Category Archives: World War II

Purdue Music Hall (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-18-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 7 came today. This has been a full day. I took John and four other 8th graders to Purdue Music Hall to hear the Indpls Symphony Orchestra. It was a special children’s concert and well attended by school around Lafayette. After the concert we went over to Laf. and shopped. Lucile kept David and I was to get Jimmy a pr. of shoes, since Lucile stayed home. I went to every store I could think of and finally got two pr. of white shoes – one pr. for D. One pr. was too large for D. and the other is the same size that he is wearing now and the new shoes are 5 and his present shoes are 4 ½. Both pr. I bought today were 5’s and one pr. is a size or more larger than the other. Lucile kept the larger pair and if she decides they are too large for Jimmy now will keep them for later. It is so hard to find white baby shoes now it’s best to hang on to a pr. once you have them. Some of the stores had brown shoes and some places had none at all. I also tried to get some material to make David some play suits and found nothing I cared to work on. Cotton is being used for the Army and Navy so extensively

[page 2] there is very little for civilian use. I tried to buy sheets today but none to be had. I did get some new dishes but couldn’t get at all what I wanted. However what I got is nice and will break as easily for me as the more expensive. After shopping we started back to Kent a little past 5 P.M. I distributed our passengers to their several stopping places then John & I stopped at Johnsons to get David & Mark. The Johnsons were having dinner and asked us to eat so John & I ate our supper there too. After trying baby shoes on both boys we gathered our several belongings and came home. I gave David his bath and he got happy and started to splash water and by the time he got thru I had to mop the kitchen. I was hurrying because I wanted to go to the Class meeting at Nesbitts – and in walked Floyd. He was on his way home from a meeting in Chicago. He said he is about ready to quit the Co. He talked a while then went down to Nick’s for a steak.

I used a little cold cream & powder then dashed off to the party. I came home about 11 o’clock and having eaten refreshments thought I could write a while to let my lunch settle. Now I don’t go this pace every day, but there are days like this. I noticed at the party that Evelyn Beekman is about ready to have another baby – her last one is younger than David. I’ll write another letter tomorrow & mail together.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/15/purdue-music-hall-gladys/ ‎

Not Expecting Mail Today (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 17, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m really not expecting any mail today so I’ll write early. If mail does come it will be a huge surprise since we have been treated so kindly in that respect in the past few days.

You mentioned in your letter about talking to Mrs. R. on the phone and that Joe had begun to doubt the 18 mo. Well you know what I’ve said all along however some say that that is 18 mo. counted from the landing time out here. If that be the case mine will be up on Mar. 1. Which isn’t very far away – but there are

[page 2] a few here now past due so it’s a good talking point even tho it so far hasn’t been too much of an actual fact. I know personally 3 Drs. who have gone back after 18 mo. but I know several more than that who have more than that right now – so draw your own conclusions and keep fingers crossed, chin up and stuff.

We each have a mirror in our room about 15 in. by 20 in. and somehow it seems to be fashion to stick pictures around the edge of the mirror. I have 5 of D., 3 of you and one each of John & Mark. That is a little misleading about D. In 3 of those 5 you also appear. I also have two of the house. One in summer and one in winter. It’s just a fad but

[page 3] I sorta like it pretty much. One of yours is an old one where you are standing by the front door with your new coat. Another is where you are holding D. on the front step and the other is where you are down beside the baby buggy with only D.’s head sticking out – he is on his stomach. The others are just pictures of the boys. I think I’ll keep changing them from time to time because there are more good pictures that those in my picture collection.

– Got my laundry back today. One khaki shirt, one pair of pants, 5 underware trunks and 4 handkerchiefs 6/6. In round numbers very near $1.10. A little high but I guess I can stand it now and then. The trunks we are nice and white

[page 4] so next week I’ll send the most yellow of the bunch again. Another thing that is a little confusing here is their unit of weight. A stone – a stone is 14 pounds. In other words I weigh 10 stone 9 pounds. When we were on our trip we wanted to fly a part of the way and were allowed so many stones of weight instead of pounds. Their scales read in stones and pounds – which to me is a lot of confusion but I guess they don’t mind.

It is now 2:30 and the New Zealanders who are working on the lawn have dropped tools and on their way to tea. They will all be back in about ½ hour – seems funny but I gues they like it.

