Category Archives: Yegerlehner

Camp life (Roscoe)

: March 11, 1943 envelope

: March 11, 1943, p. 1

: March 11, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar 11, 1943
Lt. R. S. Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran.
Dear Mother,

I’m using the Lt. alone because I feel very certain that the (jg) can be dropped. That increases the pay about 50⁰⁰ per month but as I said before I have no way of getting any to you and in fact no way of getting any for myself but I don’t have the least thing to buy. I was able to buy 60¢ worth of stamps and that is the extent of my spending since Feb 12.

I might give you a little information on the camp life. Bucket baths are the vogue and almost any time during the day one can see officer or enlisted men in birthday suits bathing – Swimming trunks are never seen therefore all bathing is done in the nude.

Just stopped long enough for a cocoanut hull full of tea – “Hi say ole choppy – the tea is invigorating” but its

[page 2] not ice tea. I th

I thought I had gotten the word to you about the taxes – not to pay them but in your last letter you seemed to be going ahead, and the separate returns are not applicable in our case as I see it. I’m wondering if you filed the mortgage exemption – and I don’t remember about the pills for Nick and I have a very strong suspicion that Dr. M. will have a hard time using my microscope because it isn’t much good. And I haven’t received any package from him nor anyone else – I did receive a pound of tobacco from Bill & Jewell but didn’t have a chance to write them – so if you should write them mention it please. In other words I’m still conserving on paper. Maybe paper will be coming along some of these days. Thank the boys for their letters which came along with one of those I received from you.

I thought you could still write air mail but it would be handled as ordinary mail. The only point being it would reach the coast sooner but you probably got the dope straighter than I. I’ve run this together in order to get in more so read it as it’s supposed to be written.

I reread my letter in the Newton C. E. and it sounded crazy. Hope you can give the club some interesting sidelights on New Caledonia. Well, paper all gone for now.

Lots of Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/10/camp-life-roscoe/

Quite an appetite (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-11-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today or yesterday, but will keep looking every day now since receiving three this week. I think there is one yet to come. One letter came Mon. saying you had written three, but only two more came – Well the weather is getting a little warmer but will look for anything during March. Mark is getting along fine. Had temp of 103 ½ – yesterday but broke out good and is feeling much better this a.m. Sleeps OK at night and doesn’t cough much now. Temp was 99 1/5 this morning. He wants some dinner so he must be improving. Now if John takes them maybe he can get along as well. They closed the grade school – there were 56 out with measles. There are some cases of chicken pox & scarlet fever but we won’t have to worry about them. We are going to give David Immune Globuline if we can get it. Jack Byrnes ordered from Chicago. There wasn’t any to be had in Laf. Mrs. Roberts called me last night and she is going to try and find some for me – said Joe had some but thought his Dad took it when he left. – – Pause – to feed Mark. He had quite an appetite and is feeling pretty good. Dr M. said John could come home tomorrow evening after school Mark thinks John has had it pretty nice eating all his meals at the restaurant. Ira Dixon had another spell like the one he had before. They took his to St. E. – didn’t know whether it was appendicitis or kidney stone. Haven’t any late word about him. Arvilla was on the floor with him when he entered the hospital. Dr. P. wrote me a letter and said he would send your things when he gets instructions from you. I am answering his letter. He said they hated to see you leave. (So did a lot of other people).

Love – Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/09/quite-an-appetite-gladys/

Letters from you (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: March 10, 1943 envelope

: March 10, 1943, p. 1

: March 10, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar 10, 1943
Lt. Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M.
San Fran

Dear Mother,

Just a little late again this eve but I just got in – I’ve been on the sea all day and my face burns like fire and I’m dry as a fish. In that boiling hot sun for 5-6 hours one really gets hot. We weren’t fishing either.

Got 3 letters from you today – one had the picture of you and D. That was Mar Jan 24. The other two were earlier. Also got one letter from Clarence Y and one from Ira Dixon but

[page 2] those I will not answer until I get some stationery. You probably wonder why I didn’t use that you sent. Well I could only bring a minimum amount of stuff. That is the reason all my clothes etc are still in Noumea. I suppose there is lots of guessing etc. but I can’t even hint. We are all fine but at times things are a little exciting if you get what I mean but one gets used to things like that –

The pictures were fine thanks lots. I left all the others in Noumea.

Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. Don’t worry about us.

