Category Archives: World War II

My Duties (Roscoe)

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April 16, 1944 envelope

April 16, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes
Illinois
Apr. 16, 1944

Dear Mother,

Sunday almost gone and it was a long day for somehow things just seemed dull and my intern had O.D. duty so he wasn’t around after 1000 so I had to amuse myself.

Maybe I haven’t told you what my duties are – well it’s like this – I have two wards, one composed of about 30-40 German measles and 10 chicken pox cases and the other about that many mumps. Seems a little drab on the face of the whole thing but there are always ears becoming infected – pneumonia with the measles and many complications just like in private practice so it’s really more like medicine than anything I’ve had since coming into the Navy. I hope I’ve had both of the above diseases because I’ve had many exposures. There are also a few cases of regular measles so I should know what those look like after a

April 16, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] time.

In your today’s letter I had three money orders. I guess I can’t get away from repeating but I thought I’d just let you know in case the letter should get lost.

This Eve. The Frenches invited us to sandwiches, salad, etc., so I didn’t have to go out for an evening meal. They seem to be very nice people and are willing to make one as comfortable as possible. They have three huge cats and one has two kittens but I don’t cross their path too often. I mean the cats.

The sun finally broke thru today after a light rain this AM and a snow about noon but it still wasn’t very warm. In fact much too cold to think of wearing khaki uniforms, and the top coat really feels good. The breeze off the lake is very cold. I don’t know if you noticed but where we parked the car that day we were here

April 16, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] is only a very short distance from the lake. When one is on the other side of that building he can almost spit in the lake.

As I told you we have no shower so it’s tub bath and I do hate to draw the water, etc., but I feel I just have to tonight for I’ve missed the past two and since there is only the one other fellow I feel I don’t have to be as peculiar as you said you would be.

Maybe I’ll be able to spend next weekend at home but I’m not banking too much until I ask all the ones concerned. At least maybe a short time Sat. night and Sun. AM depending upon what time Joe wants to come back.

Well, I must take that bath and get to bed –
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/15/my-duties-roscoe/ ‎

Four Pages With What Have You (Gladys)

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April 15, 1944 envelope

April 15, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-15-44

Dear Daddy –

Your letter written the 13^th and post marked 4 PM Apr. 14 came this a.m. I sent out a letter yesterday and hope you get it by today. When your letter came the boys gathered around to listen and got quite a “kick” out of the 23 little men. John decided we needed a cake, “now that Daddy is gone,” and is mixing one now. Mark is putting bon ami on all the windows. It is raining and he can’t play out so I thought this would be a god job for him. He (Mark) slept with me last night. This a.m. David was awake and very insistent about some attention. Mark brought him to me and he was wet and had had a B.M. which was very soft and extensive. I suppose he had too many green beans yesterday. Mark got up and went to the store and got a few things we needed – and a qt. of cottage cheese. I gave David some and will give him some each meal today. That has always acted as a “builder upper” for him. When I

April 15, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] started to dress him after breakfast he reached into the drawer and got out the pink knitted suit I made for him last year so he looks a little like a sissy in his pink and needing a hair cut.

The weather cleared up about noon yesterday and we had sunshine long enough to get two washes out to dry. It is raining this a.m. so no washing today. I ironed and ironed yesterday and finally got it all done. I even got what was washed yesterday ironed. I was so tired last night I was afraid maybe I had worked off some of my excess fat but this a.m. I still balanced the scales a shade under 100. I won’t work so hard today now that I am caught up on the washing & ironing. I promised Mark we would make a batch of cookies after John gets thru with the cake.

Mark said Geo. Dinwiddie called his drawing “corny” so our Mark comes back with, “well we are going to live with Daddy this summer and I am going to Chicago and take drawing lessons.” The little Sammons boy and one or two others took up the discussion and said it wasn’t essential and Mark couldn’t drive to Chicago to take lessons. From there on I don’t know what was said, except that in all probability our Mark had

April 15, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the last work. I had a good notion to tell Mark to tell Jimmy S. that it wasn’t essential for his parents to take a trip to Ga. or wherever it was they went this winter. However I didn’t make any comment. Yesterday after school Mr. Zell asked John & Mark to help him roll his yard. Mr. Z. was a little on the touchy side and Virginia said to Mark, “I’ll bet your Daddy isn’t grouchy.” I asked Mark what he answered – he said, “I just kept my big mouth shut.”

Haven’t heard from Jim yet. All that came Thurs. & Fri. was the Kent papers. Your letter & a letter from Wayne Pharm. Supply Co. was all that came this a.m.

I was thinking about a radio last night and wondered why you didn’t take the kitchen radio with you. We could get along with the one in the living room. If you want it and I come up with Dr. Joe I’ll bring it up. However I hope you get to come home by that time. If not I think I’ll come up as planned.

