when Wilma got ready to leave she couldn’t find her coin purse – we haven’t found it yet. Thurs. after the folks arrived they put some things in the garage – among them a package of sheets Mom brought along so I wouldn’t have so many extra sheets with all the company – I told Mark to take a sack of garbage to the furnace I had put in the box by the door – well we couldn’t find the sheets at bed time – you guessed it Mark took the package of sheets and put them in the furnace. We all laughed about it – the best thing to do – besides buying new sheets which I will try to do as soon as possible. Dad was sitting in the yard and said he smelled rags burning.
D. has gone to sleep so think I’ll go try and get some shut eye.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/11/smelled-rags-burning-gladys/

One Year Ago (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 30, 1943 envelope

: July 30, 1943, p. 1

: July 30, 1943, p. 2

: July 30, 1943, p. 3

: July 30 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I remember one year ago today early in the morning, but I’d rather pass that scene rather rapidly because it is a little shall I say saddening – I remember also the hard tiresome ride that day – The longest hardest ride I’ve ever had. I remember the disappointment at not finding Lentz that night. The meeting of he and I next morning & our reporting next day. The the furious next several days – getting this and that etc. And then on the last day meeting Hicky and going to Helen W. and then the long train ride and finally getting aboard ship. The long interesting, tiresome and exciting sea voyage – often talking with Walsh and wondering how long it would be before our letters would get back home and our speculation as to our destination was something to marvel at = for we didn’t know.

[page 2] I remember how when land was sighted we added finishing touches to letters and went ashore. How good the terra firma felt under foot again. The stamp shortage – finally after a few days we were permanently located in a goat pasture. The wild scramble to see as much as could be seen of the Island – Swimming and shell collecting – where was our mail finally after about 1 ½ months our first letters came – but no word of babies arrival. Our first letters came the day he was born, but the news reached me much later. I remember getting settled to the humdrum of routine again – Then the slicing off of our personnel. Friends leaving for different areas – The final disbanding of our unit. Then the drab months with no change in the daily schedule – day after day. Drs. P & W and I trying to amuse ourselves to keep from getting on each other’s nerves and possibly not doing so well at times – but in general doing a good job of it. Then I remember while doing the regular routine one morning a big shot coming in and motioning to me and informing me I had been selected – you can take just enough clothes for a change or two – draw field packs – field rations – first aid kits and numerous first aid bandages and emergency medical

[page 3] supplies – That was something – reactions – excitement, anticipation, responsibility, importance and possibly some fear. I remember as long as the preparations were being made everything was swell but I also remember that letters were hard to write – to crowd out the million and one non writable things and include only the things that would not cause alarm. Those I repeat were hard to write. Finally aboard another ship – maybe the atmosphere a little more tense than then the last ship. We landed a much more interesting historical place this time. Now more days of preparation, and again to sea – another new land – my memory is still good but I’m not at liberty to reveal the entire extent of it. I remember the days spent in the channels around our new home – the jungle trips – The fishing trips – the call it exploring trips. I remember the indescribably non light nights – beautiful tropical moons, and the black nights when one has to push the darkness aside manually

[page 4] in order to get thru. I remember the work to get set up again – The usual long wait for mail – the anticipation and anxiousness as to whether our mail was getting home. I remember the taste of cold spam, cold meat & vegetable hash. The taste of rain water chlorinated. The fun we had with our own laundry our bucket bathes and ofen of necessity our ocean dips. Then I remember our first locally killed fresh beef. The rank taste because of lack of refrigeration and freshness – then one day a fresh onion – Then a fresh egg – not many of them – fresh potatoes fresh apples, oranges and the most exotic thing fresh celery. Never a time when I don’t remember appreciating mail and an equal appreciation of pictures – Then I remember writing a kidding note relative to a picture of my wife in comparison to another officer’s wife and I remember her answer and I hope she didn’t mean it for I was only kidding, and then I remember last night thinking of the wife and of and the mother of R.S. Yegerlehner’s boys – Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/10/one-year-ago-roscoe/