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/08/letters-from-you-roscoe/

News reels (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-9-43

Dear Daddy – Have been knitting an outfit for David and sitting on John’s bed to keep Mark company. He is breaking out some and rather uncomfortable. Still has a high temp (103 ½ ) but when he breaks out he probably will be better. Dr. M. is going to give David Immune Globline. I am not sure about how to spell it but you know what I mean. John comes after school and takes care of the furnace then goes to Krulls. If M. gets broken out and over this by Sat. John can come back home. I think all the children in the grade school who haven’t had measles will have them now the way new cases keep developing. However it isn’t so bad in High S. Caroline Wright said Valley saw a news reel in Hammond and you were in it – Do you remember doing any posing? She stayed thru two shows to be sure it was you and declares it was . One of the Henry boys was in a news reel shown here. I didn’t see it but others did. Lucile is still having a little difficulty with Jimmy Ed. She said she didn’t think she would ever get him regulated. Was up with him about all last night. When I told her D. sleeps from 6 to 6 she said she didn’t think Jimmy would ever do that but I told her he would in time. He gets his days and nights mixed up once in a while but seems to be growing right along. David was growing faster than he is now because since quitting the 10 P.M. bottle he didn’t take any more in the other four feeding, but he takes more now – so I think will gain more again. At 5 ½ months he weighs a little more than 16 lbs. The last two days I have had to increase the amt of milk in each feeding. It is much warmer. The snow is about gone but more snow won’t surprise me. Must get to bed or I will be getting my days & nights mixed. Irene & Link are going to Mayols [?] for examinations. Irene says she hasn’t felt well all winter.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/07/news-reels-gladys/

Pineapple (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: March 9, 1943 envelope

: March 9, 1943, p. 1

: March 9, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

I may have asked you to drop the (jg) too quickly – for there were some exceptions near the end and it may take a day or two to get things straightened out. I’ve gotten along this far with the (jg) so it won’t bother to go a while longer only I hate to be all set and then have things changed. I’ll let you know when it is all fixed.

One of the boys brought in a pineapple a few days ago and today we decided it was ripe enough and was it good. The pealing is here in a box beside me and the ants are having the time of their lives between the pineapple

[page 2] and a dead lizzar which got himself in a bucket of water and got drowned. There are no flies present around the affair – ants to thick.

We would all feel better if mail would catch up but somehow we seem to be lost again. We get food OK so we can[‘t] be entirely lost.

Well hold your breath on the promotion thing for a few days and I’ll get the correct dope to you.

Due to lack of subject matter will stop –

Love Daddy

Another possible photograph from the Russell Islands

©2014 copyright owned & transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/06/pineapple-roscoe/

Friday’s Faces From the Past – Unknown Cousin?

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Another undated photograph of John with Mark from the mid 1930s. This time there is a younger boy (and a headless one, too). I wonder if this was another family grouping of the Yegerlehner cousins. I have several in the collection. The landscape in the background seems more open, perhaps at the Yegerlehner farm in Clay county.

Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

©2014 copyright owned by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/06/friday-faces-f…unknown-cousin/

High temp (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-9-43

Dear Daddy – Had two letter from you today and one from Dr. P., but I had received one from you yesterday. He said he would send the box when he received word from you to send it. It is windy today and not so cold. Mark is still running a temp. but hasn’t broken out yet but probably will today or tomorrow (measles in case you missed previous letters). John is staying at Krulls & I am going to ask Dr. M. about giving David Immune Globuline. Mark feels pretty good and is being very good patient. He is so afraid he will hurt is eyes he is satisfied to have the room darkened. After I put D. to bed (after his 6 P.M. feeding) last evening I stayed with Mark a while. His temp got up to 103 in the afternoon and he was pretty quiet but his temp is down this a.m. and he keeps talking to me. He listens to his radio some but not all the time. Virginia Britton kept Tommy out of school, but I think he was exposed before she kept him home because there was a child broke out in the room and he evidently had temp several day previous to that, and Tommy was in school until the day this child broke out. Your notice for dues to the A.M.A. came yesterday but I think you said not to pay it. Also an announcement of Lake Co. Medical meeting to be held in Hammond. Mr. Monroe came this morning and oiled the furnace. He keeps the dates and comes every 60 days and looks things over. He hasn’t charged me anything yet but maybe he will when he get thru in the spring. He has worked on the drains twice. I asked him about the septic tanks & he said they wouldn’t need cleaning – or shouldn’t for several years. I’ll leave the news & gossip for the men around town to write. Don’t worry about the measles – I am sure Mark will get along OK the way he feels now. You know he stands diseases pretty good. I am going to keep him in as long as necessary.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/06/high-temp-gladys/

