Category Archives: World War II Letters

Home from Lafayette (Gladys)

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: May 26, 1943 envelope

: May 26, 1943, p. 1

: May 26, 1943, p. 2

: May 26, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 26 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Home again from Laf. Took John to Dr. Ade for a final check after a refraction last week – and John’s glasses were are not so strong this time, so maybe his eyes are improving. I took Mark to Dr. Cole and he thinks his tonsils should come out so I think I’ll take him down next week. He said it would be best for him to stay in the hospital a few days. As I wrote you yesterday Mark has been shaking his head again and I thought I would take him to Dr. Cole for a check-up and after examining him, said he thought the tonsils should come out. He said he would get Romberger to give the anesthetic. I suppose by the time you get

[page 2] this he will be well recuperated. He is looking forward with anticipation. The only thing he worries about – he is afraid he won’t go to sleep when they give him the ether. He took a music lesson today but that will have to stop for a few weeks. He has been wanting a bicycle so Link sold us the one he got from Art Burdick. Mark has been very elated since getting it last nite. He said his dream had come true. I was going to get him a Victory Bike at Sears but the Ration Board wouldn’t give him a permit.

I have to go to Star tonight to meet some women of the S.S. Class for a committee meeting. I have to entertain the class this month and I think it will be Mon. evening the 31^st.We are going to sew for the Red Cross. I had Cosmopolitan Club and after I have the class that will that will take care of my social obligations.

[page 3]Arlene and her younger sister went to Laf. with us today. Louise is gone now but Arlene got Mary E. Tuberty to stay with the children. Louise went to Ga. where her boy friend is stationed to be married. I didn’t get any letters today but had several yesterday. Got the $50⁰⁰ check & deposited same. You wrote on the back payable only to Gladys R. Y. – but didn’t sign your own name – but Mr. T. said he would send it through. Hope I don’t have to send it back to you to get your signature. It is getting late and I must get going or will be late. Will do better next time.

Love Mother

David is fine. Says da da all the time.

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/03/home-from-lafayette-gladys/

14th Anniversary (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 25, 1943 envelope

: May 25, 1943, p. 1

: May 25, 1943, p. 2

: May 25, 1943, p. 3

: May 25, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

May 25, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

As I remember it this is the day or was the day some 14 years ago – of course I could have missed it a few days but I think I’m correct. I sure hope the next one will be more pleasant for both of us.

I wrote a letter to “Hicky” Reinhart yesterday – sure hope he gets this in better time than the last one. Both our letters made two way trips because they had been sent to the place we were transferred from.

I told you about having fresh potatoes – well from that same source the fellow got a piece of frozen meat all packed in a burlap sack and he thought it was pork – but it’s Lamb. That is OK, but as a rule Navy lamb isn’t what civilian lamb is. I think it was lamb – several years ago and eventually grew out of that stage.

Yesterday being laundry day I have my clothes all clean and ready for another week. The wash this week consisted of 2 sheets, 3 shirts, one pair of pants, 4 towels, 5 underware trunks and

[page 3] numerous socks. It is washed for us and we hang it to dry and do the pressing simply by folding. In that way everyone from the highest to the lowest looks wrinkled but that doesn’t bother.

The last few nights the moon has been unusually bright and it sure is beautiful intermingled with palm trees and ocean but under present circumstances the beauty is somewhat retracted from.

We had hearts of coconuts again last night for supper – It’s the million dollar dish but I’d rather have good old celery or carrot sticks served in ice

[page 4] cold water.

This is just a hint – If you could pick up a few cans of canned chicken it sure would be fine – provided it didn’t cut too much off your own rations – we had some the other day that a fellow got from home and it was delish – but I wouldn’t want to use up any of the rations for you and the boys – a can of olives would also be appreciated.

Well, I’ve said about enough – hope you are enjoying the anniversary day as much as possible under the circumstances and may the next be more enjoyable

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/02/14th-anniversary-roscoe/

14th Anniversary (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 25, 1943 envelope

: May 25, 1943, p. 1

: May 25, 1943, p. 2

: May 25, 1943, p. 3

: May 25, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 25 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today marks our 14^th. Just hope we can celebrate the 15^th together.