Grand Piano (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 30, 1943 envelope

: July 30, 1943, p. 1

: July 30, 1943, p. 2

: July 30, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 30 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Fri. and no letters – but had several earlier this week and won’ be disappointed about none today & yesterday. Ruth & Romaine went home – Wilma, Dad, John & Mark went along – Wilma driving our car – otherwise Ruth & Romaine would have had to go to Chi. On the bus then down to Wilmington from there on the train – I talked to Ruth M. about getting the piano – she thought it was the thing to do so I had it brought up today – and they took the old piano back so you won’t need to worry about the old piano being in the garage when you come home. It is sitting in front of the French doors and looks very “grand.” I paid 100⁰⁰ down – got $15 for the old piano and had to pay half the hauling which cost me 6⁰⁰ – so I still have 185⁰⁰ to pay – I am going to pay the Ins. loan off when I get a reply to my letter and if I have enough

[page 2] left will finish paying the piano now. Your Mother stayed with David & I while the others went to Ruth’s. I fed David and thought he would go to sleep but he is still awake. We all agree he is very good to be in a cast. He just about manages to sit up and I imagine he will manage to stand before the cast is off. With all the rubber protectors taped on around the edges he is “smelling.” There was a little skunk in the movie “Bambi” called Flower – That was what Ruth said we would be called David before he got the cast off. Dad sat out in the yard with him this morning and would blow smoke to entertain him. David would laugh every time. Dad says he is the best baby he ever saw. He gave him his bottle last night. Mom, Dad, Wilma & John are going home in the morning. I don’t know yet how John will come home but they can take him to T.H. and he can go to either Laf. or Watseka.

Helen Washburn is home for a few days. She lives in Omaha, Neb. Now. I promised to take the baby down to see her tomorrow afternoon She wanted to know if you had seen Hickey.

[page 3] Funks have a camp at the Fair Grounds for the detasslers. Nick is managing the meals. The cooks are from the Frat houses in Laf. (By the way I think most if not all the Frat houses at Purdue have been taken over for Military.) There was a broadcast from the Fairgrounds today – Al Cast, Bill & Carl Funk & Mr. Zell all had talks to give – I don’t know what else I was too busy to know anything of the kind was going on and after it was over John said he knew about it. It was on the Dinner Bell hour. Nick just keeps their restaurant open certain hours now – so he can run the cooking out there. Bill wanted Krulls to go on a vacation with them. Dorothy said if they did they would just close up while they were gone, but so far they haven’t taken said trip.

I hear David still singing – He can reach up and get the bottom of the venetian blind and swing it. I wish he would go to sleep so I could catch a nap but he seems to be wide awake.

After the first of Aug. will give you a financial report.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/09/grand-piano-gladys/

Seven Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 29, 1943 envelope

: July 29, 1943, p. 1

: July 29, 1943, p. 2

: July 29, 1943, p. 3

: July 29, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

July 29, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your letters of July 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 came yesterday late, so I read them very rapidly and then re-read them again this A.M. The comment that you made about the comment that I made about the Commander’s wife – was a little shocking to me – you were just a little short and it made me feel badly but then I got to think you probably weren’t serious and I do hope you didn’t think I was serious and I’ll feel terrible if you don’t send any more pictures. I apologize very much.

There was lots in your letters and af even after re-reading I will probably forget things I thought of commenting on. Glad to hear your mother is better – Her progress will be slow and she will be discouraged very much – but she didn’t get in that condition in a short time and it will take a long time to improve. I feel so helpless trying to do or say anything that will help. I guess the only

[page 2] thing I can say is for her to do what the Drs. tell her. You didn’t mention diet which I think is important – maybe she is on one, at least I think irritating foods should be out of her diet – & that includes – all forms of prepared cereal, all raw vegetables, coffee (That’s a bad one for her). Some tea would be OK, and of course milk is OK, if it doesn’t cause too much gas – In other words it is an individual problem – but I really shouldn’t be giving advice since I’m not in on all the information about the lab work etc – You won’t need to bother about sending the details because it’s too long before I could get any info back to you.

