Category Archives: World War II Letters

Sunny but cold (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-14-43

Dear Daddy – It is sunny today but cold, after our snows of yesterday. I went to town yesterday and sent the things you asked for. A week’s letters are missing – I thought they might come today but haven’t seen Carl yet – Maybe he has passed us by. The last I had was Mar 31 & Apr 1. You had added a P.S. to your 31^st letter or I wouldn’t have known you wanted anything. Anna Rhude wrapped the package for me, so you thank her too (mentally). D. is waking up after a short nap and is working on his thumb. It hasn’t been nice enough to take him out this week but maybe I can take him out today – Had to stop & give D. his morning routine – and since I started this we have had two snow storms and the sun is shining again – – Ralph Bower told me he is trying to enlist in the navy – he had an exam and was 2 lbs underweight – but he is going to try & gain and take another exam. Hickey wrote them that he wasn’t with you but if he would need medical attention would see you. Did you ever write to him? If you have had any recent news from Joe R. let me know. I enclosed a picture of all of us in the package I sent yesterday. It was such a good one of John and gives you an idea how much he has grown this winter. It was taken when D. was 5 mo. old – I had two taken at the same time but the other wasn’t as good of J. Mark was watching D. and didn’t take good in either. I wanted to work in the yard this week but the weather hasn’t been agreeable so far. I just get used to working outside then I have to stay in and break in all over again. I won’t work too hard.

Love – Mother

1943-02 - Yegerlehner, Gladys, John, Mark and David

Probably not the picture Gladys was talking about, but it was taken when David was 5 months old.

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/15/sunny-but-cold-gladys/

Fingers crossed (Roscoe)

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: This is the first and probably only letter in the entire collection written by Roscoe that will actually be published on the date it was written, exactly 71 years ago today.]

: April 14, 1943 envelope

: April 14, 1943, p. 1

: April 14, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

4/14/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% F. P. M. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Again just finished the morning chores and sweating like a trouper but that isn’t unusual. There are rumors of mail coming in but I’ll keep my fingers crossed until it does but sure would appreciate some.

We got some news a few days ago that packages would only be sent at the request of the person wanting them and then only if the commanding officer signs the request so I’m wondering if your packages really will come

[page 2] thru. Newspapers can be sent only from the publisher himself. Really the papers haven’t been much help because your letters have the news before the paper arrives. You can still have it sent if you wish but I’m not particular. Anyway I’m not writing Bart anymore letters because I don’t like his reprints.

Well I still haven’t finished my story reading yet so must get busy.

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/2014/04/14/fingers-crossed-roscoe/

He is about to beat something out of his toy (Gladys)

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: This is the first and probably only letter in the entire collection written by Gladys that will actually be published on the date it was written, exactly 71 years ago today.]

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-13-43

Dear Daddy – This is one of those spring day when we have variety – It has snowed several times today but melts as it hits the ground – the sun shines then snow again. I was going to take D. out but it isn’t warm enough – the wind is very chilly. I have given him his afternoon meal vegetables, apple sauce and milk. He is now playing in his bed. He waves his left hand – not at any one in particular but just waves. He shakes his head as if saying “no” and J. & M. think that’s pretty cute. I got your letters of Mar 31 & Apr 1 and you had a P.S. on the 31^st letter about some seed. I’ll go to town after school and get what you asked for and send them today (lettuce, radish & carrot). There are a week’s letters somewhere en route (Mar 24 to 30) but they will probably come this week. These today came in 11 days, so maybe they are still coming via air – in fact I suppose they would have to. About the taxes, I gave you the figures several times before but again they figured 159 – and there is a new State ruling on Gross so we don’t have to pay that now. I talked to Agnes and she is going to get all the information on it and let me know but she said for me not to file gross. The blank come but I’ll just keep it. I’ll keep buying bonds so we can pay all those if they have to be paid. I’ll include a folder on the new tax with the seed. I haven’t taken pictures of D. since his sixth month but will get film (if I can) and take some more around his seventh – I have put him in his buggy by the desk and he is about to beat something out of his toy. Hope you have my letters telling you J. & D. didn’t have measles.

