Category Archives: World War II Letters

Monday morning (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-19-43

Dear Daddy – Monday morn and no letters – but got five Fri & Sat – and one I had been looking for – about the yard. (Mar 25 & 26 – Apr 4-5-6) We spaded up more flower beds, but the space between the garage & tree was a run way for the children and that kept the grass from growing so I decided to do something about it. I wanted to work out in the yard today but so far it is cloudy & cool. When it is warm I put D. in his buggy and I can go outside and work but don’t like to leave him inside alone. I’ll be glad when Mother gets back so I can dash out when I want to. We took a long walk yesterday – it was so nice out – We made several calls, stopped at Plummers but Mrs. P. was in bed with a touch of flu – coming home to this chilly weather gave them both colds – so we didn’t stay long there. We called on Jimmy Ed – I wish you could do something for him – his skin is like sand paper and the back of his head is a mass of dry scales – his red hair (and he had so much) is all gone in the back. Lucile said they were thinking about going to someone else with him but Dr. M. thinks when he gets old enough to take foods other than milk he will get better. Dr. M. changed him to lactic acid sometime ago but it doesn’t seem to do much good. Mrs. Zell, Lucile & I went to an Easter Cantata at the Methodist last nite. J. & M. stayed with D., but he sleeps so they weren’t bothered with him. I must send Wilma a graduation gift. She is going into nurses training at the union.

Love Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/25/monday-morning-gladys-3/

Alaska would be appreciated (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: April 19, 1943 envelope

: April 19, 1943, p. 1

: April 19, 1943, p. 2

: April 19, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 19, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Have been buzzing around this A.M. as much as the tropic will allow but as a whole I’ve felt good since coming to this area, although Alaska would be appreciated along about now.

Glad to hear in your letter that finances are coming along OK but I’ll try to send a little home if there is any way to get some of that on the book. What I’d

[page 2] like to do is increase the allotment when and if I get to a place where that is possible. Sometimes when that is done the old ones have to be dropped for a month before the new starts and if that be the case I’d have to send some in order to tide you over. And the much talked of uniform money has not arrived also I think your transportation will be paid only one way to Norfolk. Even that is more than I expected but

[page 3] I’m beginning to wonder if any of that will arrive.

We didn’t have the steak for dinner yesterday but on the whole our chow is better than a few weeks ago with prospects of continual increase in “goodness.”

Well that’s all for this time –
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/2014/04/24/alaska-would-be-appreciated-roscoe/

A regular visitor (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-18-43

Dear Daddy – Fri & Sat we rec’d 5 letters – the latest written Apr 6 – two back Mar 25 & 26 – but the one I had been looking for – in answer to my letter asking your advice about the yard. You had evidently written once before but I never did get it. There are still a few missing if you have written daily but maybe they will come. Floy & Ruth came over for a while yesterday – Nick bought Floyd’s tools for Buddy. Mark wondered why Uncle F. didn’t give him the tools – I told him there was the little matter of $50. F. & R. are moving to Blufton in about 10 days and Geo Burcham from C.C. is taking Flora job. David is taking a long nap but will soon be time for his 2 P.M. feeding. I got a good pose of him with a toy in his hand – I do hope it turns out well. It is nice and warm out today so will snap one or two. I started taking a roll last week so I will be sure to get a good one somewhere along the way – – Mark is reading (under protest) – Just now our woodpecker did a sound effect on our roof. It was quiet with J. & M. both reading so you know what a laugh that caused. This woodpecker is a pretty regular visitor this spring. – Mark brought three books home from the library and then left them alone as usual, so I told him he had to read them – John has read two, with pleasure – but Mark is reading his [he’s] very much disgusted with me because I am insisting he reads. – – We planted two rows of potatoes yesterday and have two more rows to plant. – – I heard definitely Nick K. has joined the Navy. Hope you get the seeds I sent.

Love Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/23/a-regular-visitor-gladys/

All the mail came in (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: April 18, 1943 envelope

: April 18, 1943, p. 1

: April 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Postoffice
San Francisco Calif

Dear Mother,

Since all the mail came in a day or two ago I hardly expected any to come today or for a few days yet but one never can tell. And we always hope.

The officers gave a sort of a party last night for the men – having a picnic lunch and some beer – I think everyone had a good time with maybe a few headaches this A.M. but not many because there wasn’t enough.