Now about the piano – you are correct – my advice is too long in coming to you but you know whatever decision you arrive at will be OK with me – your judgment Dear is OK on things like that, by now you probably have the check I sent and the finances are OK again. That is you should have approximately 700⁰⁰ come to you by Aug. first – The check I sent and your regular monthly check. That should help you over the hump a little.

[page 3] Really I’m at a loss to know why Mark would want to ac look like me – I guess John has a right to talk and reason like I do. You mentioned a plane flying over each day. That really is a lot for Kentland Ind. but how different things must be in other parts of the world – relative to airplanes flying over.

Got a letter from Joe yesterday and he asked me to check to see if his mail was coming to our P.O. I checked and the P.M. said they had gotten a lot of letters for him but could find no one who knew him so they had been sent back just a day or two ago. So his mail will really be late – You might let Mrs. R. know about that. I’m planning on seeing him in a few days if the plans don’t fall thru like they did a few days ago. He was correct about the description of our location but a lot of hard work had something to do with the appearance of the place – we are really proud of our South Pacific Park.

Sorry to hear about Dave M. Yesterday before

[page 4] your letters came I wrote him – I shall add a note to it before mailing.

You never did mention anything about my Masonic dues – In one of these letters you said you were going to find out about the Rotary dues. I guess that is taken care of by now.

A letter came from Mother yesterday and also one from Boonie – I had just mailed one to Boonie before his came – so if you see him you can tell him our letters crossed on the way. I also wrote to Brewers & Walkups & Ed Johnson. Don’t know why the extra writing I’m going but felt I really should.

It seems a shame to have so much to say in one letter and the others have so little – Don’t ever think your letters are not worth sending – They really mean lots and I know it’s hard for you to work a letter in daily with all the responsibilities you have – and please don’t work too hard – seems to me you have lots of work to do so do be careful. And again I hope you didn’t think I was going anything else but kidding you about the picture.

Lots of Love Daddy

Construction of an airstrip, Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/08/seven-letters-roscoe/

Company Arrives (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 29, 1943 envelope

: July 29, 1943, p. 1

: July 29, 1943, p. 2

: July 29, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Thurs P.M. – no mail this a.m. but have had up to July 20 this week so can expect a few days without mail. Again rec’d ck. and deposited – Bought 7 – $25 bonds and wrote the Ins. Co. for the amt. of loan due on my policy. Will pay that as soon as I get an answer. I think it’s just as well for you to leave the allotment as it is at present & send when you get an extra amt. on hand. I agree you should keep enough to travel on – I certainly would hate to think you had a chance to come home & no money to travel with.

Mark has D. out in the buggy getting some sun. Theresa Ann Lubberty had Donnie in his buggy and she and Mark are talking while the babies exchange toys.

[page 2] Dorothy came out to see D. yesterday – She asked me in a tone full of question if I had written you about D. I said of course, with all details. In case you have missed previous letters she popped off to me about the accident – casting the reflection I had been careless with him. I squelched her right in the start so she doesn’t say any more but from the way she acts would like to. I believe she can be the most unfair about things of than anyone I know. Well enough of that – You will wish I wouldn’t write if I don’t change the subject, but I hardly think she has a right to criticize anyone on child care.

I am looking for your Mother & Dad, Ruth & Romaine to come some time this afternoon. John is making a cake. He has made ice cream & squeezed oranges & lemons for the drink. Mark picked beans & dug potatoes. He brought the potatoes in dirty and I sent him out to the faucet at the east side of the house to wash them – he had the

[page 3] beans in the same pan and I just looked out & saw a pile of green beans on the grass –

Well the co. has arrived. Mom, Dad, Ruth, Romaine & Wilma. Wilma is going to take R. & R. to Wilmington tomorrow in our car. John wants to go home with Grandma so I think I’ll let him go – since Mark is planning a 4-H outing in Aug. My co. are all keeping me with green beans to can so must get the cans ready.