Well, I guess I’ve wandered far enough –
Love Daddy

P.S. a letter came from Mr. Zell

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/14/not-expecting-mail-today-roscoe/

A Variety of News (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-17-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 5 & 6 came today. Also had a letter from Ruthie, wanting your address. Seems Glenn has been ill with a topical fever, temp being 108. Ruthie wants to ask you if you know anything about Dengue fever. Ruthie says they won’t go to Ga. This year as Floyd thought they might. He isn’t so sold on his job as he used to be. He feels like he gets kicked about too much. Of course if he was in the Army he might be glad to get back to his job. I am not the one to judge but so far Floyd has had rather smooth sailing in his young life. Last summer he had to do a lot of heavy work and things he thought was a little below him but I still think he has a better

[page 2] job with more possibilities than school teaching.

I mentioned before about the Yost-Barce wedding. It was last Sat. They went to St. Louis to be married – why I don’t know. Maybe some of the family live there. I didn’t recognize any of the names mentioned of the places they visited. A Mr. & Mrs. Kerlin were attendants and Mr. & Mrs. Wood gave a dinner for them. They are to return home after a week’s honeymoon. I understand Paul will have to return to Panama.

I see in the paper that Mr. Hartley died – from complications due to a fall. You remember him – lived across the street from us at 2 & Carrol.

Lucile came out with Jimmy this afternoon. We both decided as smart as Jimmy and David are about everything else they should tell their mothers when

[page 3] they have a toidey – but neither one will. Lucile put panties on J. this morning and he had a B.M. in panties – She had to give him a bath he was in such a mess. She is going to keep D. tomorrow while I am gone. I promised John to take him to Purdue to hear the Indpls. Symphony orchestra. Lucile won’t get much done but change diapers, etc. I asked her how a person would train twins. She said Ed asked her if she didn’t want another baby. She said not for a while. She is going to sell the baby buggy she had for Jimmy. She has a little Reed stroller she used now. She says she hopes she won’t need another buggy until after the war, and by that time can buy another.

David eats a cookie now & then. He knows the cookie jar (Dorothy gave me one for Christmas).

[page 4] and when he wants one goes to the jar and tries to say cookie – what it sounds like is kee, but we know what he means. He knows so much about what we day around him, we spell some things. Never say “go” unless you are ready to take him out.

I stopped to glance thru the Dem. to get some news that might be of interest to you but didn’t see much.

I have heard the Great Lakes Training School is to be closed. Also Camp Atterbury. I suppose those places have served their purposes and there is no further need for them. Jim said in his last letter they weren’t getting any more Seebees to train. There is a campaign on the radio now to get new W.A.V.E. enlistments. So many of the programs bring a Wave character into their sketches to give a pep talk. There have been campaigns for the other women’s organizations from time to time

[page 5] Several girls from here are in the W.A.C.S. and a few nurses are in service but I don’t believe there is a large percentage. Catherine Ade is in the Marines. I think most of the girls around town are still at their jobs in offices or factory. With so many men gong from here all the time the girls almost have to stay. I heard over the radio about a certain town in Ill. that had a custom. I should say leap year custom, when on the 29th of Feb. the women took over the government of the city and of course their object was to arrest eligible bachelors, fining them with dates, etc., but this year they won’t follow this custom, reason: “they are either too young or too old.” There is a current popular song bearing that title I thought was rather cute. I suppose you have heard it some time or other,

[page 6] but in case you haven’t – it’s a girl telling her boyfriend she will be true to him because as the title says, those left at home are either too young or too old.

Mark worked his Arith. at school and brought it home for me to check and has been pestering me all evening to check it, so to get some rest from him I had better check his problems. Arith. Isn’t one of his easy subjects, and he won’t work on it any longer than he absolutely has to. He is working in fractions now and they baffle him somewhat. I wish I could get him to spend more time on homework but when he gets thru with what the teacher has assigned – that’s all.

John is working at the piano, and I have another letter to write if I can keep my mind off the music.
Love Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/13/a-variety-of-news-gladys/

A Little Ahead (Roscoe)

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 16, 1944

Dear Mother,

A Kentland Democrat came yesterday and in glancing thru it I found John’s name mentioned twice, both of which I hadn’t been informed. One was the entertainment at the County farm by he, Rev. Servies & the Wood girl and the other was the honor roll for the eighth grade. Neither item was very important and it probably just slipped your mind or you may have written both items and they didn’t arrive. I mean the letters because I don’t believe all the letters have come thru. I haven’t check on which letters may be missing

[page 2] now in a long time. I have a

I have all the letters you have written so far and would like to bring them home but in case of any question of weight I may have to destroy them. There is considerable weight involved you know in that many letters. Of course weight may not be a factor depending upon the way orders might come – when they come??

