Category Archives: World War II Letters

You Look Thin (Gladys)

: May 31, 1943 envelope

: May 31, 1932, p. 1

: May 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of May 18 & 19 came this a.m. As yet the 100⁰⁰ check hasn’t come, but sometimes a letter or two is slow in coming and I’ll look for it this week. Of course that one would be slowed up. You mentioned in your letter of May 17 the 16^th should come a little faster – well it hasn’t come yet so however you mailed it didn’t help the speed any.

It rained yesterday but has been clear enough today to dry clothes. I am entertaining the S.S. class this evening and we are going to do Red Cross sewing, so I feel like it will be time well spent.

[page 2] The house is cleaned and ready but the meeting isn’t until 8 P.M. so I still have time to do a few things I want to get done today.

The boys & Zell girls have David out in his buggy. He likes to be out of doors. I left off one bottle today. When I fed him at 2 P.M. he drank his milk from a cup after eating his fruit & vegetables. His second tooth is coming thru today and he is inclined to be a little touchy, but not bad.

I am looking at the last picture you sent and I mentioned I thought you looked thin – and in one of your recent letters you said you had lost 10 lbs. Well, I suppose the weather isn’t the kind to give you an appetite. When you get back you can pick up all you have lost and more too. As for me I weigh about 102 – but feel good so don’t worry about not tipping the scales at 110 –

I’ll have to see what is going on outside, and send Mark to the P.O.
Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/13/you-look-thin-gladys/

Another Sunday Morning (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 30, 1943 envelope

: May 30, 1943, p. 1

: May 30, 1943, p. 2

: May 30, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Another Sunday morning rolls around and I can’t see any difference in this one and numerous ones that have passed before – Just hot and damp.

I wrote Boonie and Bob Hufty yesterday and there was a little drip in the tent and both got wet but I think they will dry by mail time. However wet seems to predominate around here. There was a spot just above my face

[page 2] in the tent and on numerous occasions I was awakened by a drip drip in my face. The only thing to do was to get up and move – Yesterday I had a very bright idea. I chewed up several cakes of gum and repaired the said hole – and after a little downpour last night my repair job was perfect.

Just got a letter from Mom with lettuce, radish, turnip and carrots seeds. So my gardening will soon start. Seems as if I get letters from everyone but

[page 3] you. Her letter was dated May 8. And was an air mail with 12 cents postage. Anyway I’ll be in the garden business before very long. However the crabs and other vermine might beat me to the garden

There is still a possibility that more mail will arrive. Usually the v-mails are the last to be delivered.

Well, I must write the folks so solong.
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/2014/07/12/another-sunday-morning-roscoe/

Croquet (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 30, 1943, p. 1

: May 30, 1943, p. 2

: May 30, 1943, p. 3

: May 30, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 30 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

This is a lazy Sunday. It was warm & humid this morning and about 1 o’clock the rain started. The first since last Tues. The farmers have had a chance to do a little plowing if not all. Last night the Funks were plowing corn ground. I drove Bill’s car and Arlene took him a lunch to the field. He was plowing close to his father’s house. I wanted to drive our car but they insisted I drive theirs. It seemed harder to handle – and I still prefer a Ford. Arlene’s sister Loray has been here visiting, so she went with us. Also John went with us, tho it was late for him (10:30 when we left). I was a little sleepy myself this morning when I had to get David’s

[page 2] 6 a.m. bottle. He was right with the Sunday morning bells. After I had fed him I wanted to sleep and Mother was up by then so they she took him down to the ‘nursery.’ I didn’t get up until time for the family to go to church. I was tired from yesterday’s activities. I helped some in the garden, but it was cloudy and the garden needed cultivating and Mark needs supervision when he works in the garden. John helped too so we got along fine. Mr. Zell helped then Mark helped him in his garden. We planted some corn & beans & set out 12 tomatoe plants. I didn’t think it was necessary for us to raise so many tomatoes, but do want to can a few quarts. We will soon have lettuce & spinach. Are having radishes & onions now. Now that is [it] has rained today there won’t be any garden work for a few days, but the lawn will need to be mowed tomorrow or next day.

[page 3] Since Mark couldn’t play out this P.M. he decided to bake a cake. He is now cleaning up the mess & sampling his product. I am afraid there won’t be much left if he keeps on tasting.