April 15, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] My hands are peeling off but I can’t close my left hand yet. There are still some water pockets on my left hand but the old places are about gone. I believe the worse is over. I keep my left hand out of the water and am still very careful not to get my right hand in water more than I have to. I keep scaling off all the time. Now believe me I will not touch tomatoes in any form again (soon).

I haven’t been away from home since you left, but have been busy doing things. I would take David for a walk today but it is too wet and I have been taking him out in the yard the past two days and he doesn’t want to come in when I do. Arlene was looking for Bobby Thurs. afternoon and I told her I would keep Donnie out with David but she declined. She looked so tired and said she was having Carl & Rosemary come for dinner. They (C. & M.) are having their house painted (inside). I am afraid Arlene isn’t getting enough rest so soon after she had that repair work done. She has a girl from John’s class come after school and help I think. Louise is past helping her now.

John got into a little difficulty with his cake – he forgot to add the milk and it was so thick he couldn’t pour it into the pans.

For no news I have pretty well filled four pages with what have you. Maybe one of your 23 helped me.
Love – Mother

P.S. John got his report card Thurs PM A+ on hist., arith. & Eng. – A on all the rest except shop B+

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/14/four-pages-with-what-have-you-gladys/

Twenty Some Letters (Roscoe)

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April 15, 1944 envelope

April 15, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes, Ill.
Apr. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

Today’s mail was like the days of the past 20 some letters – most of which were from you – yours dating from Feb. 5 to Feb. 26. One from Wayne W., one from Mark, one from the Brewers, a Christmas greeting from Geo. Wingfield and Dave’s Christmas package. It was in a mess. There was three suits of knit underware, a pipe, a book of thoughts, some candy tobacco, pipe cleaners, stationary, etc. Most of the things were spoiled. The book was OK, the pipe OK, the underware damp & moldy, the candy – you can use your imagination.

I got paid today – $355.00. I’m sending you $250. That did not include the travel money but I understand it takes several days for that to be calculated so will send it later. Our

Our uniform may not be khaki so as soon as it warms up a bit I’ll stop wearing the blue and for the time

April 15, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] will save the price of another blue.

It has been cold and rainy here all day long. This place is large and one has to do lots of walking in the rain.

I think I can arrange to come home next Sat. At least I’m working on that angle. I’m covering for another Dr. tomorrow and he is to take over for me next Sun., if some big Gold don’t enter into the picture. I’ll write more of that later. That of course would be Sat. eve after 4:30 unless I left a little early.

I read all your letters but you had told me everything. I was glad to get the pictures of the snow. The picture of the boys in the back yard were very good I thought. Your letter written Thurs. & Fri. came also today. It was so recent compared to the others.

It’s now 10:00 PM and time for bed. It took me three hours to read all the mail/
So goodnight and Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/13/twenty-some-letters-roscoe/ ‎

The Above Address (Roscoe)

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: April 14, 1944 envelope (front)

: April 14, 1944 envelope (back)

April 14, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

USN Hospital
Great Lakes
Illinois

Dear Mother,

The above address is the correct one as I now have a mail box assigned and I’ll be able to get my mail there probably faster and more consistent than otherwise.

I think I’m about all settled now except the gas ration and that seems to be something. In the first place I need the tire certificate of registration and then that has to be sent into Chicago and Washington and then the card will be issued. By that time you will have the car back again. There is a possibility that I can get along without the tire business but I the may not even apply for the thing now. Chas. Largent gave me tickets for 10 gal. of gas and with what we have that would be enough to get the car back home and it seems there isn’t much trouble getting gas there. However, I’ll give it a

April 14, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] think. It isn’t hardly worth while asking you to send that registration because you can bring it when Joe comes up or I can get it if I come down. I’m going to start working on the coming down about tomorrow and after work tomorrow eve I’m planning on going house looking.

It was about 5 PM when I left the hospital this PM so thought I would see if I could find Socky. With his address I was able to get his Barrack number and I drove up in front and asked about where Wilson might be and was informed that he was at chow. I just sat in the car and along came Socky. When he saw me he yelled “Hi Doc.” The first part of his yell was very loud but it tapered off to a whisper and he walked up – stood at attention and saluted. Then when no one was looking we both laughed. His barrack is very near that first large building on the left as you approach the station. His hands were a bluish color from the dye in the clothes he had washed. He said they had to drill pretty hard today – running and sprinting around the drill field. He was very glad to see me – said he was homesick. All

April 14, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] in all he was very military. So much for Socky.

We got breakfast and lunch at the base – 25₵ per and it is checked from our pay. I guess we could get supper there but I haven’t tried as yet.

I’ll get paid some tomorrow but I won’t get the mileage until later. I’m not sure just how much I’ll be able to draw but will try to send some home.