So far today no mail and I hardly look for any since we have had so much in the past few days. Mail just came – so hold the phone.

Just finished reading your three in two letters Feb. 1 & 2 and Feb. 3. A v-mail letter came from U. Wess and one from Mom – air mail dated Feb. 5. That was the latest this time. One of your letters had D’s picture – Very good picture

[page 3] It sure does help to get the mail a little regular. I forgot all about Ground Hog Day – both you and Mom mentioned it but this certainly doesn’t seem like Feb. In fact it seems to be more turned around than last year. You know how it is when you have to stop and think of what day and date it is well I have to stop and think what month it is.

This time last year is a never to be forgotten time because I was moving from one station to another and I did remember Valentine’s Day because being in a travel status I was on a ship. I didn’t mind the ship but well you know or can imagine. All that seems like a

[page 4] dream now – one you don’t like to talk about because it might have been true or too terrible to think of, but I should talk because I’ve been very lucky. I guess that’s what one would call it.

Back to you – I was a little worried because from the last letter it sounded like you were getting a cold. That was Jan. 31 but in these last ones you seemed to be OK so that was a relief.

If I were you I wouldn’t buy too many bonds right now – keep as much money on hand as possible because “we” might need some and it doesn’t add up too fast on a set salary – a little ahead might mean a lot to us in a few months because rent is pretty high anyplace else but in Kentland – Maybe I’m day dreaming but it feels good to feel that way.

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/12/a-little-ahead-roscoe/

Kentland Locker Co. (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
2-16-44

Dear Daddy – Yours of Feb. 2 came today. I sent you two pictures of the snow that is beginning to leave us. It is getting dirty and has lost most of its beauty. Main street is so slushy overshoes are necessary in crossing the streets. I went to town this afternoon and selected our locker. It is a drawer on the second level and should be easily accessible. The Ford Garage is the room they are using and it should be ready for use in 60 days if materials can be secured that are necessary. It will be called the Kentland Locker Co. I went to Sheldon too, and got some necessary meats – a chicken, pork roast, sirloin steaks & sausage – also a box of strawberries (not trying to make you hungry). John is listening to Kay K. and Mark & David are in bed. Mark has to go to bed earlier because he can’t get along unless he has a lot of sleep. David has learned to climb up on the hamper by the lavatory and turn the water on – also puts the soap, tray, glass, etc., down into the bowl. He fell off the hamper once today but got up and climbed right back up. Also throws various things into the toilet bowl. The curfew just sounded – the siren – they used to ring a bell but changed to the siren. Our boys are all safely home – the curfew doesn’t bother them.

Love – Mother

YEG1944-02 - Mark in snow

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/11/kentland-locker-co-gladys/

Lots of Mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 15, 1944

Dear Mother,

To begin with the P.S. that I closed with in yesterday’s letter. There was lots of mail – First to add to my chagrin a Valentine came from you and it hit the day smack on the head – anyway I wrote you mentioning Valentine on the day. Your air mail of Jan. 31st came and 4 others, all older than the ones received a few days ago. The picture of D. finally arrived. They were good. I thought – very – the one in the folder looks a lot like the baby picture of mine – Maybe I’m just imagining. Anyway they were good pictures. There was three Christmas packages. Tw One from Funks, one from Boonie – They were just alike – a round box of

[page 2] assorted candies. Meade Johnson also sent a big box of assorted vitamins and then there were several Christmas greetings. There was on from Pinky C., Mrs. Smart, Joe Mullens, Dorothy Salter, Bill Funk, Carl Funk and Harry Hufty. These of course we[re] from Mr. & Mrs. In each case where there was a Mr. & Mrs. Mrs. Smart sent hers for 1½ cents which was a surprise because I didn’t know that could be done. There was also a letter from Boonie. He wrote very fluently on Col. Wilkie but a few weeks ago when I asked him if he knew Otto. He studied a little and finally admitted he did remember him but not nearly as much as Otto lead we to believe in the letter.

[page 3] All in all it was a pretty good mail call even though there were more letters from other people than from you. However your letter was still the latest of the bunch. So that still made you tops even in the mail. There were a couple of old Newton Co. E. in the bunch also.

I’m going to try to get the films into town today that I wrote you about a few days ago and maybe in a few days I can send a picture to you. It was taken with a friend of mine – A Jewish boy from Brooklin. Doesn’t that sound funny coming from me. He is a very fine fellow and so far we have gotten along very well. So much for those until we see how they turn out.