David was out so much yesterday, but has to stay in this afternoon. I had him out this morning a while. He is so tan – his hands and feet are as dark as his face – Mary Parttens stopped a while yesterday and said he was the best looking baby she had ever seen. I said she had had two but she said they were fair and she thinks a dark skinned baby the best looking. She said he looks like you. He is a little hard to handle this afternoon – he wants to go out in his buggy.

John and Mark had to work most all day yesterday and were planning to play croquet this afternoon, now the rain has changed their plans. They can play with partners – The two

[page 4] older Zell girls like to play too so they have games all the time.

I saw Ellsworth taking Eddie Ray for a ridge one evening. Irene took Jimmy to see him while he was still in bed. He doesn’t remember anything about his fall or why he has been in the hospital. I think he seems normal otherwise.

Oveta Culp Hobby, 1942 (Image from the Library of Congress)

There is a radio program on now taking a group of W.A.A.C.’s into Service – They just took the pledge. Mrs. Cal Hobby just gave a short talk.

I think Nick’s idea of joining the Navy must be out – because he was to take a final exam – and I don’t think he took it. Also they are having some remodeling down on their house – Having a bathroom put in downstairs. They got the buffet & china closet we had in the basement to put their dishes in – due to tearing out that pantry to make room for the bath.

The rain is still coming down rather fast – like it may last for a while. It is 4 P.M. – and I can’t figure where the time went (or how).

Love – Mother

William E. Funk family – c1960

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

George Wingfield, Jr. (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 29, 1943 envelope

: May 29, 1943, p. 1

: May 29, 1943, p. 2

: May 29, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 29, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Just looked at the calendar and decided that if the Indianapolis races were to be held this year it would be day after tomorrow but since they aren’t being held I guess that particular date doesn’t mean any more than any other day.

A letter came from Ruth Y yesterday eve, just telling of their move and a little gossip at the end about Dr. Bond and his office girl which didn’t impress me in any way whatsoever. I guess things

[page 2] like that happen often and whenever they do there is always much talk – regardless of the truth.

It was cool enough for a while last night that I used the sheet and bed spread – maybe that is a sign of winter – However, this A.M. it’s as hot and sticky as ever.

The commanding officer asked me this morn. where I’d like to spend the weekend. I told him I’d like to go the beach and camp out for a night or two. That was the end of the conversation.

Yesterday I told of having eggs for breakfast – well it was different this A.M. – beans and toast. What a meal! I think however we will

[page 3] have cuttin meat today maybe twice. Sure hope there are some of those potatoes left so that we can have French fries. Here I go into the food subject again. It always starts in the conversation as – “How would you like to have a big think steak” and then all the elaborate trimmings that one ever heard of to be added.

Well, I hope some mail gets thru in a day or two –Ruth M & Ruth Y’s letter were both dated May 10. Which is four days later than yours.

So Long
Love Daddy

_________________________________________________

Although this letter does not mention Roscoe’s tent mate George, his initials appear on the envelope as the naval censor. At this point, Roscoe has dropped enough clues about his friend George that I have been able to figure out who he was. George Wingfield, Jr. was born 5 May 1914, and died 11 November 1987. He was the son of George Wingfield, Sr. and his wife Maude A. Murdoch. George Wingfield, Sr. was a very powerful and important person in the history of Nevada. In 1993, University of Nevada history professor C. Elizabeth Raymond published her book George Wingfield: Owner and Operator of Nevada. By the 1940s, the two Georges were co-owners of at least two hotels in Reno. In February 1943, Ensign George arrived in the Russell Islands with Roscoe on the U.S.S. John Penn.

Navy Muster Roll of the U.S.S. John Penn, from February 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/10/george-wingfield-jr-roscoe/

Storm Windows (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 29, 1943 envelope

: May 29, 1943, p. 1

: May 29, 1943, p. 2

: May 29, 1943, p. 3

: May 29, 1943, p. 4

: May 29, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy – Yours of May 18 came this a.m. – There are several earlier in May that haven’t come yet – The check for 150⁰⁰ came but as yet not the 100⁰⁰. So far all you letters have come so I suppose those in May that haven’t will be trailing in in a day or two. It is a “delicious” summer morn. I called Geo Sammons (Jr) and he promised to come take our storm windows down, wash windows and put in screens. I had to hammer most of the windows out – still swollen from all the rain we have had. It is warm enough now we need the screens in the bedroom windows.