Tomorrow is official day for white cap covers and I’m a little mixed up as to whether or not we can wear khaki. If not, I’ll have to buy another blue suit or grey whatever it might be but this I know I’m going slow on any buying of uniforms.

I think I’m in the whole house tonight by myself. I haven’t heard a sound and I’ve been here since 6:00 and it is now 9:00.

Since leaving home I’ve spent $1.17 – Two evening meals and 10₵ for a car badge – Haven’t even paid my room rent. She would not take it last night and she isn’t here tonight.

Well Dear – Love & goodnight
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/12/the-above-address-roscoe/ ‎

Tired (Gladys)

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April 13, 1944 envelope

April 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-13-44

Dear Daddy,

Just bathed David and taped up the thumbs. John took him up to bed and now John is doing homework and Mark is drying dishes.

I am very tired this eve but thought I would be able to sleep better if I am really tired. I don’t feel quite as low as I did this morning. I started cleaning up as soon as you left. Got the dining room back in order. After lunch I cleaned the kitchen floor and put a washer of clothes in. I was so tired by then thought I should rest. I took a short nap then hung out the clothes. David took a nice long nap. After I finished hanging the clothes I came in and dressed him and took him out in the sunshine. I thought I would sit on the step & read the Dem. but D. kept running around the house. Jimmy and Bobby came over and visited a while,

April 13, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] but they got into a bad quarrel and Jimmy went in the car with his Mother & Daddy. While sitting on the step Bobby said they might get a stone driveway. I asked him “where.” He said where the cement drive is now. I must have looked like I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and he followed with this, “Mommy & Daddy haven’t said anything about it, but I think we will have a stone driveway.” He said he liked the hills on both side of ours. After Mark came home I turned David over to him and Mark said Bobby got in trouble and his mother made him stay home. It was so warm today I hung the clothes out after 3 P.M. and they got dry. The water was very hot so thought I would take advantage of it & the sunshine. I got the clothes line up but it was quite a pull.

I just heard David and I think he is working on a thumb so will go up and see. He was looking out the front door and I said, ”See the robin.” He said “obin.”

I wrote a letter to Ruth M. and John took it to the P.O. I told them they could find a recruiting office either in Joliet or Chicago.

I was looking at the new evergreen tree. It is still damp around there from the recent rains but the tree is beginning to look brown around the edges. In a day or so I will water it if it doesn’t rain. I won’t mail this till morning and if there is any mail or news will add a line.

Love Mother

April 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Fri. a.m.
It is about time for Mark to go to school and the mail hasn’t been delivered yet so no news. It is cloudy and looks like it will rain. I am glad I got one washer of clothes done yesterday. Slept like a log last night but still tired. Going to try and get this mountain of ironing done. Mark tries to use the belt you left but it is too wide. David is full of pep and

April 13, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] going strong. I worked on John’s face last nite with soap & wash cloth & washed his hair. He looks pretty good this a.m.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/11/tired-gladys/ ‎

New Duty (Roscoe)

5 Replies

April 13, 1944 envelope

April 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Naval Hospital
Great Lakes Illinois
Apr. 13, 1944

Dear Mother,

It is now 2030 and I’m about all set for the night. Had no trouble coming thru today and I’m pretty well signed in, etc. I’m not just certain what my duties will be but will find out definitely tomorrow. Needless to say I haven’t rented a house for the family as yet.

Someone had called the O.D. office about 15 minutes before I arrived inquiring if I had registered in and I’m at a loss to know who it was. I thought possibly it was Dr. Moran but he told me later he had not called – Maybe it was Socky but I doubt it very much. I may look him up tomorrow eve after I learn my way around a little better. My hours are from 0800 to 1630 so should have some time in the eve for things and

April 13, 1944, p, 2

[page 2] things. Dr. Moran says O.D. duty comes about once in every 15 days, and that requires staying on the base.

Mrs. Frence informed me the Col.’s wife moved in – Two girls, 3 guinea pigs and I believe she said a dog. Seems as if my 23 little men will have lots of competition and I was wrong we don’t use the same bath room. It’s two other men but at present there is only one so I have a semi private bath room.

I didn’t get to do anything with my pay accounts today because I have to have my orders and they had to be endorsed and it seems that couldn’t be done until tomorrow so I’ll see what can be done along that line and financially I’ll be at the end of the line if something isn’t done before too long. So far however I’ve only spent 51₵ since leaving home and that was for eve chow. Dr. Moran knew a little place between here and

April 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the base where the food is good and the price reasonable.

I’m sorry I didn’t get this written early enough to mail tonite but I just don’t know my way around here well enough yet but will get on schedule in a day or two. The address at the beginning of the letter so far as I know is correct but that is one thing I’ll have to find out for sure tomorrow. You can address my mail that way until you hear differently from me.