As yet I haven’t gotten to re-read your letters to the fullest extent and yesterday

[page 2] that letter I wrote was done so in the midst of much conversation so I’m not sure what all the content was. I can explain the whys and wherefores of these things later on.

Right now have a task to do – 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/2014/04/22/all-the-mail-came-in-roscoe/

Plenty of Guessing (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-17-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Apr 4 – 5 & also Apr 2 came today and last evening Mark stopped at the P.O. and yours of Mar. 25 & 26 came and a letter from Dr. P. at N.C. – I wrote thanking him for the letter he wrote while you were traveling and he answered. He said that you were OK – At last I got your letter with suggestions about the lawn – we worked yesterday in the back yard and divided some of the shrubbery and filled those bare spaces down at the east corner. I have some seed potatoes & Mr. Zell is going to help us get our rows ready this evening. It is cloudy today and quite chilly. I suppose we won’t have warm weather until after Easter – As you said if you were moved you would have everyone guessing again, but my answer to any inquiries is (as it was before) destination unknown. There is plenty of guessing going on but that won’t them to guess. Dorothy was asking me this week about your new location but I told her I didn’t know. I don’t know what Boonie’s latest guess is but he enjoys guessing so let him have his fun. John has to take his music lesson this P.M. and he is not so pleased about missing “The Barber of Seville.” I think it would be better for your uniforms to be here so I could see that they are aired and taken care of.

Love – Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/21/plenty-of-guessing-gladys/

Air mail vs. v-mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 17, 1943, envelope

: April 17, 1943, p. 1

: April 17, 1943, p. 2

: April 17, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Postoffice
Apr. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Mail has really been coming along. Yesterday P.M. I received most of your v-mail up to Mar 26. Also an air mail letter from Mark and Mom dated Mar 30. So you see air mail is really still faster than v-mail. Many of your letters were repeats but that is perfectly OK because we never know when or which letter will come thru. Glad Mark is able to be up and out again and but in the last letter from mom she said John was sent home from school not feeling well but

[page 2] Mark didn’t say anything about it in his letter so he probably just had a cold – although I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get the measles because they are very contagious.

A v-mail letter also came from Uncle W. and one from the Walkups – Those were dated in March right along with the same dates of yours.

Your idea of the Florida situation next winter sounds OK but not for me because I’m headed for Alaska. This one summer is too long and I think I would not be appreciate another 12 months of the same kind of weather. However I’ll give my opinion on you

[page 3] going down before next winter.

Yesterday I said I would send a v-mail but I didn’t because from what I learned v-mail is still not as good as air mail for our region.

I was really amused in your letter when you discussed or told of Paul coming up to find a manure spreader. Seems that was some distance to come for such.

Well, I have some work to do so must stop –
So solong
Love daddy

P.S. Use the address exactly as I have it written.

Russell IslandsImage by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/20/air-mail-vs-v-mail-roscoe/

Tail End of a Cyclone (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-16-43

Dear Daddy – A windy day – such a wind all night that I was afraid the S. E. dormer would lift right off and blow away, a time or two the wind hit the metal pieces of the windows just right to make them buzz – it was so loud it awakened David twice. I had to get up and go over to his bed and get him quieted down. I feel a little sleepy today. Mr. Healy came out today to assess us and he said he thought we got the tail end of a cyclone – – Mrs. Roberts called me this a.m. – she had some letters from Joe and he is being moved – you may see him some time. The boys wrote you thanking you for the souvenirs. They said your imagination was better than theirs but I think mine is better than theirs. I didn’t get any letters today. The first letter I rec’d after you could write you said you had written three but to date those haven’t come. Mrs. R. said Joe’s uniform money just came – so maybe yours will come sometime. I haven’t bought any bonds so far this year – was waiting for that money to come. There is a 13 billion Bond drive on now – – I was out spading some – had D. out for first time in almost a week. He sat in his buggy and watched me work then got sleepy so brought him in and he is taking a nap. I want to go back and work some more in a little while and get broken in again.

Love – Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/19/tail-end-of-a-cyclone-gladys/

Navy 60 (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: April 16, 1943 envelope

: April 16, 1943, p. 1

: April 16, 1943, p. 2

: April 16, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

4/16/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224 60
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco

Dear Mother,

You will again note the change in address – just remove the 224 and put 60 in its place. I know that must be a little vexing or amusing the number of addresses I’ve had but there is a reason. This last one did not mean a change in location however.

