Category Archives: World War II

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
2/3/44

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner,

We planned to send you a Christmas greeting, but lots happened around here about then and mothering but mere essentials got our attention. Although we have not met, it seems I know you fairly well by knowing the rest of your family.

Mark and I do some swapping of work. Not long ago we cleared off and burned the gardens one evening after school. Another evening he burned brush and helped me saw up a maple top on Rinehearts lot to the North of our lot.

Ed Johnson and I had fun fixing up the electric train. Ed did some soldering and I got a new screw for the engine. Last Sunday all of us had dinner with your family. While the women decided some big problems, Mark and I put the train in operation here. He said he had some trouble this week but changed transformers and all is OK.

We want to tell you how much Virginia appreciated your letter last fall. She has faithfully kept it. It seemed to ease her. All of us regretted the whole incident so much.

You probably know Al Cast is going into Prairie Realty at the end of this school year.

[page 2] “Socky” is reported to be due for service soon, so I suppose Al will take over. Al and I were closely associated last summer on Farm Labor work. He is tactful and can put a lot of “fire” in the job when he wants to, so I think he’ll make good. The back porch “chorus” will be short at least one voice when Wilson leaves.

Sometimes I’m doubtful about being in the good grace of your family, especially you, after hearing reactions to other specimens known as county agents. I do work though and even get dirty at times. We are trying to do a lot of 4H club work including livestock and cropwork. Much of our time in the past 2 years (even before I came here) has been spent in helping farmer with labor and production efforts. The favorable weather, and the fact that farmers know no hours have done the job. Better seeds and methods have helped some I hope.

Speaking of active service, I passed my final physical last Tuesday. When I am called will depend upon how my Employer’s policy works out with Selective Service. Purdue (my Employer) has been requesting that experienced men stay on, but I know nothing except Army-Navy Doctors say I’m healthy.

Our office often helps organize “Drives.” Attended Red Cross planning session today. County Quota is $11,500, 150% of last March. Ira Dixon handles publicity. I know he would appreciate any story of Red Cross activity you have thought outstanding.

All of us join the members of your family wishing you a speedy return to the States.

Sincerely,
Russell Zell

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Birthday Letter to Mark (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mark,

It seems to me you have a birthday this month so I guess I’d better send you the same as I did John & David. This one is different however because it will be a mixed up one. Bought in shillings and then when you get the money it will be in dollars. How do you like that? Wouldn’t it be a surprise if when you went to cash it you would get 12/9 instead of the two bucks?

I guess I received a letter from you just the other day thanking me for the Christmas present I sent you – That just about slipped my mind. So I really owed you a letter.

Well, I hope I won’t have to send John any present for his birthday from overseas but one never can tell.

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/14/birthday-letter-to-mark-roscoe/ ‎

That’ll Be The Day (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mother,

Before mail time again today but I’m not expecting much since your two letters came yesterday. However there are several missing between the last two bunches.

I went to the P.O. just before starting this letter to get Mark’s M.O. and found that it didn’t open for about an hour so will have to make another trip later. I’ll try and finish this and then write his letter before going back.

Again bringing up the subject of what Tommy Britton told his mother. I’ve always wondered just how or what I’d do by

[page 2] way of informing you that I have arrived. I suppose it won’t be hard to figure that out once I’ve gotten on the USA soil again. It probably will be strange because things have changed but we should be able to get used to those changes if we were able to get used to the foreign situations.

Transportation across the country probably will be hard to get and that is going to seem like a long trip – but why am I writing all this? Well anyway it doesn’t matter if one wants to daydream now and then or should I say think ahead. As we say in New Zealand – That’s be the day.

As I wrote you often and long ago the term of duty out here

[page 3] is still a very favorite topic of conversation and everyone is vitally interested, however, much one might like this country.

That is a question on is often asked here – How do you like our country? If one meets a native before long that question is going to be asked, and of course they like an answered which is good. The average New Zealander thinks Americans are supermen. I mean those that haven’t learned. One could make lots of money selling buying Americans for what they are worth and selling them for their actual value. The “Bloody” Yanks do spend lots of money here and that gives the people a false idea, and incidentally don’t ever use the word Bloody in nice company because it’s considered definitely

[page 4] ungood.