Love – Mother

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/13/he-is-about-to-beat-something-out-of-his-toy-gladys/

You could be starving (Roscoe)

6 Replies

: April 13, 1943 envelope

: April 13, 1943, p. 1

: April 13, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 13, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% F. P. M.
San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Nothing much to write and so on and so on, but must keep up the daily schedule and as I said yesterday I know our my mail to you will be “bunchy” and I’m afraid you will worry. And this letter won’t be there to tell you not to worry but it will save you that in the future. What I mean is this. The mail won’t be regular but don’t worry it just doesn’t get going. That is I think that is the case.

I’m still very much in the midst of censoring and many of the boys are sending home money

[page 2] orders but for the present I’ll just let mine pile up on the books unless you need it. Of course by the time you get this and back again to me you could be starving but sending money out of here I think is a little to [too] uncertain.

I’m washing again today trying to get the rust stain out of my clothes – used bleach and everything but it’s so hot I can’t get much worked up.

I guess I’m a little late but hope you have a pleasant Easter
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/2014/04/12/you-could-be-starving-roscoe/

Diphtheria Shots (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-12-43

Dear Daddy – I wrote one letter today telling you I had your of Mar 16-17-22 – Uncle W & Aunt J stopped at noon a while. Ralph is better so evidently the adjustment helped his back – or something did because he was working again. John played 2 numbers at Music Club this afternoon and got a lot of compliments – however he insists he didn’t play well. Arlene had a good picture of she & Bill & boys and is sending you one. Donnie now weighs over 21 and D. is about 18 – so considering their starts D. is going all right. Rosemary has gone to Laf. to stay with her mother until time for her to go to the hospital. Jimmy Funk fell off the bed and broke his shoulder – but is getting along very good. I heard today Nick has joined the Army but I didn’t get the information from D. She wasn’t at Music Club today. He has been talking about it for some time. John is in Fla. at present and Gladys has gone down there for a visit. Sure looks funny to see Kent Café boarded up and all the filling stations closed at night. The filling St. men can catch up on their home life now – or make victory gardens. Mrs. Williams asked me today if you gave Darlene (the little girl you & Dr. Cole operated on when 6 wks old) Diphtheria shots. They thought that was what she had – but has a bad throat now and didn’t know if it could be diphtheria or strep. They were to bring her back for whooping cough shots then for smallpox so I told her it must have been diphtheria shots.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/11/diphtheria-shots-gladys/

Give Him Potatoes (Gladys)

5 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA

4-12-1943

Dear Daddy – Yours of Mar 16-17-& 22 came today – However I had rec’d the one written Mar 23 more than a week ago – to be exact (Apr 2). It takes twice as long for them to come now and longer sometimes but I can’t tell whether they come by air or not – they have all been stamped the same. Uncle W & Aunt J. are to stop here on their way home today – hope they came before I go to club. John is to play so I must go. I went to see Mrs. Roberts yesterday and Joe’s Dad came while I was there. He saw the baby and pronounced him 100% perfect – then added “plus.” I told him D. doesn’t like cereal so he said give him potatoes. Mrs. R. hasn’t heard from Joe for some time so thinks he is traveling. She gave me several nice things for D. her boys have outgrown. I think she has about fitted him out for next winter. It is a little cool & windy this a.m. but the sun is out and I have clothes in the Bendix to hand out soon. I may go see Dr. Ade this week – have been having some headache that feels like my eyes are the cause. I haven’t read or knitted much this week but still I have it. I hate to go down because I’ll have to make at least two trips and if the weather stays nice I want to work in the yard and garden. Clara Molter is giving Mrs. Zell & I a basket of iris – and they are a little prettier in color than what we have. The Bendix has stopped so I must get those baby pants out in the sunshine & fresh air. Jimmy & Bobby are out playing this morning.

Love – Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/10/give-him-potatoes-gladys/

Filet Mignon Steak (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: April 12, 1943 envelope

: April 12, 1943, p. 1

: April 12, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 12, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 224
% Postmaster (Fleet)
San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Mother,

Just finished my morning chores and I believe by writing early I’ll catch an earlier mail, but of course this won’t help only I know that your mail will be “bunchy.” So I hope you don’t worry about not getting letters for a few days. It’s just the way things happen.

Death_in_the_Clouds_US_First_Edition_cover_1935

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I’ve been amusing myself at off times reading Agatha Christie’s book “Murder in The Air.” It’s a pretty good murder story but my reading time is cut in small pieces.

