Tag Archives: California

Cold in San Francisco (Roscoe)

2 Replies

August 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 22, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 22, 1945
USNRH
San Francisco (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

I see by the date that this is John’s birthday. Hope he got the little present I sent him.

I’m writing this shortly after noon day chow – so I can mail it as I leave at 4:30 although I could come back at night since we live only on the hill and the P.O. is not far away.

Before I forget – I wish you would mail my gold braid and the two gold buttons from that cap I have at home. I couldn’t

August 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] wear blues or whites either since I don’t have that for my white cap cover. I don’t plan on going anyplace but when it comes my time to go on the draft I’ll have to wear blues I suppose. So send them right away. Just take off that gold band on the cap bill and the two gold buttons on the side. If they will you might air mail them. Then later when you have more time you had better send those khaki pants and that shirt because if I have to go out I’ll have to have them. These grays will not do any good since they have to be dry

August 22, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] cleaned. If I remember that pair of pants & shirt were pretty dirty – just throw them in the bendix and don’t press them, at least not the pants. There is a laundry on the base here with pretty good service so I can have them done here.

I thought I was going to the show last night but we got in a draft of patients and that was off but maybe I can go tonight – The show is “Cabin in the Sky” with Rochester & Ethel Waters – Maybe that will help pass the time. I started reading the “Case of the Sleep Walker’s Niece” by E. Stanley Gardner last

August 22, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] night and just got to the first murder when it was time to turn in.

I haven’t received any mail as yet but hardly expected any since you possibly didn’t write since before Mon. Tue. morning.

It has been so cold here – seems like the middle of winter – about 10:00 PM the fog comes in and from then on until morning one nearly freezes. We have a gas heater in each room and believe me it feels good to have that on before going to bed and in the AM. I just turned the heat off in my office a short time ago – must stop –

Lots of Love
Daddy

You can download a copy the book The Case of the Sleepwalker’s Niece here, a Perry Mason mystery which was adapted into an episode of the show in 1957.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/12/cold-in-san-francisco-roscoe/

One Ward (Roscoe)

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August 21, 1945

Letter transcription:

August 21, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 21, 1945
U.S. Navy Receiving Hosp.
San Francisco (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this in the PM while on the ward. I have one ward assigned to me at present with plenty of patients but they don’t stay long. It seems the ships dump them here and then they are screened and sent to hospitals nearer home so most of the work is routine.

A draft of patients come in and another our very frequently. The Drs. have to take their turns in going with the drafts – Hope mine is to Great Lakes. I think I could manage a day or two home that way. One Dr. I know has

August 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] been here about one week and he is taking a draft to Klamath Oregon. I’ll let you know when and if I take one of those trips.

There was an ALNAV from the Bureau which states that medical and dental officers are excluded from the point system so that is that. I do believe, however, that they will start discharging before long and I also feel that I’m not going back out. That last feeling is due to the fact that there are several here who have been out and they have been here for some time but of course in the navy one never knows.

There was also an ALNAV for promotions but so far as I can figure it came within two months of me so I’ll always

August 21, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] remain two stripes that is until I become a civilian, at least I’ll get the mustering out pay that way.

This isn’t what one would call splendid duty but it is doing something to get the boys back and nearer their homes. Maybe it could be done by someone else but at least it is something.

I’m writing this on this paper and with mailing it in this envelope – don’t know if 8₵ will take it or not. I’ll write some regular and see if it makes any difference – if not I’ll not spend the 8₵.

There is a show on the grounds every night and there is a reading

August 21, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] room so I doubt if I get out much to go downtown – there is no percentage in that as I see it but maybe after I’m here a while I’ll just have to get away if it’s only a sigh seeing trip.

I haven’t started writing letters to anyone else as yet but may one of these days. I noticed an Acey Ducey board at the B.O.Q so maybe I can find someone to play with. The B.O.Q. we are in now is only temporary. We are supposed to move into some new quarters one of these days.

I’m afraid to write more now. It might weigh too much – so
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/10/one-ward-roscoe/

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

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/08/no-further-news-roscoe/

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

Stateside (Roscoe)

1 Reply

March 15, 1944 envelope

March 15, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mar. 15, 1944

Dear Mother,

The telephone call to you finished about one hour ago and a partial letter written but believe it or not I tore that one in small pieces because it didn’t fit. I had written some things I wanted to tell you personally rather than in a letter.

Just now I’m on temporary duty here awaiting permanent orders and as I understand before my permanent orders start I’ll have some few days leave – at present I have no idea where the permanent orders will be but hope for something in the 9^th Naval district. That is the really important question however at the moment.

I’ll find out about the red tape in the morning and will let you know as soon as possible after hearing. I’m afraid it

March 15, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] might be a week or 10 days but the really important thing is that I’m back in the USA. I really didn’t mean that that was the important thing but it is a sort of a prerequisite to the important thing.

It’s hard for me to realize even now that I’m back and I keep pinching myself every now and then to see if it’s me alive and in the flesh.

I’m here at the hotel with a Dr. from Detroit and he called his wife. It took me only 20 min. to call you but his call took 40 min. Believe it or not we are two happy people – He has three boys.

I’ll keep you posted either by letter, telegram, night letter, phone, etc. so don’t worry and I’ll be seeing you and seeing you

Lots of Love
Good night
Daddy