It is still on the rainy order here. Last nite we had a clear sunset but by the time we went to bed it was beginning to storm. It is undecided this a.m. Right now the sun is shining & Mark is out with David getting some Vit C. In spite of the rainy weather we get David out between showers enough to keep him tanned. He will certainly be well tanned if he keeps on the way he is going. He has skin like his Daddy – Mark was helping with his both this morning and commenting on how handsome he is because

[page 2] he looks like Daddy. Ruth called David “little Jake” while we were over there. He is 8 mo old, weighs 19 lbs and has a tooth. He was as glad to sleep in his own bed again as the rest of us. The bed Ruth had borrowed for him was just a small crib and it cramped his style.

This letter and other things encl. came this morning from St. E. I think I covered the situation in my letter after I attended the ceremony but they requested it be forwarded so here it is. When we went to the P.O. to mail your letter last nite (6 P.M.) Parr handed John four letters from you. So far the latest is May 10 and one check for 150⁰⁰ is here. You said in your latest you would wait a few days to send the other.

Mr. Zell said every member at Rotary last night wrote you a letter so your mail should pick up.

[page 3] I am going to take John to Dr. Ade this week for a final exam, and also I want to take Mark to Dr. Cole. He has been showing signs of nervousness again – He was doing pretty good until, since school has been out. He shakes his head so much. I put him to bed early last night and am going to try and keep him from playing so hard. He seems to feel good and has a good appetite but shakes his head. Dr. M. looked at his tonsils after he had measles and said they looked bad, however I think I’ll take him to Dr. C. for a going over. If he needs his tonsils out I would rather leave him in the hospital a day or two. He thinks he is going to have a picnic having an operation – you know him – he is really anticipating it with relish. Mark was so tired & worn out from our trip I didn’t send him for a piano lesson this morning. Don’t worry about him because I am sure with rest and a little less excitement he will soon be over this condition. He plays so hard and last week was the first week of vacation. I think he

[page 4] tried to cram too much into the first week.

Our garden is still too wet to work in and the weeds are growing more daily. I got radishes & onions yesterday after we came home and Mark got such a thrill out of his first garden stuff. The potatoes are up about a foot high. They have done better than Zells in the same patch. Mr. Z. said he thought theirs had rotted from so much rain. He got theirs planted before we got ours out.

John has gone to take his music lesson this morning. The recital is to be next week. He got to play on Johnson’s new piano while we were there and of course kept busy at Ruth’s a good bit of the time.

It is time to start lunch so must get busy.
Love Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/01/14th-anniversary-gladys/

The School Teaching Game (Roscoe)

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: May 24, 1943 envelope

: May 24, 1943, p. 1

: May 24, 1943, p. 2

: May 24, 1943, p. 3

: May 24, 1943, p. 4

: May 24, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

May 24, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

This will probably have to be a little short due to the fact that I’m – you might say in the school teaching game – That is I have to give an examination to boy to be passed on to a higher rating. It means $10-$15 per month more for the kid and the honor that goes with it.

A lapse of about 1 ½ hours – The exam is over and that is that. He passed.

Went shelling yesterday P.M. again and had pretty good luck but I think I’ll stop for a while

[page 2] because the stink of the shells around don’t never end if a few are brought in each day, and I’m also getting scared because practically every rock has a sea serpent or crab or numerous other forms of marine life – some slick and slimy looking and some just plain repulsive. The way we get the shells is to wade in the water about one foot deep and turn the rocks over. So you see if one of these animals swim against my legs I do lots of splashing and spattering.

Had a real treat yesterday. Real French fried potatoes.

[page 3] some how some one brought in about one peck of good old Idahoes and what a treat. We also had cutting meat but the potatoes were the real prize. I think you can gather from my letters what we consider the most important food. And you would be surprised at the number of conversation that are dominated by food.

Received a letter from Wayne Watson today it was written back in Mar. If I remember correctly I haven’t answered his last one but I just can’t keep the letters going like I used to do.

[page 4]so you will have to set lots of people right and also give them the news from here which is poor news as far as news is concerned not much.

You may get a letter from a lady in Reno N. some day – Mr. Howell said he would have his wife send you some copies of newspapers she has.

Well, I’m all written out again – Love Daddy.

P.S. got a letter from H. W. Reinhart (Hicky) yesterday – I think he is following me just like Dr. Joe is doing.

P.S. again – My full name on this envelope is a mistake OVER
I just slipped.