You will note that I’m writing on this paper just a little funny but I don’t like to unfold it. I guess you can find the key to read it I’ll at least number the pages and that will help.

I’m sipping a coke while I write. Today is coke day so I bought a case. The price was up to 4 shillings but that isn’t too much to pay for a case. Cigarettes are down in price 6/2 2/6 and that makes them cost around 5 to 7 cents per pack.

When one rides on a tram here he has to tell them how far he is going because the fare is different for different distances. Seems logical doesn’t it? Tickets to service men are reduced – I don’t know how much.

I hope John reads lots about the country because I don’t know much about it and I’ll be able to learn something when I get back.

Well, I’ll write Mark now and get the M.O. later.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/13/thatll-be-the-day-roscoe/

Groundhog Day (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-2-44

Dear Daddy –

No letters today, but had yours of Jan. 21 yesterday. This being ground hog day we were anxious to see what the weather would be. Not a trace of sun all day. In fact we had quite a little rain. We planned to go to Laf. to shop. Lucile called and said she had such a cold she didn’t feel like going, so Mrs. Z., Martha and I went. Alma W. kept D. for me. Lucile was going to take Jimmy Ed and David to her sisters, but since she couldn’t go, I called Alma and asked her to go along but she was working at Mrs. Stevens during the noon hour and said she would rather keep D. at home so after she got

[page 2] thru at the Restaurant took him to her house. She brought him home about 5 – He took a nice long nap for her and when he woke up she said he acted very “cute.” When I came home he acted very “smart” just like J. & M. used to do after being away from home for an afternoon or evening.

I don’t remember whether I mentioned it or not, but David can climb upon the studio cough on his own power. I went to see about him and there he said, looking as pleased with himself as he could.

I got a new red dress this P.M. Mrs. Z. got a new hat and few other things. I tried to shop for David but didn’t find anything I wanted. I bought a gift for Louise Glen’s baby girl. I never saw prices so high on children’s things as they are now. I know if we had girls I would make

[page 3] their clothes. Mrs. Z. and I looked at little girl things with Joy Funk in mind and came home without anything. I am knitting her a little jacket, but ran out of yard, so thought I would get something else, but found some yarn I might use to finish the jacket I am working on.

I saw the Funks in Laf. today. I knew they were going. I think they took Joy back for her first visit to the Dr. Also I suppose Louise went to the Dr. She is expecting her baby in the spring. She is still staying with Funks. However I don’t believe she doesn’t the work she used to do. Theresa Ann Lubberty helps after school. You remember her, but you wouldn’t know her now. You couldn’t believe how she has grown-out – must weigh 175.

[page 4] Mr. Zell passed his physical but I don’t know whether he will have to go. Purdue says the county agents are to stay put. Merle Ford passed his physical, along with Jr. Morton and several others in this community. I understand Jr. is in the Navy, but don’t know about Ford.

Mrs. Roberts called me yesterday – just to talk a few minutes and find out any news I might have. I told her I wasn’t too sure about the 18 mo. business and she said Joe had written the same. I told her we would just have to wait and see.

I just worked on the check book and our balance at present is $123.40, but I have to pay groc. bills out of that, and buy a bond for D. The bal. will be below $100 – before I get thru. Also Portteus is going to let us have half a beef and I may have to pay that yet this month, but there isn’t anything else I know of now. Ins. paid up at present.

Love – Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/12/groundhog-day-gladys/

Sleeping Partner (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 1, 1944

Dear Mother,

It’s really mail time but nothing as yet has shown up but it could be late. My last letter being Jan. 12 makes this a pretty long mail famine again.

We were looking at the ads in the paper today and their wording is different than ours and we get a real kick out of some of them. One I remember in particular was a business in which a partner was wanted. And instead of saying a silent partner they called it a sleeping partner. There were others which weren’t so funny but we were in a funny stage and laughed more than much about most of them.