Will write more tomorrow.
Love Mother

Yegerlehner, John with unknown girls - c1934-1935

John with his cousins, Romaine and Wilma, mid 1930s

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/07/company-arrives-gladys/

We The Three of Us (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 28, 1943 envelope

: July 28, 1943, p. 1

: July 28, 1943, p. 2

: July 28, 1943, p. 3

: July 28, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

It seems yesterday was a big day for coconuts to drop because just above where I’m sitting now three plunked on the tent at one time and a little later 4 more all at once – Just happened to think of that while sitting down to write. It sure does make a racket when they come down and stirs up dust and dirt which has been untouched by the black boy.

Our mail seems to have taken a permanent shut off because it has been several days with not so much

[page 2] as an ad for laxative or tooth paste arriving.

We the three of us – Jim unmarried, Geo divorced and myself often have arguments about romance, homes & families and it seems to me I win the arguments as they come up. For example – The topic of breakfast came up. I remarked that with me breakfast was never a heavy meal and often times I would pick up a cup of coffee and toast etc. in town – That to them was unheard of. Geo said that that was one of the requirements that his wife get up and have a huge breakfast ready when he got up regardless – and Jim said he expected the same thing because his mother often brought his coffee & toast to him in bed. My idea was that if the little woman wanted to sleep – give

[page 3] her the break – especially if I had to be up a little early. I can see that Geo. is very much set in his ways about things of that nature and of course Jim just doesn’t know from “nuthin.” My idea is to act to the best advantage under the circumstances at hand and be prepared to see the other person’s viewpoint. The whole point to this is this – I was just trying to tell them what it took to be happily married and I think I have gotten that across many times for several persons have remarked that they sorta envy me because of my family and believe me I’m more than somewhat pleased with the boys and most of all their capable, attractive and sensible Mother. I’m sorry I can make my compliments sound more romantic etc. but you know me anyway I mean well and I hope you are able

[page 4] to interpret the things I’ve written as they were intended to be understood. As you know I’m not a writer of letters which will stir a woman’s heart by romantic phrases and because maybe I haven’t had that gift of gob – many of the men’s in their letters to wives and sweethearts are full of phrases dealing with love, affection and to me other trite expressions but I just can’t put them down to make meaning – maybe things like that are full of meaning and maybe they are meaningless – Let me end this by using this small phrase and truly meaning it –

Lots of Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/06/we-the-three-of-us-roscoe/

Check Received (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 28, 1943 envelope

: July 28, 1943, p. 1

: July 28, 1943, p. 2

: July 28, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 28 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 17-18 & 20 (Thanks for all the compliments I need a few) so you can relax now about the ck. I’ll deposit it this a.m. and figure how to spend it to our best advantage. I think I’ll buy an $18.75 bond for each month so far and pay off the loan on my ins., then put keep enough on dep. to keep our bal. up to 100⁰⁰ and may yet try to buy the piano – I mentioned several times before. However I would like to start paying Ruth & Earl off it I can manage it. Rest assured I’ll try to be sensible about it and not spend any foolishly – I have thought about this piano business for a month and can’t decide what to do – if I could only get a word one way or the other from you. I wrote you about it some time ago so maybe an ans. will be coming thru one of these days.

[page 2] I got your first reply on Mother’s condition. She has decided she will go back to the hospital if it’s necessary – however I am hoping it won’t be necessary. She had a good night last night and it’s cooler today. We had a hard rain and hail that cooled things off yesterday. We were needing rain. The sun was so hot yesterday before the rain the flowers in the yard wilted. I hung sheets out to dry & they were ready to bring in in a short time – It was like an oven out in the yard.

