Tag Archives: David A. Yegerlehner

Flower Blossoms (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: September 20, 1043 envelope

: September 20, 1943, p. 1

: September 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sept. 20, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60, F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

This is our regular native day so the practice is what you might say black.

Yesterday being Sunday we took a little trip and a swim. When we returned we stopped at an old orchard and collected some limes, mango and some flowers. I’m sending one of the flowers. I know it will be all crushed, etc. but the perfume may still be present. These flowers sell for $1.00 per blossom in New Zealand and Australia, and they can’t be bought in the U.S.A. I know when it arrives you won’t be able to tell anything about it but I’m going to send it anyway. The Island has lots of them and when you are near one of those brushes the perfume in the air is really wonderful. I’ve tried to press flowers to send but the colors seem to fade in the pressing procedure.

There hasn’t been any mail now for

[page 2] two days and of course we get impatient but we used to wait weeks on end.

If I remember correctly I got the news of D. arrival on Sept. 23 the day he was one month old. Of course I could be incorrect – you said Oct. 20 and that may be right.

A Dr. just came in the other day who had left the States Aug. 23. I’m really glad I came out when I did because I feel that I have a good chance of returning in the not too distant future. By that I mean months yet, but months don’t seems so long when one has been out years already. I say years and it is now going on two –

Loves of Love
Daddy

Pressed blossom from the Russell Islands, 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/22/flower-blossoms-roscoe/

Holy Terror (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 20, 1943 envelope

: September 20, 1943, p. 1

: September 20, 1943, p. 2

: September 20, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 20 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just returned from a Rotary meeting at the Nu-Joy – Rev. Sudah was the main speaker – also a State fire prevention man was present and gave a short talk. Rev. Sudah shook hands with me and said to remember him to you when writing. He said he was going to re-Christen his little boy (born while you were intern) Holy terror. Uncle Wes & Aunt Jessie stopped this noon enroute home & left some things your mother sent. I wanted them to stay and attend the meeting tonight but Uncle has a bad cough and when he gets in crowds coughs a lot. He would have enjoyed the meeting tonight because Sudah spoke about Rotary International. On the other hand the ventilating system didn’t work and the smoke got in my eyes and my sinus got stopped up so I know it would have bothered Uncle Wes. I told Ira Dixon who was sitting across from me at the table about Uncle Wes. He said it would have been something special to have him present. Bart had Helen along tonight and someone asked him who he went with before – he went stag last time and had a hilarious time (I mean the Country Club party). Bart just

[page 2] ignored the inquiry and pretended not to hear. Two new members received pins tonight – Bob Schurtter (ag teacher) and a Jean Lyons – I haven’t been around enough lately to know whose who in the new people.

You have mentioned twice sending messages by men coming back – To date I have not heard from anyone or received any flowers. So after this I suggest you either save your money or send it directly – I don’t want to sound mercenary but – well I think you understand what I mean. But remember if anyone asks a similar favor from you, keep your promise – I am – sure will.

I didn’t go to the hospital today. Glenn & I plan to go tomorrow. Glenn got the storm windows all hung and is going to clean the furnace. Pauline has cleaned (and I mean clean) the upstairs and cleaned the stairway with steel wool. She wants to work on the nursery tomorrow. I think I’ll take David with us. He was so fussy today I hate to leave him. – He must be cutting more teeth. He drools so much. I fed him before I left for the Rotary dinner but didn’t get him to bed but John puts him to bed. He was sound asleep when I came home. After his 7 P.M. meal he gets tucked in for the night. However he woke me up about – I would say 5:am and was wet & cold – I changed him & put him

[page 3] in bed with me. He woke me again abut 7: I can’t leave him in bed with me anymore and go back to sleep after his bottle (which habit is about over) because he crawls right off. He was so restless today about the only place he would be satisfied was to play in the stove drawers with the pans. I used to allow J. & M. to do the same thing so why not D. Mary P. came for the meat points today & I gave her 988. She says they are going to butcher a hog soon & we can have half of it. Mary said Ruthie isn’t getting along so well. Her ankles swell when she trys to walk & seems she doesn’t walk naturally now – Mary has to have some gall-bladder work done. She went with me to see Cole one time when I took David & Cole ordered her to have X-Ray done. She isn’t feeling so good but says she wants to get Ruthie on her feet before having anything done.

John Krull is home again & he & Gladys were at the meeting tonight. I didn’t ask them anything about where he is stationed or when he is going back.

I am enclosing pictures of Jim, Glen, Pauline, babies & I taken the day Jim & Glenn started back to Norfolk. You can compare babies in the pictures and see our boy is tops.

There is a light frost predicted for tonight. There isn’t much left in our garden it can hurt. I must close so this can be dropped in the mail box.