The mail just came and your v-mail of 1-18 and 1-20 arrived. The one on the 20th told of Tommy B. saying I had called from San Francisco – He surely can stretch stories

[page 2] for that one reached for miles. Hope it isn’t for such a long time.

I didn’t get to send Mark’s money order today because I find they don’t sell money orders every day so I’ll get one the first day they sell them and it should still arrive in time.

It seems as if D. is still very much an active boy and giving his mother plenty of running to do. Maybe I don’t get the ruder side of life but I’ve never heard of him getting a real old fashioned spanking – Yes you have mentioned about slapping his hands. Maybe he is good enough that he doesn’t need any more severe punishment.

Some hours later – It seems I was detained by supper and a stage show which I wouldn’t class as too good but it was pretty good entertainment. I think I’ve told you all about those Tue. Evening shows before and they are about all alike. They make have a habit of singing old songs. A favorite I believe is “For Me & My Gal.” That one has been used every week since I’ve been here. Well time to turn in –

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/11/sleeping-partner-roscoe/ ‎

Furnace Dirt (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-1-44

Dear Daddy –

The first day of Feb. – Yours of Jan. 21 came today. It was unusually warm for Feb. 1 –

Took David for a walk. We went to Jimmy’s and then we all walked again. The boys enjoying playing or riding together. David won’t leave his mitten on, then J. gets a similar idea so we are busy putting mittens on.   we came from our walk, Mark, D. & I went to Sheldon to get a supply of meat and our fresh lard. Harold Portteus (just out of the hospital, just recovering from hernia operation) called today to say we could have

[page 2] half the beef they have ready to butcher, so we will have a new supply T-bone steaks, etc. I brought some strawberries and lima beans from the locker. We had some berries for supper. They weren’t thawed enough – as far as I am concerned I would just about as soon eat chunks of ice. The boys enjoyed them, so that is all that is necessary. The berries I bought last year weren’t so good for freezing – they did very well in the preserves.

Mr. Z. went to Indpls. for his physical today. Several were going from here. I think Jr. Morton was in the bunch. Mr. Z. is registered at Brookville but asked to go with the men from here.

[page 3] Davie Diedam is here this evening playing with Mark and the electric train. Our David likes the train too.

Mary McGee Arnott is visiting in Kent for a few days. She had a bunch of pictures of her baby and a picture from her husband, somewhere in England. He was standing by a jeep on which was pained their baby’s name, Marylin Sue. He had to leave before their baby was born. She didn’t know where he was when she was in the hospital, but she did send a cable to his A.P.O. number.

We are getting low on coal again. I called Chet Harlan and he promised us some when the next load comes in a week or 10 days.

[page 4] I washed the chair cover last night and got them ironed and back on this afternoon. They show up the furnace dirt more than anything else because their light background – Everybody who burns coal “gripes” about how dirty it is this year, but I suppose we should be thankful to have coal at all.

I was appointed by the woman’s club on a committee for Post War Planning. The first meeting is Thurs. evening at the High School. I don’t have the slightest idea what they intend to do but will give you the “dope” after the meeting.

John is working on his essay. You remember he won second prize last year writing in competition with high school students.

I am about out of paper.
Love Mother

P.S. another picture of D. enclosed.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/10/furnace-dirt-gladys/ ‎

Another Month All Used Up (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 31, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m writing before mail time again and hope. Of course, mail came only two days ago but it wasn’t such late mail. Just a little over 2 wks. and generally we get the latest in just a little less than two weeks.

Notice the date another month all used up and then we go into the one which we hope has a meaning but which isn’t too promising I’m afraid, however. One never knows.

I forgot to tell you – about 3 days ago I had a woman patient.

[page 2] The wife of a U.S. service man. I was so excited I hardly knew what to ask her – She is going to have a baby and came in for her first prenatal check up. A patient with that diagnosis is an unusual thing for me. That here isn’t my usual work, but since the usual Dr. who takes care of that was busy he asked me to pinch hit. No I don’t mean that. I didn’t pinch or hit the lady either one. Anyway we got the little lady taken care of.