I called your folks last nite & they are coming up Thurs & bring Ruth & Romaine this far. I also called Mrs. R. She doesn’t know yet where Joe is. I shudder to think what my telephone bill will be next time. I must have 8 or 10 calls on it and you know what they mean.

I have hit the jack-pot in letters from you this week – what makes me feel good is to hear you have our letters. I am anxious for you to get the last pictures I sent. Glad you finally got the box I sent in Jan. or Feb.

I must study-up something Mother can eat for lunch – that’s a problem now. Also it’s about time to take care of David

[page 3] Just in case my letters haven’t reached you I’ll repeat again about David’s leg. The femur at the angle was broken – not all the way across and he is in a cast up to his hips. Dr. Cole said he wouldn’t be able to sit but we found him sitting once yesterday. We were eating supper & he was in his bed – we kept running in to look at him and once John went in and he was sitting up in a corner. I don’t think it will hurt the bone but I imagine it wasn’t too comfortable. Hope you have my letters explaining all the details about the fall. David is doing fine and doesn’t mind the cast – he crawls around his bed or pen and plays as before.

John wants to go home with the folks for a week – Mark is booked to go to 4-H in Aug. & John thinks he should have another week too – He said Mark could do a little work around here if he went – I think I’ll get a lot more out of Mark if John is gone – Mark is a lot to “let John do it.” John’s voice is changing – Jim & Thelma noticed it while they were here. There has been so much going on around here I haven’t had time to keep up on outside news.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/05/check-received-gladys/

Poor Construction Engineer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 27, 1943 envelope

: July 27, 1943, p. 1

: July 27, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 27, 1943

Dear Mother,

There is plenty of conversation being passed and I’m not sure what might get into this between the lines. It was a three way conversation and now has grown to a four way. I’ve taken two or three beatings already. One being accused of belonging to the Hebrew race – and the other being as poor construction engineer for the rat trap enterprise. Both arguments were quite much in fun because we never kid anyone

[page 2] about being Hebrew to their face and on the other score the boys were just jealous of my success – you know how that is. These arguments take place very often and the recipient is whomever happens to be the unlucky person.

We are having a piece of tin placed over the screen door to aid in keeping out the rats. I’ve placed lots of emphasis on those creatures lately and rightly so because they can be heard in droves all over the place at night and it’s very disturbing.

Well, I’ll try to do a little better next time but that is what I always say so you have learned not to expect too much by now – I hope –

Love Daddy

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

Third Day in Cast (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 27, 1943 envelope

: July 27, 1943, p. 1

: July 27, 1943, p. 2

: July 27, 1943, p. 3

: July 27, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of July 7-13-14-15-16 and 19 came today. I suppose the 17^th & 18^th will come along in a day or so. Of course the 17^th would be delayed. Jim & Thelma left this morning about 10:30. They are going to T.H. and leave their car & go back by train from there. I think it helped Mother for Jim to be here. I do hope she gets better. When she came up here she notified the Dept. so her pension could be transferred. They came out and wanted a budget so they could make a smaller amt. so I just told them to drop it. I talked it over with Jim & he agreed with me. He & Thelma both said they would help out any time we needed any money. I told them at present it isn’t necessary but should there be future hospital bills I would call on them if necessary. Jim is getting more now that he is a C.P.O. and should I need help from them I won’t hesitate to ask for it.

[page 2] This is David’s third day in his cast. He is doing fine. I took the top off his buggy so he can be taken out in the sunshine for his daily sunning. He is unusually good about it and so far eats as much as ever. I heard the 6 a.m. church bell & he heard it but I dozed off again & he played until almost seven – then I got up & gave him his bottle – glad now I didn’t have him entirely off the bottle – it’s much easier to feed him liquids from his bottle. I think he has gone to sleep now. I thought he would go to sleep much soon but he kept playing in his pen. In spite of the cast he can get around his pen when he wants to. He acted like he was going to pull up on his feet but Dr. Cole said not to let him do that. I had started to break him of sucking his thumb but I won’t try to do it for a while. He has a new tooth – not one of the upper front but the upper left next to the front – The front one next to it is about through – In fact both upper front ones are. I sent a bunch of pictures in yesterday’s letter and hope you get them because I think they are good – however as usual John jarred the camera when he took mine and it’s not so good. Dorothy has a bunch she took with her Kodak and I