It’s a little lonesome in here just now after the swell time of the past 3 weeks but maybe things will be better in the near full future.

I hope I can give you all the dope right out of the horse’s mouth tomorrow eve.
Solong
Love Daddy

Home Sweet Home (Roscoe)

3 Replies

Roscoe finally received his long awaited orders on March 22, 1944. He journeyed by train, arriving in Kentland, Indiana, on March 24th. He enjoyed about three week’s leave before he was required to report for duty at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, on April 13th.

: March 22, 1944 orders, p. 1

: March 22, 1944 orders, p. 2

Obviously no letters were written during this time. However, Gladys made note of David’s first meeting with his father in the baby book.

March 23 – 1944
David is 18 months old – weighs 25 1/2 lbs – 33″ tall.
March 24 – Daddy came home and David saw him for the first time. David thinks Daddy is “OK.”
Cutting lower left and upper left first molars.
David is wearing thumg guards, but still puts his thumb in his mouth when he gets the guards off.
Apr. 9 – Easter Sunday and David’s Christening Day. Vic, Beulah & Carol Jean came for dinner and spent the afternoon with us. David found several Easter nests with the help of John and Mark.

Roscoe and David, March 1944

No Further News (Roscoe)

1 Reply

March 18, 1944 envelope

March 18, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 18, 1944

Dear Mother –

Still no further news so it’s wait again for another day – hope this doesn’t keep up too long and I really think it will be, as I told you before, the first of the week before anything definite turns up.

It seems I’m having a little trouble drawing money I have on the books so if I write a check for transportation home and there isn’t enough to cover same have Teague honor the amount and I’ll take care of it then. Just telling you in case something like that does happen.

Of course if I get orders to some area place in the 9^th district my fare will be paid or at least I’ll be repaid after getting there. Hope that 9^th district deal

March 18, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] works out.

Jim is out today – went out to see a doctor friend of his who is stationed nearby so I’m just sitting around the hotel chewing my nails and waiting. In fact it’s almost 1200 and I’m writing this in the lobby and waiting also for the maid to get the room fixed up. She seems to be a lot later this morn. Maybe it’s the extra Sat. brush up that is causing the delay. I just walked over to pick up an ash tray and I saw the door was open so I guess the room is getting the once over.

I suppose by now some of your letters are returning. The last one I received from you was dated Feb. 11 so I’m not well informed on what is going on – not as well as I hope to be in the next few days.

Well, I’ll give you the red hot dope as soon as it comes out of the horse’s mouth.
Lots of Love
Daddy

That Good Old Irish Stuff (Roscoe)

1 Reply

March 17, 1944 envelope

March 17, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 17, 1944

Dear Mother,

Nothing new to report this A.M. All we are doing now is just waiting and stewing. Jim & I. I mean. We went to see Red Skelton last night and had a beer or two. The food here is terrific. For breakfast I had a serving of Dry cereal and a cup of coffee 35₵. The way we eat you’d think we are on a diet, but it won’t be for long I hope. Today we are going to get around & see if we can get reservations for some sort of transportation but we are behind the eight ball because we don’t know when or whether it will be under orders, etc. We hope it will be under orders so that the price of the ticket won’t be on us but we just have to wait, but and maybe we can do but it is hard after 19 mo. to be this near and then just have to wait.

March 17, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Jim is writing to Detroit and since his name is Delaney he probably is filling the whole thing with that good old Irish stuff (Mar. 17).

Well, Jim is through so we will be getting along
Love Daddy

Waiting for word from Washington (Roscoe)

2 Replies

March 16, 1944 envelope

March 16, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 16, 1944

Dear Mother,

Thur. P.M. and everything seems to have gone very well – we have applied for leave and requested duty in the 9^th Naval district and now we have to wait for word to come from Washington – we were told it would take 5 day at least. Under those circumstance all we can do is keep cool and be as contented as possible which is hard to do. I’ll try to let you know by phone, etc., as I told you in the letter last night when and where.

The Red Cross picked us up at the pier and arranged for rooms and again provided us with means for getting our gear to the hotel. My gear is really a mess. The clothes are the same as when I left the states so you can imagine the condition they are now in and besides part of my ward

March 16, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] clothes had to be left in the laundry at the last station because I had only 2 hours to start from scratch and be underway but Ed promised to send them on to me. I had only three white shirts along. One is in the laundry, another is black instead of white and the one I’m wearing now was washed in the bathroom on ship, hung on a coat hanger and worn without blessing of an iron so you can imagine what I look like but somehow I care very little about those things.

I hardly think it will be necessary for you to write because your letter would hardly be here before I left I hope. I mean I hope I can get underway by that time.

Again lots of love
From Daddy