John & Mark have gone to town on Mark’s bicycle. John’s new lenses came and he went to

[page 2] Mr. Reinard to get them put in. I told you before his new lenses are reduced in strength. Mark is going to bring groceries home for me. He enjoys that bicycle as much as anything he could have.

I took David to Cosmopolitan Club yesterday – He was admired and fussed over – but he got tired of society – but by the time it was time to go, so I went to town (the meeting was at Mrs. Matthews). I went past Johnsons and stopped to see Jimmy Ed. He is better one day and worse the next. They have to keep his arms and legs covered all the time to keep him from scratching. He is pretty good thru it all. His hair is coming back in so maybe he won’t be bald now. It isn’t as pretty bright red as when at first. When they came home from the hospital his hair was long and he had an abundance. David started singing and it scared Jimmy and he cried. David gets rather loud sometimes. I hear him now – he is just waking from a

[page 3] nap and it is about time for a bath & breakfast (10 a.m.). Yesterday he threw up his orange juice so I didn’t give him any today. His second tooth isn’t quite thru yet. Just had to stop and give him some attention. He is now in his play chair chewing on a wooden doll toy.

You inquired about the bank acc’t. We have a bal of 197⁰⁰ right now, but will will get 200⁰⁰ the first of June – of course the bal now includes the 150⁰⁰ I got the first of the week. All bills are paid except the insurance prems. That will come quarterly – I mean we haven’t any outstanding bills, such as coal, clothing, etc. I was looking for a piano and the music shop at Laf. sent me a card about a grand they had so when I took John & Mark to Laf. Wed to see Drs. Ade and Cole I stopped in to see the piano but they didn’t have it there yet – I was afraid I might spend the $150⁰⁰ for that instead of paying the Ins loan but don’t worry. I’ll try to do the best

[page 4] thing with our money. The cost of eating, clothing and everything in general is so much higher that there isn’t much left from the 200 per. So far I have managed O.K. but haven’t bought any bonds this year so far. I’ll try to get started again and get at least an 18.75 each month, but the extra I bought in Dec. should be counted as our monthly buy up until now. (6-$50). I feel we are going our share, but I suppose we mustn’t stop at that – We should all do more than our share – well so much for the lecture. I bought some meat at the store for the first time today – but now when we came home and stopped at Brands they didn’t know just when we could get a quarter beef and I want to get the benefit of the tickets due today.

A lot of work is going on just now – the Sammons & Shuster boys are working on the windows.

David is out in the yard singing in the sunshine.

(over)

Love Mother

Just reread your letter – Joe R. was in New C. when Mrs. R. last heard from him & he was headed – he presumed in your direction.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/09/storm-windows-gladys/

Some Extra Work (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 28, 1943 envelope

: May 28, 1943, p. 1

: May 28, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

May 28, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

I’m a little late this A.M. due to some extra work and I may have to cut this short. One letter from you John and 3 from you came this A.M. but they were all old letters Apr. 24, 25 & 29 – was glad to get them of course but would appreciate later ones more – one came from Ruth M. yesterday. It was dated May 10 – a v-mail. I think I mentioned in yesterday’s letter to keep writing some v-mails along with regular air mail.

This A.M. for breakfast we really had a treat – Eggs – sunny side up and bacon. Seems as if one

[page 2] of the fellows did a good job of procuring. We had only 18 eggs so only 9 of us got to share in the ordeal. That’s the first since early in Feb.

Just let one of the fellows have John’s letter to read – he hasn’t made any comment yet only on the party where he said only educated people liked the oboe.

Well, I must get going will write more tomorrow –

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/2014/07/08/some-extra-work-roscoe/

Ration Book 3 (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 28, 1943 envelope

: May 28, 1943, p. 1

: May 28, 1943, p. 2

: May 28, 1943, p. 3

: May 28, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 28-1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters so far today, but 3 came yesterday – the latest being dated May 17 – The second check hasn’t come yet but will probably come in a day or so. Your letters all come, tho some get delayed. I am sitting on the front step writing so I can keep David in the sun. Mark has gone to 4-H Baking class. He took ingredients for a “one egg wonder cake.” John has to practice on the oboe. He has to play it in the band for the Memorial day ceremonies and he hasn’t played it yet in the band. He just got it a short while before school was out and has been learning to blow it. It doesn’t sound as well alone as the sax. I told him it sounds like a snake charmer. I suppose Mr. Webster thought the best way to break him into the band with it was to tell him he had to play at certain time.

