Tag Archives: A.P.O. 43

Chicago Tribune Maps (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Mar. 12
Lt. Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran

Dear Mother,

Received a letter from Uncle Wess, one from Ed Johnson and one from Ruth M. so maybe things won’t be so bad. All of the letters were dated earlier than your latest. In other words no Feb. mail has arrived as yet. Uncle W. sent some very fine maps from the Chicago Trib and since I left all those I had in Noumea these surely are appreciated – drop him a line for me if you haven’t already.

We have been having a few sprinkles of rain but not enough for wash water but I did the bulk of my washing two days

[page 2] ago so have plenty of clean smelling clothes if not clean otherwise.

It’s a funny thing but our nights are cool – it can be as hot as the duce in day time but always at night we need a blanket. I’m always suspicious of lizzards when I crawl under the blanket – afraid one will pick that as a hiding place but so far none have been that unfortunate.

I believe you should still use air mail occasionally – maybe they will come thru – That is if they will take them.

I hope to get more paper in a few days and then be able to answer some of those other letters.

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and translated by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/12/chicago-tribune-maps-roscoe/

Camp life (Roscoe)

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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/

Letters from you (Roscoe)

1 Reply

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/

Pineapple (Roscoe)

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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

1943 - Russell Islands #4

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/

Promotion (Roscoe)

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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

Another possible picture from the Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:  https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/04/promotion-roscoe/

Killer Flies (Roscoe)

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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.

1943 - Russell Islands #2

Another possible photograph from the Russell Islands

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/03/killer-flies-roscoe/

Dry spell (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Sat. Mar 6
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster, San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Not much to write about since yesterday – In other words business as usual. It’s hard to understand our long dry spell after so much rain at first but it sure does help to dry out the damp clothing. I’m glad I left my blues in Noumea because it is dry there as compared to here.

My mail from here should be getting to you by now, I hope, but as yet none of yours has come thru.

I forgot to mention but the other eve. we had a good chicken

[page 2] dinner and you can believe me it was appreciated after eating out of can. Also had some fresh steak for dinner so things aren’t so bad. And we have some pasteries now and then so that isn’t so bad. Of course, at all times we can have milk from the nuts that are abundant but I told you the other day of my experience with those.

Well, I’m all run down and it’s time for evening chow so all I can say is watch the newspapers and listen to the Radio –

Love Daddy

Sat. Mar. 6, 1943
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M.
San Fran. Calif.

______________________________________

Since Roscoe was beginning to send hints to Gladys in the form of “read the newspapers or listen to the radio”, I tried to find some newspaper articles about this time of the war in the Pacific in order to embellish my posts. But I found something a whole lot better! On the Digital Commons @ Liberty University website, I found a wonderful article by David Lindsey Snead titled “Obscure but Important: The United States and the Russell Islands in World War II.” Roscoe was in fact on the Russell Islands, and a member of Operation Cleanslate. This is the first time I have been able to find any detailed information about Operation Cleanslate. I actually had chills when I found the first reference to Cleanslate in the article. Several of Gladys’ letters to Roscoe have Cleanslate written across them as their forwarding address. Among the family photographs are four large pictures that were obviously taken during World War II, but I had no idea when they were taken. I don’t know if Roscoe took the pictures himself or if they were military stock photos. At this point, I believe they were probably taken on the Russell Islands.

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/31/dry-spell-roscoe/

Mail and laundry (Roscoe)

8 Replies

Letter transcription:

Mar. 5, 1843
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner MC USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I spent part of this A.M. over a hot laundry bucket getting all the goat smell out of socks and underwear. Needless to say there are no commercial laundries so you must know that yours truly must do his own as well as everyone else.

In digging a little deeper into my sea bag this A.M. I found the letters I received just as I was leaving Noumea. I had read them before of course but did not mention them before – One was dated Sept 17 and was the first letter you had written after receiving my first one from overseas. It seemed rather peculiar that I receive it the day I left there some 5 months late. Another in that group was one you

[page 2] wrote from the hospital on Sept. 24 and that was one which if it had come straight thru would have been muchly appreciated. We are now waiting very patiently and eagerly for mail to arrive which will bring things up to date a little past Jan 25.

I told you in a letter of several days ago that I had a pretty good beard. Well, eight days was as long as I could stand it. It was looking pretty good with two very dignified gray streaks on either side of the chin but it couldn’t last because you know how yellowish a beard gets when tobacco juice druels out of the corners of the mouth. It’s off now.

Just stopped a few minutes to collect a bucket of water from a passing water truck our faucets aren’t so good here if you get what I mean.

[page 3] Your letter of Sept. 17 had the air mail stamps but they were all stuck together and after dipping them in water they all came apart but now the glue is off so if some letters come thru with the stamps stuck with chewing gum you’ll understand. No need to send stamps and if I conserve on the writing paper I’ll be OK for some time but I’m not writing to everyone I did at first. The papers would be all gone in a short time if I did. So people who you come in contact with can be told not to expect too many letters. I’ll try to write the folks now and then but other than that writing will be confined to you –

Well, must get going
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/29/mail-and-laundry-roscoe/

Marine Life (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Mar 4, 1943
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

It has now been 3 days since rain and we feel as if it a terrible dry spell. Even at that the ground is still wet and soggy under the foliage.

The Commanding officer and I went swimming this P.M. Just to get away for a short time. The bottom wasn’t sandy so we just left our shoes on. He had some under water glasses and by using those and swimming under water one could see the most beautiful sights. And fish of all

[page 2] color size and description. I made a quick estimate once and I believe there were at least 50 good sized fish in the near vicinity. Various colored coral on the bottom made the whole thing look like a fairy book dream land area. Marine life in the tropics is certainly beautiful to the Nth degree. In fact I don’t believe it but I’ve seen it so must be convinced.

Hope my letters are coming thru to you because I know how it is not to get mail. I’ve been writing every day now for about one week.

Well – lots of love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/27/marine-life-roscoe/

Coconuts (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Mar. 3
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Francisco Calif

Dear Mother,

To begin with I think I got the wrong address date of yesterday’s letter. Anyway this one is 24 hours behind the other dated Mar 3.

Maybe you have noticed a difference in my writing. I found a board to place across my knees – before I was just writing on paper. Anyway it’s more comfortable writing this way only the flies are very bad what with so much of me exposed to them. Yesterday all day long I had on nothing but my trunks. I tell you you’re going to have to watch me when I get home or I’m apt to walk right off to town clad only in trunks. Remember how I used to ask you to buy a coconut. Well, no need now. Our tent is pitched with the four corners to coconut trees and it isn’t too safe to walk too near those trees – One night not long ago one

[page 2] fell right smack into a water bucket beside the tent and what a noise.

A few days ago our commanding officer was & I were out from camp on some business and before getting back got very thirsty. So we thought we would try some cocoanut juice. I threw and knocked one down and he hacked it open with his hunting knife and we drank the juice about one pint. Then we ate some of the meat. Nothing happened until about 10 P.M. All at once I felt very nauseated and had to get going and I spread shredded cocoanut all over the hillside. While resting on an old log I heard someone down the hill heaving just as I had shortly before. I came back down and there was the commanding officer spreading more stuff on the hillside. We both had a good laugh – went back to bed and that was the end of that. Vomited plenty but not sick. Anyway I don’t care much for cocoanuts only I have eaten some of the meat several times since.

Maybe as time goes along other things can be told but now writing subjects are very scarce.

So Solong Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/26/coconuts-roscoe/