Today we got an official statement

[page 4] from the pay office on the amount taxable collected in 1943. I’ve sent that to you before but don’t know what my figures were – This is official – $2,530.00 so if its necessary to file those are the figures plus anything you might have collected in the way of interest or old bills, both of which wouldn’t amount to much.

Our back yard is being leveled off and spaded getting ready for some grass. It will be nice when it gets all green but I hope I’m not here that long. I’ll be willing to imagine how it will look at some later date.

In all probability I’ll reread your letters and add more comment tomorrow. Thanks again for the pictures & Valentine

Love Daddy

P.S. also received a letter from Geo. Wingfield – he had received your letter.

YEG1943-11

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/10/lots-of-mail-roscoe/ ‎

A Pin Broke (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcriptions:

Kentland Ind.
2-15-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 3 & 4 came yesterday & Mark birthday letter too. Son John has been using this (my) pen and it feels like it is about past its useful days. I don’t know whether I can straighten it or not.

We had some furnace trouble today. A pin broke. Mr. Monroe came to fix it and we had to take all the fire out of the furnace to get down to the retort. I finally had to quit and come upstairs to take care of D. I sent John down and in a few minutes it was fixed and John got

[page 2] the fire started again. Yesterday we got more coal but the coal room door was left open – the coal wasn’t dampened – and as I have told you before no coal is oil treated this year – well the furnace room floor and most of the rest of the basement was black and I mean jet black. I went down tonight and cleaned up some of it. Had to – it tracks upstairs and there is enough dirt from the furnace without dragging it up from the basement floor. I had just given the house a pretty thorough cleaning before the coal was delivered – I just finished washing the kitchen and last week washed & ironed the slip covers. I feel like I need to go over every

[page 3] inch of the house with the sweeper.

The roads being impossible in some places yet today, there was no school so I left D. with J. & M. and attended Literary club. Mrs. Ade read the play, “Tomorrow the World.” I heard a sketch from that play on the Quiz Kids Sunday evening. One of the current Quiz Kids is an actress in “Tomorrow the World.”

I saw Dr. Dinwiddie’s wife today (you know he is a dentist from Lowell – Mrs. D. is Bill Strole’s daughter). He is across now and she is living here with Stroles. Dr. D. was at Ft. Leonard Wood for more than a year before he was sent out.

Raymond Bower is home again on leave. He gets back quite often – but I suppose every time

[page 4] he gets back from a voyage he gets a leave. I asked him why he didn’t go to N.Z. and bring you home. Silly question, but makes conversation.

I heard that Red Parr got his greeting from the Draft Board and someone else from the P.O. I suppose Clarence Lucas.

I am enclosing two snow scenes so you can get an idea about how the snow drifted and what a heavy snow from the way the evergreens look. It is warmer now and if it keeps on like this our snow will be a slush. The streets downtown are terrible and boys all over the place with sleds trying to get run over. Someone hooked a sled on our car. I slowly stopped the car, opened the door and said in no kind or uncertain terms “get off and stay off.”

Love – Mother

YEG1944-02 - Mark in snow

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/09/a-pin-broke-gladys/

Happy Valentine’s Day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 14, 1944

Dear Mother,

You will most certainly have to pardon my absentmindedness about Valentine’s Day because it surely slipped my mind and I didn’t even tumble when the one came from the boys. It just all seemed foreign and a long way off or the wrong time of year or something. I know that sounds crazy but never the less true. So – Happy Valentine’s Day and all that goes with it.

I just happened to think of another thing you mentioned in your letters that I forgot to

[page 2] mention and that was the music lessons that John’s teacher was talking about. The $7.00 variety. How often would those have to come? Surely not once per week. I think he should have lessons more advanced but not that strong each week, but we can talk of that later. I hope talk and not write. That last sentence has no more significance than anything else I’ve written about coming home. So far there have been 4 Drs. leave here on the 18 mo. deal but others are past due and things seem to be at a standstill in so far as their orders are concerned. As it

[page 3] stands now there are three groups here who have been out longer than Cub 13. So you see we don’t just know what to think. There is however less than one month time for us as well as the groups ahead of us. We figure all the angles backward and forward and when it’s all said and done the whole thing adds up to only one thing – confusion.

There were mail bags in camp today. I saw them with my own eyes, but as yet we have heard nothing or seen no results of the sorting but hopes are running pretty high. I’ll let you know at the end of this if any arrives.

I did some laundry this PM.