[page 3] can’t get the pictures or the negatives so can’t send them. Maybe some day she will get around to getting them for me, but I am not going to ask her any more because I asked her for the negatives and she said she would have Jack Byrnes (the druggist) take them and that’s the last I have heard of them. Dorothy probably is a little peeved at me but I don’t need to do any explaining about her to you. I feel like I have done all I can to keep things straight but I don’t feel I should be reprimanded by her. I told you all about it is yesterday’s letter & hope you have it or get it. I stay home and try to be a good mother to our children (sometimes I wonder how good I do) and I don’t leave them to run around & play cards or do anything else and because of an accident that happens while I am right here, I hardly feel she has any right to tell me I am careless with David. I guess that’s enough of that – I am going to forget it – I have decided as Arlene said the other day you can pay any attention to what people say.

Had a letter from Ruth M. She is in C.C. and Mom suggested she & Dad bring Ruth

[page 4] and Romaine this far and they could go on the bus to Chi – then down to Wilmington. She wanted to know if it would be alright, or if I though company would be too much on Mother – I am going to tell them to come on. When she wrote she hadn’t had time to receive the news about D. I wrote to your mother, Ruth & Ruthie Sunday when I wrote you.

I told you in yesterday’s letter the boys had letters from you but it was from Comdr. Fredericks – two 4^th menu’s and a note written on each noet menu – one for J & one for M. Do you know what he wrote to them? He certainly thinks you are “O.K.” Now beat your chest some more – If you pound it every time I tell you to you may have some knots raise up –

It is hot & humid today. We washed all the white things – Have to keep sheets washed. Tried to buy sheeting in Laf. last Wed. and Loebs didn’t have anything but unbleached. I did buy two ready made ones. Don’t have much washing for D. now but diapers. With the cast on one leg and around his hips I don’t put clothes on him – It seems a shame to have all that cast one for such a tiny break. Jim took some pictures and if he ever sends them I’ll send them on to you.

Love,
Mother

©2014 copyrighted owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/03/third-day-in-cast-gladys/

Rats (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 26, 1943 envelope

: July 26, 1943, p. 1

: July 26, 1943, p. 2

: July 26, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

July 26, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just finished the morning chores and will see how good my letter writing ability will be. To begin with we haven’t had any late mail for some time and I don’t like it, but I guess there isn’t much to be done about the whole thing only wait.

Yesterday while sitting writing a letter a nice juicy rat ran over a brace in the tent and settled comfortably above my head in a misquito netting that had been folded. There was a cleaning rod for a rifle nearby and with a mighty heave with it the rat was stunned enough to so that I was able to get in the finishing strokes. It must have made the

[page 2] entire family very mad because they came in force to heckle us last night. They don’t bother me much but one of our roommates hammers & bangs on the side of the tent and deck keeping himself and everyone awake and really I think the rats are enjoying it for they seem to come back in greater numbers each succeeding night. They probably never heard or seen anything like that in a south Sea Isle before.

Yesterday after writing you I wrote – both Ruths, the folks and uncle Wess. It was a big day and a lot of bunk was thrown out. I still have some I should write today – like the Walkups, Brewers, etc. but I don’t feel in the mood even for a poor letter. I misrepresented things to them, told them it was hard to write to anyone else but you because I could always fill in between in your letters with love making stuff but you know I’m not good at that but I do hope you can read between the lines and sometimes see where I tried to

[page 3] express what I feel – anyway I hope as you said the other day a lot is intimated in
“Lots of Love From Daddy”