I talked to Dr. Cole Wed. about Mark – in fact took Mark along and he thinks his tonsils should come out. This is a repeat in case the previous letters are lost or delayed.

[page 2] I thought the sooner the better and next week would be as good a time as any. Probably will be over it and entirely recuperated by the time you get this.

David has turned over in his buggy – that is why someone has to watch him all the time. He won’t stay put. His second tooth is about to come thru. I gave him orange juice again this morning and about an hour later he thru it up. I keep trying but he throws it up nearly every time. I still give him vit C and he gets canned fruit. He can’t take tomatoe juice either. His bowels are always more or less loose, so can’t give him prunes or juice. I tried giving him potatoe to tighten things up but he doesn’t eat them so well. He gains about a lb a month now – he is so active he works off his fat. He isn’t thin by any means – weighs 19 lbs now at 8 months – but is 29 inches long. He is very tan now and we keep him in the sun as much as I think he needs to be. Sometimes I manage to get him to take a nap in the sun. I get him out of doors more than Arlene gets Donnie out and yesterday her sister was here and said she couldn’t get over how tan David is – Donnie looks a little pale beside him.

Had to stop and put D. back in his

[page 3] Buggy – he was crawling out. Mrs. Zell loaned me a harness to secure him to the buggy and I think I’ll have to use it. John had a “fit” at such an idea but I asked him if he wanted David to fall out on his head – then he decided it would be better to use the harness. It sounded a little horsy to him.

Mark just reported home with his cake – came home proudly reporting he made it entirely without help from the instructor (Mrs. Rupp). It was a success and he is so thrilled. It is nearly time for the next sugar coupons and it’s a good thing with all the baking the boys want to do. They are cake eaters. I have managed to save from our sugar enough to make some preserves & jelly. The boys really missed their spreads this year and I want to get some made this summer. There won’t be much fruit to can I am afraid. The winter was so long and hard there probably won’t be any peaches at all around here. Clara M. has a strawberry patch and we are to get our berries there if she has any.

We have to apply for the third ration book. It has to be in by June 30 but I am going to mail ours today. I don’t

[page 4] know what book 3 will be for but tickets from no. 1 are about gone.

I had John put some clothes to wash and I think they are probably ready to hang up now. The sun is so hot today they will soon dry. I want to get our storm windows taken down. It has turned so warm we need the screens in the bedroom windows. The storm windows have been so swollen from all the rains we haven’t been able to pry them open but this heat will soon do the trick. I think we are going to have summer all at once.

I hear the boys coming up from the basement – sounds like I will have to get busy and hang up clothes or see about something for lunch. We are out of potatoes. The last I bought cost .75¢ ½ peck, but I think I’ll have to break down and buy more. We can’t do without meat and potatoes both – not that we are trying to do without meat but have been trying to use less.

My head feels like it is baked so think I’ll have to go in the house. David has decided to climb out of his buggy again – will have to take him in and put him to bed.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

They Were Expendable (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 27, 1943 envelope

: May 27, 1943 new address

: May 27, 1943, p. 1

: May 27, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Again I find myself with pen, paper etc but very little if anything to write but maybe ideas will come as the writing progresses.

One of the fellows got several cans of boneless and skinless sardines yesterday and another got some various assorted cans of turkey and sardines etc. He also got the book “They or we were expendable.” I forgotten the exact title. In my wandering I’ve met the fellow Kelley who has so much to say in that book so it really gives the book a personal touch, or something.

Our stamp and stationary supplies are rapidly becoming a problem but I think before the supply is entirely depleted we will be able to get more or maybe I’ll have to write v-mail letters in your regular air mail – Maybe one or both will come thru. I keep changing my mind on that so often but I do that as situations arise.

Took a short trip thru the jungles again the other day and it’s almost like the time when John had candy all over his

[page 2] face – I don’t believe what I see. The growth is much thicker than the movies show and more interesting. The parrots, cockatoos are very pretty and about as colorful as the marine life around the islands. Those things are all interesting to see but as I feel now I would never have missed anything had I not seen any of these things but maybe I don’t feel quite that bad. I really hope we aren’t forgotten out here and I’m willing to give the ball bearing “Waves” a chance to get off their fat fannies and do their stuff outside the continental limits of the U.S.A. We get word now and then that there are men there anxious to get out so more power to them. Don’t get the idea I’m too homesick or that I’m feeling sorry for myself or want other people to feel sorry for me but I do hope a schedule is worked out where by changes are made to relive the men overseas.