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/2014/06/30/the-school-teaching-game-roscoe/

Home from Wilmington (Gladys)

2 Replies

: May 24, 1943 envelope

: May 24, 1943, p. 1

: May 24, 1943, p. 2

: May 24, 1943, p. 3

: May 24, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 24 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just returned home from Wilmington and it’s still raining. Last Fri it was nice and we got our washing and a few other things done, then on Sat the fair weather continued so we went to Ruth’s and took the 350 sweet potatoe & 4 dz. snap-dragon plants. Earl was waiting and as soon as Ruth fixed his supper, he took the plants out to his garden and set them out. His garden is 5 miles out on 113 – It is on a hill and the drainage is good so with fair weather Fri & Sat it was just right to put the plants out. He also went out Sunday and worked all day or most of the day but it has rained so much and

[page 2] is getting so late he said he felt like he had to work when the ground was dry. Well it certainly is wet now. We drove home thru rain all the way. In some places it poured. We had to go thru some water on the pavement but not much. Just before we left Wilmington there was a hard shower.

I brought back several different kinds of flowers to set soil out. It will have to dry off some before I get them out. John wanted to know if he had to mow the lawn when we got home. I told him it would probably need it.

David is very glad to get home. Ruth’s neighbor loaned us a bed and chair – the chair has a table around it and I brought it home to use as long as he will stay in it. He is in this pen now having a good time. I have knitted him a sweater outfit

[page 3] and it was very popular. The cap has a bill like a regular boys cap and that took the prize. The neighbor who loaned the bed and chair wants the pattern for the whole outfit so she can knit her 2 yr old one. Mrs. Servies crocheted the cap but I made the sweater & pants.

I had four letters of May 1, 2, 5 & 6. The uniform money was in one. I will deposit it tomorrow. I’ll have to write the Ins. co. as to the amt of the loan. I read your letters rather hurriedly so will have to scan thru them again. Had to rekindle the fire when we came home and before I did that had to clean out the furnace. It is about time to feed David but I want to get this in the mail before 6 P.M. I didn’t get a letter written yesterday but being company it isn’t easy to always to

[page 4] writing. I enjoyed our visit very much but a little tired – which is to be expected after driving home thru the rain.

We had dinner at Johnsons yesterday and got to see their new home. It is very nice but not as large as ours. Of course Clarence had time to work on theirs which made a difference in finishing. He did the wiring and all their switches are silent.

I am trying to write and the rest of the family is trying to get David ready for bed so I’ll have to stop – I know this letter has been jumbled up but will try to do better next time – after I have had a good rest in my own bed.

Hope you have the garden seed by now.
Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/06/29/home-from-wilmington-gladys/ ‎

Dr. Joe Roberts (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 23, 1943 envelope

: May 23, 1943, p. 1

: May 23, 1943, p. 2

: May 23, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 23, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Just finished my morning chores and trying to settle down to writing.

Yesterday out of a clear sky from some source I got a letter from Dr. Joe Roberts and from his address I don’t believe he is very far from me but that is more or less a guess but I think I’m correct – I sure wish we could get together for a visit which is not impossible if my guessing is correct. The above seems to be

[page 2] a little mixed up but maybe you can get it straight.

Just by way of repeat I’ve sent two uniform check – one for 150 & one for 100 and later a check for 32.60 for you travel. All were in separate letters and mailed about one wk apart. When you get them give me the dope in several letters at intervals.

Went shelling again yesterday and had pretty good success but not as good as before but we didn’t stay as long. These are a little more stinky than

[page 3] those we had in Noumea because the live animal is there and has to be gotten out.

This being Sunday I’ll have to write the folks to keep up my weekly schedule. Then too I’ll have to drop Dr. J. a letter and compare notes but censorship is just as strict between here and there as it is between here and you.

Well, there are rumors of mail – hope they aren’t false.

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/2014/06/28/dr-joe-roberts-roscoe/ ‎

Beach combing (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 22, 1943 envelope

: May 22, 1943, p. 1

: May 22, 1943, p. 2

: May 22, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 22, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

I’ve been sitting here for 5 full minutes with pen ready but nothing came so in order to get started I thought I’d give you the setting.

Went shelling again yesterday and had pretty good luck but not as good as day before. It must sound funny that I tell you about beach combing when I’m supposed to be fighting but anyway we still like to pick up shells.