[page 4] That was the first in a long time. I told you once the number of pairs of socks and trucks I had so I don’t have to wash so often but when I do – Oh Boy! I have been sending some of my most yellow trunks to the laundry to get that well known Gray out of them.

Just stopped to chit chat with the bridegroom & Lentz – nothing in particular as you might imagine. They both came in and bummed a coke – Tea time – possibly gossip time.

Well Dear I hope to P.S. some mail –
Love Daddy

P.S. Mail did arrive and I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. It was a landslide.

New_Zealand_Cities

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/08/happy-valentines-day-roscoe/ ‎

More Coal (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Monday – Feb. 14 – 1944

Dear Daddy – Yours of Feb. 3 & 4th came today – also Mark’s birthday letter. You letters made a good valentine – however your presence would be better but maybe it won’t be long. Mark was much pleased with the money order, but said it would be better for you to come.

Since the roads are still snowbound in places there wasn’t any school today. There was more snow today so there probably won’t be school for a day or so. I was able to attend music club at Foulkes, since the boys were home to keep David. Mark stayed home – John went with me to hear the Opera La Bohème. We had never heard Foulkes’ phonograph and decided it didn’t sound much, if any, beter than ours. Of course they have a much more elaborate cabinet. Theirs vibrates when it starts to play so it sounded a little natural, because ours gets a hum or buzz once in a while.

We got some coal today ($22.43) from the Lbr. Co., $9.50 a ton, but it’s the best and incidentally the only kind our furnace wants to burn. I called Chet Harlan and he was completely out of any kind of stoker coal but has a load of “Milco” on the way and promised to send us some as soon as it comes which he says should be Thurs. or Fri. I’ll take it too because we will use it, in time. John went to the basement to take a look around and he says the new coal made a lot of dirt – If the boys are home a day or two I think we will try to clean up a little down there.

[page 2] The Music Club chorus came here to practice on a new cantata they want to give in March. Their pianist didn’t come so John played for them. John weighed this morning on the office scales, now in the upstairs bathroom, and he weighed just 100 even – 5 lbs. more than I weigh. He got out this morning and shoveled snow, then it snowed more and by the time the chorus arrived the walk was covered again. Bob Schurtter hauled the coal this afternoon and mildly “bawled me out” because we didn’t have the drive shoveled off. I just ignored him. He helps Chet out when he (Chet) gets short of help and needs truck drivers. He often works on Sat. or holidays. He will be in the Navy as an ensign sometime – probably before school is out – then he won’t have to haul coal, etc. I would predict before the war is over he will be glad to haul coal again. Maybe I am wrong. – What am I ranting about? Maybe I didn’t like it because he said what he did about having the drive cleaned off. Anyway we have coal again and that is the main thing.

Sorry your Christmas box was so mutilated. The chewing gum wasn’t very good but all I could get at that time. I did wrap those boxed with heavy paper & card besides using cigar boxes. I used the same boxes so I could wrap them better.

Mark is waiting to take this to town so must get it finished.
Love Mother

YEG1944-02 - Mark in snow

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Mrs. Kindell (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 13, 1944

Dear Mother,

Going back to the letters. I now recall what the $6.60 was for but until you mentioned it again I just couldn’t figure that one out. I started this letter just a little abrupt but on re-reading I find that was one point about which I wrote you before.

It seems from your letters that the pond must have served a very good winter playground for the kids and with Bob S. supervising the affair it surely was a fine thing. I guess you knew Mark wrote me of his fall.

[page 2] He expressed it in a rather unique way. He, from what you say, must like the great outdoors and all the sports that go with it. Although from what you wrote he doesn’t like his arithmetic so very well. I was surprised at John writing that he liked arithmetic so well, but on second thought that isn’t so strange because it is an exact science and that is more to his makeup.

I didn’t know Mrs. Kindell was ill and how should I if you didn’t know it. She used to have very high blood pressure along with her diabetes so I suppose one or the other or both were the causative factors. She was a nice old lady even though she used to be

[page 3] a little hard on my nerves on Thur. P.M. There have been a number of my old patients pass away since my leaving there but when one considers the time it isn’t out of the ordinary because 2 years ago this mo. I was examined or was it Jan.? Anyway it’s been just about 2 years.

I suppose Red wouldn’t allow Coke to be sick from what she said to you but it seems to one that he was in my office about 2-3 times each month. And he also went to Mayo Brothers and they found nothing wrong. That last paragraph was just an afterthought.

Well, Dear, that is about all I can recall now
So Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/06/mrs-kindell-roscoe/