Promotion (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: March 8, 1943 envelope

: March 8, 1943, p. 1

: March 8, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar. 8, 1943
Lt R. S. Yegerlehner
Note (jg) gone
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster

Dear Mother,

I hope you noticed the (jg) gone from the title. It is sorta peculiar that this would come just 7 mo to the day that we left the U.S.A. Now that gives the same pay and rate as a captain in the Army or in other words two stripes. I can’t send any more money at present because my pay accounts allotments etc are still in Noumea so all I can do is let the whole business pile up until such time as I’ll get there or they are sent to me. Write the folk and tell them and maybe I can

[page 2] spare one sheet of paper for that purpose, but just in case I don’t you write them.

It’s almost too dark to write more just now so I’ll try to finish in the A.M. Our lights here just don’t work.

Next A.M. not much change in temperature or otherwise. Didn’t rain but weather still hot and flies still bad.

Tell others who might write about the omission of the (jg) part.

Lots of Love,
Daddy

Another possible picture from the Russell Islands, 1943

My mail was good today (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-8-43

Dear Daddy – My mail was good today. Had one letter posted Feb. 20 in which you said you had written three before but haven’t rec’d them. Possibly will this week. Well I feel better now and to get regular mail again will help lots. Still have Mark in bed with some temp but no evidence of measles. If he doesn’t break out tomorrow I won’t know what to think. He doesn’t feel bad has a good appetite, but I am keeping him in bed. John is going to Krulls to stay in case Mark does break out so he won’t have to miss school. Dr. M. said that was between me and the health officer. I told him what happened when M. had mumps and I didn’t intend to have that again. If John stayed home I think he would be the only one. There hasn’t been any in John’s class out with measles so I think he won’t be so apt to get them (I hope). I sent your mother a picture of D. and she said he looks like you did, only he is bigger than you were. I hope you have the registered letter by now with all our pictures. We are still have snow and cold weather. Yesterday it was 6 below but is warmer today. I think everyone is so tired of cold weather according to the ground hog tradition we have another week yet of this kind. We are anxious (Mark & I) to get our garden out. John hasn’t any enthusiasm about mowing lawn – as that is to be his job this summer. Not much outside news. It’s been too cold to go out and now that we are under suspicion of measles can’t take the baby out for a while. It is time for his 2 P.M. vegetable & milk and he is getting hungry.

Love – Mother

Killer Flies (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: March 7, 1943 envelope

: March 7, 1943, p. 1

: March 7, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sun Mar 7, 1943
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster San Fran

Dear Mother

Another hot sunny Sunday P.M. but the only way one knows it is Sun. now is by the dose of atabrine. Thru the week we get ½ tablet on Sun one whole tablet. That is the anti malarial drug we take at present. That dose is supposed to keep malaria away and as for me it has done so.

It’s funny the things some fellows will think of and tell – one fellow claimed the flies so bad that when he got inside his misquito netting and moved his foot they dive bommed [bombed] his net and were very angry. This is true – There are countless numbers of flies but they will not fly on fly paper. They are more educated

[page 2] than our flies at home. We aren’t bothered much by mosquitoes of which we are very much pleased.

We were issued a coverall suit and a pair of green pants. The coveralls were too big and I gave them away. The pants were size 38 and much too uncomfortable so this A.M. I altered them. I took my trusty pocket knife and a needle and thread and even if I do say so it’s a good job. I just took out a v-shaped piece from the back – V – for victory.

I hope you drop the folk a line now and then. I’ve written once and will write again in a few days but not too often on account of paper shortage as I’ve told you before. I believe the paper I have will last until the shortage isn’t so acute if I use it judicially. Anyway – Lots of Love

Daddy

___________________________

According to the previously linked article by Dr. Snead, during the early afternoon hours on March 6th, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the Russell Islands. There was limited damage but one individual was killed and twelve were wounded. It makes me wonder whether or not Roscoe treated any of the wounded. The above letter from the day after has (as usual) no information about his daily activities.