Yesterday your v-mail letter of Mar 17, 18, 19 & 20 came and I’ve read them but will reread again before the next letter. Also got one from Ruth Y. – Floyd doesn’t do the writing in their family. I enjoy her letters OK and I understand how Floyd hates writing. I also got a

Floyd & Ruth Yegerlehner (Photo courtesy of Tom Yegerlehner)

[page 2] card from the Clarence Prue family which was written way back in Jan. From the looks of the thing I think it must have traveled all over the U.S. before it came here.

Ruth M. sent me an extra stamp and sheet of paper so I used that in answering her letter.

There is a boy here from Gary Ind. We have been together since leaving the U.S. He is a Pharm. Mate 2^nd class so at times we do have some things in common to talk about. All my Dr. friends are scattered but I hear fom some of them once in a while. I have a feeling that Dr. Walsh is back there some place. He was a little disappointing late to me in some ways.

I had room to put your pictures

[page 3] in the folder with the others you sent.

Again let me say write air mail more often with a v-mail also – say maybe every other day with each. I remember you mentioned in one of those v-mails the guessing that went on in Noumea (we can again use that name) when I first landed in Noumea. I suppose that is going on again and they may hit it by mere guessing.

If I get around to it I shall write you a v-mail today to get the new address to you and to see which goes faster.

Well for now I must get going –
Lots of Love
Daddy

Russell IslandsImage by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

He certainly does show off (Gladys)

5 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-15-43

Dear Daddy – Two letters came this a.m. (Mar 20 & 24). I am getting that missing week I told you about. I have Mar 31 & Apr 1 – came the first of this week. Had a letter from Jewell – she said Bill had written you and they had a letter from you. She said Dottys’ baby will be 6 mo old the 28^th of this month & weighs 14 -10 so our David is some larger. He balances the scale around 18 and isn’t quite 7 mo. He certainly does show off – but why shouldn’t he – the boys are always fussing around him. When we were in C.C. they said Carolyn Mary wanted to follow them around – I said ‘just wait David will to when he can get around.” D. has just awakened from a short nap (I think they get shorter all the time) and is trying to tear his bed down. – – I went to Chapter last nite and Cecil D. said they brought Ira home from the hospital but had to take him back – I didn’t get to ask her what is trouble is. Maybe someone else has written you about him. – – After all the snows and wind yesterday it is calm & sunny today. I have a washing out to dry (baby things) and if it keeps warming up want to work on my flower beds and get them ready for seeds. I have sown some grass seed but think I’ll sow more. The fall grass left large areas in our back yard that are bare and the side yard too. The front wasn’t so bad, but there was so many weeds down by the front walk. It is time for D.’s bath & feeding and he is getting a little whine in his voice so I’ll have to give him the “works.” Have a roll of film so will get some pictures for his 7^th month (next Fri)

Love – Mother

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

Weather conditions fair and warmer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 15, 1943 envelope

: April 15, 1943, p. 1

: April 15, 1943, p. 2

: April 15, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

4/15/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% F. P. M. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Your letter of Mar. 26 just arrived and this is the P.M. of the 14^th but I dated it the 15^th since I’ll probably finish – That is as far as I got on the 14^th. This A.M. weather conditions fair and warmer just like always.

Later yesterday I received a letter from Ruth M. Dated Mar. 24 – So you C our mail isn’t so slow when things work out right. I sure was glad to hear the measles situation is better and of course was more than glad to get the pictures. I didn’t quite get what you mean about the

[page 2] dividends on the J. Hancock prem. but I am sure you will take care of it in the right way. This I believe is the last year for payment on that old J. Hancock policy at any rate they will let you know or stop send [ing] you the semi a.[annual] statements.

Yes the uniform money did not come here either so we still can’t spend that.

The septic tank needing cleaning is a surprise to me – And I still believe there probably was a hitch in the original construction for they are supposed to go longer than that.

Again I wish you would write more air mail because I feel it would come just like

[page 3] always, I mean some would come by air other by ship. The V-mail isn’t so good as yet but keep writing some of that also.

I’m not writing to so many people now but will occasionally drop a line here and there. The writing situation here is different than before as I’ve said before. However when it comes to censoring the mail I believe the boys write just as often and as much.

Well, I’ll reread your letter today and maybe I can comment more in tomorrow’s letter –

Love Daddy