One of the Dr. here it seems run low on white shirts and has laundered one himself and hung it on the fence outside my window and I’m watching

[page 3] it with interest because it might blow off. Maybe I just want it to blow off or something. I don’t think it can now because one sleeve is now well anchored on the barbs of the upper strand of wire. He will probably have to med mend a hole if the wind blows hard enough to tear the thing.

Just saw a bus go down the road and noticed something I don’t believe I’ve mentioned before. Baby carriages on the back. That is very common.  In town there are hooks on the front of the street car for the carriages and one often sees 4 or 5 of them there. When Mother and babe

[page 4] get off the car, the conductor gets out and takes the carriage down and away they go. I mean the mother and babe. I can’t imagine that at home but maybe with gas shortage, etc., thinks have changed there.

I’ll get a money order tomorrow for Mark’s birthday. I can’t send money because we don’t get any American money anymore but we can use this to buy money orders. At first we were paid with New Zealand our money and then could get it changed but now it’s all foreign. It doesn’t matter because one finally learns how to make change, etc.

Well, I guess I’d better do something else for a change
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/09/another-month-all-used-up-roscoe/ ‎

My Fountain Pen (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-31-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 21 today. Another warm Jan. day. I will have to cover the tulips. This warm weather is bringing them up fast. There was a shower last night. The weather prediction is for colder weather soon.

My sinus condition is better. Yesterday about 4 PM my nose started running and I spit for several hours, besides holding a tissue to my nose. By bedtime it seemed to have cleared up and I slept soundly last night for the first for 3 nights. I felt stiff this AM. I had slept so soundly. My throat wasn’t so irritated this morning as it usually is from the night drainage. I don’t believe it

[page 2] will be necessary to go see the Dr. unless of course it gets worse and I don’t believe it will the way I feel now.

David is taking his afternoon nap. He likes to watch Mark’s train, now that it is working again. He seems to understand so much we say to him, but he doesn’t improve in his toidey habits. I told him this morning as much as he understands he could tell us when he needs to go the bathroom. He is learning to feed himself. Still wants to turn the spoon over before he gets it to his mouth, but did a pretty good job eating his dinner.

You wondered what the dividends from J. Hancock meant – instead of deducting those from the polic prems.

[page 3] they sent us checks for the dividends and I paid the prems. as they appeared on the notices. I would say the long way to do it, but we got the benefit just the same, or, I should say deductions.

Today is tin can day. I open all the cans, flatten and put in a box for collection once a month. Sat. the scouts collected paper, so we are rid of cans and waste paper today. Bun hauled the clinkers last week so we feel very clean, with all the above disposed of. If we could just keep the basement clean, but that is out of the question. The coal isn’t treated this year and the dirt from the stoker is bad. I keep thinks straightened but in a few days the coal dust on the floor is thick enough to write in.

[page 4] Lucile came out with J.E., for a little visit again today. We were in the nursery talking and David came into the dining room. I called to him and he had my fountain pen and ink bottle – the lid wasn’t on and you can see what happened to the paper. Should see the floor. I have most of it up but ink goes right in this floor. I had been filling my pen and hadn’t fastened the lid down enough. I didn’t spank – I should have had the bottle tightly closed. I know he shouldn’t take things but I am working on that all the time. Maybe I haven’t spanked hard enough when I did spank. Just so he doesn’t do any more damage than spilling ink. I must get this finished and see if I can get D. quieted down – he is on a little rampage now.

Love – Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/08/my-fountain-pen-gladys/ ‎

Officer’s Club (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 29, 1944

Deat Mother,

Just another of those lazy Sat. P.M. and I can’t see why it should seem any different but it does. Tonite we are to have an unofficial opening of our officer’s club and I suppose there will be some who drink too much or at least plenty and I might be one. Yes, you are right you’ll have to take me in hand but don’t get alarmed I’m not too bad.