Yesterday being Sunday we put on a good spread. Had Fillet Mignon

[page 2] Steak – apple with ice cream – corn mashed potatoes, green beans and I almost forgot soup to begin and raisin bread. The bread wasn’t very necessary for me however. Yes I’m in my right mind that is exactly what we had and yes Iced tea with a shot of fresh limes. We do not have things like this every day but we appreciate it when it comes along you can bet.

There has been some delay due to a little argument about things in general and it’s still is going on but I’m turning a deaf ear to things.

Well, I’ll have to start doing something 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/2014/04/09/filet-mignon-steak-roscoe/

Garden Progress (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-11-43

Dear Daddy – Sunday and J. & M. are in Church. Mother is in T.H. for a visit so D. & I are alone. I just finished bathing & feeding D. and he is having a good kick in his bed. He has a play pen now (Mrs. Shirk loaned it to me). and likes to roll around in it. You wouldn’t recognize the den – (now nursery) – what with all the baby furnishings. I am glad we have that room where it is. It is ideal for a nursery – with all the sunlite it gets. I took David with us (Mark & I) to the garden yesterday and he took a nap in the sunshine. We put out some onion set – sowed carrot seed, spinach & some lettuce – We now have all those & peas. We are going to plant about 30 lbs of potatoes in our garden & several rows of beans. Potatoes are .75 pack & up now. It is a grand day and this afternoon I want to take David for a nice long walk. After all the shut in this winter I can’t be outside too much to suit me. I was so tired when we came in last nite but feel fine today. John stayed in and listened to the Opera yesterday but it will soon be over for the summer. He is to play for Music Club tomorrow. He has been working very hard on the pieces he is playing. I saw two news items I thought might interest you – Datzman’s have a new baby boy. Betty Beaver had a baby boy premature but it died. I haven’t heard from your Mother this week so don’t know how Ralph’s back is – They had Shorer give him an adjustment last Sat but we left Sun so don’t know the results (if any). I thought the adjustment business would interest you. Your Mother will give the details when she writes.Three letters this week.

Love – Mother

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

Discussions about censorship (Roscoe)

9 Replies

: April 10, 1943 envelope

: April 10, 1943, p. 1

: April 10, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcriptions:

Apr. 10, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

We’ve had several discussions about censorship and I’m almost afraid to write for fear I’ll over step but after all is said and done I really believe we are bowing over backwards because I’m sure the enemy knows more than we give them credit for.

I’ve been running hither and yon today and really not composed enough to write but I’ll still try to get a line out in order to keep up the daily record. I’ll be very much interested to know how my mail is coming to you but our mail has been absent for several days. Right now supper chow bell has sounded so will finish later – Later. In fact much later (Apr 11) so

[page 2] in counting the letter you will have only one for Apr 10 + 11.

Was able to get a little news over the radio last night and that always helps – seems to be a connecting link between out here and the States.

This is my regular day to write the Folk so sometime during the day I’ll have to scratch my head to figure out what to say.

Many of the fellows are getting regular mail so I wish you would write a few more of those and not so many v-mail.

I’ll try to get back on my regular daily writing schedule again tomorrow

Love Daddy

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

Listening to the radio (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: April 9, 1943 envelope

: April 9, 1943, p. 1

: April 9, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

4/9/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m wondering how the weather is at home along about now. It should be wet and rainy with April showers grass green birds singing etc. To be honest I’ve had my share of the blessed hot weather – continued summer now for a year – Mr. Berg a fellow from Missouri said this noon he wanted to go home when it’s cold so I guess we all feel the affects of the glorious summer.

We have been eating from china dishes and with real silver wear again. In fact we made better progress here than at the last place. Things are getting much more livable here so I’m beginning to wonder if maybe a move isn’t in order. Hope if it is it’s your way rather

[page 2] than the other direction? Hope. I hope. I hope.

Heard a little of Kay Kayser last night and news form the USA and from Japan. One of the fellows has a radio and we can go listen when we feel like doing so, but lately it has been so dark one can hardly feel the way home. I believe it’s darker here than at home and I also believe the moon is brighter when it is moonlight – Guess I’ve said all that stuff before.

I’ve been trying to do some washing again today – to get out the rusty color I added a few days ago. I’ve trying to soak the whole thing – dirt etc out over night.

Well, guess I’ll do something else for a change –

Love Daddy.