I’ve rambled and jambled and said very little and I hope you taked take what I’ve written in good spirit.

Lots of Love
Daddy

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

A real summer (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 27, 1943 envelope

: May 27, 1943, p. 1

: May 27, 1943, p. 2

: May 27, 1943, p. 3

: May 27, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today has been a real summer, rainless day, (so far). The boys are out in the garden pulling weeds. It is still too wet to hoe or do any more planting but just right for pulling. We are having onions & radishes and will soon have lettuce. Everything is doing well. Potatoes are up about a foot high – some aren’t so good but most of them are. There are so many wild parsnips in our garden they keep coming up as if by magic. The ground is about right for me to get my flower beds finished and I want to work on them this evening. John has to go to

[page 2] band practice this evening so that will let him out but he volunteered to help Mark weed the garden. John has had the most to do so far because he has had a continual job mowing the lawn and the rain has kept Mark from working in the garden.

Mother has David out in the buggy on the terrace. He has had a lot of sunning today – Had a nap this morning in the sun. He is about to get another tooth thru and is a little touchy today – or maybe he is just spoiled. I think he missed us when we went to Laf. yesterday. He is so used to having someone pay attention to him. He is satisfied to stay in his pen or bed, or play chair but likes company.

Three letters came this morning. The latest being dated May 17 – So far the second check (100⁰⁰) hasn’t come but it will no

[page 3] doubt be along in a day or two. There’s a few letters missing but I believe they will come, because all of yours up to May 5 have come. Thanks for the picture. We enjoy getting yours as much as you do ours. Mrs. Zell said she could tell by looking at your picture the baby looks like you. Most everyone says he looks like you and Ruth M. calls him “little Jake.”

One paper came today but I haven’t had time to scan it over for news items that would interest you. The Rotary Club wrote you and that should pretty well cover the local news situation. As usual only one paper came today. The same old story. Seems like they would just change the date of publication. Mrs. Steinbaugh is running the Democrat now. It came today.

[page 4]Mark is a business man now. Since he has his bike he runs errands – Now the traffic situation is a different matter than when you were here. He went to town for Mrs. Zell & Arlene this morning. He started putting down his earnings. He wants to help pay for his Bike. I told him he couldn’t have a new horn but he said he would rather have a bicycle and keep the old horn. If he has his tonsils out next week he won’t need either for a while.

Mother had a letter from Jim and he is now a C.P.O., but has to stay in Williamsburg until Sept, then thinks he will go places. Then Thelma is going to return to T.H.

Mark wants to take a ride so I’ll get this finished so he can mail it.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

My Sister Eileen (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 26, 1943 envelope

: May 26, 1943, p. 1

: May 26, 1943, p 2

Letter transcription:

May 26, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Again the morning chores are over and awaiting the day’s developments. This old month of May is rapidly coming to a close and that means another month behind.

Last night was the first I was able to read – It was sorta on the sly and of course I had to finish my book. Read until 11:30 P.M. The book was “My Sister Eileen” – Just a catchy book with no plot but well written and a little on the funny side. The show has been produced I think but of course I didn’t see the show. After I had finished reading I had to go to my tent and it really was as black as the inside of a cow or anything blacker you can think of. Anyway I knew if I walked I the general direction I’d either hit the tent or the clothes line. I hit the latter but got to the tent ok.

Some fellow here got a letter from his wife saying that coconuts were 25¢ per in the states, boy what a pile of dough is going to waster here. On the average one buck’s worth drops around our tent each night. That would really be dollars from Heaven if one

[page 2] could collect.

Speaking of that song – I’ve taken care of one of the writers of that song and also taken care of one of Walt Disney’s copy artists. He sure can give a lot of dope on the inside of that particular kind of movie. One surely does meet some interesting people as well as some uninteresting – Rich and poor. One of my friends from Reno owns two hotels there and probably is worth a cool million but he doesn’t seem any different than us. He has been my tent mate since coming here and I would never have know but the other fellow from Reno told me, but to own two hotels one has to have a few buck. We also run into the stuffy, pontifical type who are now making more money than they ever made in their life before and do a lot of talking about their pre war work.

This letter seems to be quite much on the gossip side but it fills up space and since there is no news. This seems the best I can do. Anyway

Love Daddy