Yesterday in the first part of that letter I think I sounded

[page 2] a little sarcastic, disgruntled or something but I didn’t mean to do so. It’s just that one sorta gets fed up sometimes at nothing in particular. Just like any human whatever the circumstances so don’t pay any attention be me as Sister used to say.

Your air mail of Jan. 12 just came and your v-mail of Dec. 23 also came – Mark’s thank you v-mail came also. The 5 above weather sure sounds cold. In all possibility it will not get as cold this year as last at least for not such a long period.

This being Sat. I’ll conclude on Sunday and get the two together –

[page 3] Sun Morn.

The officer’s club opened and it wasn’t so bad nor it wasn’t so good anyway I don’t have a hangover and that is something.

Today is the regular time to write the folks but I don’t believe I’ll mention the officers club etc. They might not understand.

Chow this noon will be chicken instead of beef. Personally I prefer beef because it’s the big thick steaks but I guess they don’t ask me what they will serve.

Just happened to think. You mentioned Irene in your letter – I don’t think as I told you before she has anything

[page 4] organically wrong but she is just not cut out to do work of that kind – She needs plenty of activity but not responsible every day grind type, but again that is a long distance diagnosis. She must be pretty desperate going from one Dr. to another. Why white about her when it’s you I’m interest in? Hope you can get along the next few months as well as you have this winter so far. And I hope you can have your own private Dr. If hoping does any good I’d be there now I “betcha.”

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

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Stitch in Time (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-29-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 18 & 20 came today. This is a lazy Sat. a.m. John isn’t taking a music lesson. He stayed home from school yesterday with a cold. I gave him sulfamerazine and the cold is about gone. He still coughs, but so many do. David still coughs too. David is so full of pep he can wear any of us down. I got a little throat bug yesterday – so started sulfamerazine and feel better. It is down too deep to have it swabbed so thought the best thing to do was take something to nip it before I got something in my sinus. I could hardly go to sleep last night my throat kept filling up, but that is better now. We really don’t take sulfa all the time. This is the first John

[page 2] and I have taken any since last fall but rather than let anything get too bad thought a “stitch in time” would be better than waiting for something worse to develop. It was sunny and windy out yesterday and I hung clothes out on the line and think I got my throat irritation when out in the high wind.

Again I’ll repeat that the taxes was the gross I pd. One quarter I quit paying after that because we don’t pay taxes anymore that is while you are out of the states. Service people don’t have to pay any gross and when you get back home we can see about the Federal.

Irene is home from the hospital but I haven’t seen much of her. Link took her job at the factory so I don’t know whether she is working now or not. Your diagnosis seems to be correct. One day I went to see Coke about

[page 3] some knitting and she brought up the subject of Irene’s condition. I wasn’t going to say much but Coke said she thought the thing Irene needed now was to see a psychiatrist. She also said I wouldn’t be sick or think she was sick so much if she had a husband like Red. She said if Irene didn’t think she was ill every time she had a little pain, etc., etc., etc. She really sized the situation up pretty well. She said she told Mrs. James she thought Irene need[ed] to see a psychiatrist. Red told her she would get herself in trouble if she wasn’t careful, but in her opinion it was time for someone to say something. Dorothy said Link told Nick the Dr. said there wasn’t anything the matter, all in her mind. – Well so much for that. The way I got started

[page 4] was the remark you made in your letter.

We have had lunch and dishes washed since I started this, besides baking a cake & 7 dz. cookies. John wanted me to try a cake receipt he saw in a magazine.

The Myers twins & Bob Wilson made the paper this week. The twins are in training at Pensacola and Bob is a Lt. in the 13th A.A.F. in the S. Pacific. Mary & Al Myers have moved to either Whiting, Gary, or some city around Chicago. The Josserands are living in the Myers house now. V. is still going around as usual but doesn’t have many friends, it seems, I see her so often by herself or with her little Susan. There is a Horn family living here and she does go around with Mrs. H. some.

Had a letter from Dolores – her husband is back in Cuba. She is hoping he will get another furlough in the spring so they can go home together.
Love – Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/05/stitch-in-time-gladys/