I’m having a little “dohinky”

[page 2] made for Carl Funks baby. I’ll send it to you and you can present it. I don’t know why I’m so worked up about their baby but that is the only announcement I’ve received just like that. Hope David doesn’t feel badly about what I’ve said.

The shells I got are still alive so the inside has to be cleaned out. First we put them in fresh water – That kills the inside then we set them out or bury them and the ants eat the inside. We have to bury them to avoid the stink. All

[page 3] those shells from Noumea where dead and cleaned out when picked up.

The letter I mailed yesterday will probably get there in better time than others because of the circumstances under which it was mailed.

My very good friend whose the initials you note on the letters is now our big boss – was elevated only recently.

Well I did get some written at that so my first 5 minutes weren’t wasted after all.

Love
Daddy

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

Heading to Wilmington (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S.YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-22-43

Dear Daddy – We are about ready to leave for Wilmington with 350 sweet potatoe plants & some snap plants. Mother is feeding D. his 2 P.M. meal – the boys are ready and waiting, both had hair cuts & a bath so they look ready to be seen. I feel a little rushed but think I’ll be O.K. after we get started. It has cleared off and seems to be getting hot this P.M. so maybe the ground will be in the right shape for Earl to set out plants today. I told you in yesterday’s v-mail David cut his first tooth. The one next to it is about ready to pop thru. I took all your clothes out and aired them yesterday. Those little moth bugs had been in and I used a new spray – hope this one works. I wish your Navy uniforms were here – I am afraid they will be moulded beyond help staying stored. No letters today but had yours of the 10^th the 20^th – not bad – 10 days. It is about time we want to start and I have a few things to do yet – will write a more detailed letter when time permits. Grand day after all the rain this week.

Love Mother

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

No cream or sugar (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 21, 1943 envelope

: May 21, 1943, p. 1

: May 21, 1943, p. 2

: May 21, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 21, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco

Dear Mother,

Yesterday after your letters came or rather day before – another v-mail came but it was dated earlier than the latest – but on the whole the mail is coming thru pretty good.

Went shelling yesterday and got quite a few pretty nice ones so some of these days I’ll be able to send home some again. These in a way are prettier than those at Noumea, but they are not nearly so numerous.

I’ll have to tell you one habit that I’ve gotten into – No

[page 2] cream or sugar in my coffee – sure came in handy this A.M. It seems the colored mess boy sprayed the sugar with fly spray and everyone was going on about the coffee but mine tasted OK. Really I thought it was my tastes on the brew but found it was fly spray.

Just got thru giving a fellow a dose of Epsom Salts and did he smack his lips. That is not my idea of what a person should smack their lips about.

Saw some baby pictures yesterday of an officer – His

[page 3] is about 4 mo old but it was only a snap shot and not much could be seen but bundles of clothes.

In you [sic] last letter you told of John’s having a temperature hope he is getting along OK. It seems hardly possible that he would have the measles at that late date but you never can tell.

Well, must get going
Love
Daddy

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

At least it is sunny (Gladys)

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S.YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-21-43

Dear Daddy –

The rain seems to have cleared away – at least it is sunny this a.m. and very refreshing. Just hope it stays this way a day or so. It has rained so much and there are floods everywhere in the low lands. Got yours of May 3 & 4 with the Mothers Day greeting. Wish I could send you one of the frozen hens. You should have the seeds by now. Mark pulled up a radish and we will soon be having some. I think he will be able to do some weeding this afternoon. John is working on the lawn now and Mark is keeping David out in the buggy so he can get plenty of sunshine today. He was in all day Wed & Thurs so needs all he can get today. We have our washing hanging on the line. Mark left his watch in his pants pocket and it went thru the Bendix so I think it is probably finished. We aren’t going to Ruth’s today because it has rained so much Earl couldn’t set anything out today, but if it stays clear we plan to go tomorrow afternoon. We have a lot of work to do around here now that is has stopped raining and we can do something. To date the check you mentioned hasn’t arrived, but your letters of May 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 8 are still enroute. The box you mentioned before leaving Noumea never came. Maybe it will trail in but it has been more than three months since you sent it so I doubt if it gets here now. Will get some more pictures taken this week –end if it is nice day – David will be 8 mo old Sunday.

Love – Mother