“Love Mother”

Yours of Sept. 4-7-9 & 11 came today.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/21/holy-terror-gladys/

These Prairie Winds (Gladys)

2 Replies

: September 19, 1943 envelope

: September 19, 1943, p. 1

: September 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 19-1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening & bedtime. Glen, Pauline, the babies & I went to Laf. today. John & Mark stayed home. David was so full of pep he wore us all down. Slept all the way home. He is tucked in now but was so tired from the trip he was a little cross before going to bed. James is a much quieter baby than D. Glen doesn’t know what to do about going back home yet. He hates to leave with Mother so low and feels he should get back to work. Mother looked much thinner today & Fri. and seemed weaker. She wouldn’t eat any supper – Dr. had ordered some new medicine for her and after taking the first dose threw it right up. The nurse brought in another dose at 4 P.M. – There were 4 large brown tablets and I think it was ammonium nitrate. She kept the last dose down but refused to eat at 5 P.M. I looked at her abdomen and she was distended quite a lot. It is full of fluid. Mrs. Zell came over to see about Virginia going to Laf. with us Tues. & when I told her Mother is thinner she said she didn’t think it possible, however she is.

Glen worked on the storm windows Sat. He washed the frames and when he gets the windows washed will hang them. He gets chocked up once in a while but is better than when he first came. He said the window casings should be washed but I told him just to brush the dirt off & wash windows.

[page 2] It was warmer today than usual. Warm enough to be out without wraps & so far since cooler weather wraps were in order. Seems to me we are having an early fall – while driving we can see flocks of birds going mostly south – if that means anything. I told Glen it will probably turn warm after we get the storm windows on. He wanted to know how we got any ventilation after putting all those storm windows on. I told him when these prairie winds blow across here we get ventilation. I told him it was hard to keep that wind out. I suppose they have winds in Nev. but any wind would have to be strong to beat these.

I am sitting on the edge of our bed writing. I came up to get to bed early but it’s past 10:30 and no shut eye yet. I want to get this written. David is sound asleep but a little stopped up – I was a little worried about him having a cold so early in the fall but have decided it is an allergy – here one day & gone the next. He sounds now like he has some mucous in his nose but not enough to wake him up. John is better of his condition. Dr. Van Buskirk gave me a bromide prescription to have filled & I did what you have had patients do – didn’t get it. Dr. Van says John is nervous & needs the sedative for his system but I know John – he is like he has been all his life – his cough is gone and I am not going to give him bromides. Dr. V. doesn’t know our John – just because he squirmed around when he tried to look into his nose & throat he tabbed him as too nervous. Well John is better & no medicine so I guess that is O.K. –

Love Mother

Pauline Foster with James L., circa 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/19/these-prairie-winds-gladys/

Ages (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: September 18, 1943 envelope

: September 18, 1943, p. 1

: September 18, 1943, p. 2

: September 18, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Sept. 18, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San F. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Your letter dated Sept. 4 came yesterday – The pictures were in it, and as you said John’s picture was pretty blurred. The others were OK and very good.

Glenn’s baby seems to be a little on the fatty order but I guess that it the way some of them come.

All the pictures of D. seem to indicate that he is pretty much on the ball – Looks as if he is enjoying himself most of the time and of course I can’t tell if his hair is curly or not in those pictures. His mother looks very

[page 2] good in the picture sitting on the front step. Her hair is curley. The ages of all the kids were written below their pictures but I noticed that D.’s mother didn’t put her age under her picture. Maybe that isn’t necessary for me to even say that but I just thought of it as I was looking at the pictures.

You gave a financial report. On Sept. 4, $213⁰⁰, I wondered if that was after rent was deducted. I sent $250⁰⁰ again on the 16^th so that should help things along a little but you will probably need extra for hospital bill.

[page 3] I liked the description of the rearrangement of the furniture. It was a little different and unusual for I don’t believe you ever mentioned things like that before – Maybe you hadn’t changed things before. No that can’t be true! And maybe you wrote me about them but I forgot – you know I sometimes forget some things pretty easy. Other things I remember very well – about you and the boys – you can bet your bottom dollar on that.

I’ve had a heck of a time getting this written and it’s all disjointed anyway
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/17/ages-roscoe/

Glenn’s First Wife (Gladys)

3 Replies

: September 18, 1943 envelope

: September 18, 1943, p. 1

: September 18, 1943, p. 2

: September 18, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Wind, Sand and Stars (1939), a memoir by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Yours of Aug. 28 – 31 & Sept. 8 came today – I think you will be able to write a book by the time you come back. I remember reading a book written by a French aviator or some similar rating and I didn’t think it was as interesting as your letter of Aug. 28. Yours of Aug. 31 was answering my letter telling you what Dr. Cole had said about mother’s condition. I was down to see her yesterday & Cole didn’t have much to say about her condition – that is he didn’t seem very hopeful about her recovery – Of course I know or feel that she won’t get well and we can’t do much about it now. Dr. Cole is still giving her Betalin by hypo every day but it doesn’t pick up her appetite any. If I had only known sooner and could have had surgery done – but I didn’t know and it’s too late now for that. Her abdomen is distended so much – Dr. Cole says she is full of fluid.

Glenn is washing the storm windows and the frames – Is going to take down the screens and put the storm windows up. He is going to clean the furnace too. Pauline is cleaning the upstairs. Cleaned Mother’s room and

[page 2] the boy’s room – Is working on our bathroom today. She is a worker. Her parents came from Poland & she is very strong and likes to work. She enjoys doing housework. She & Glenn haven’t much yet in the way of worldly goods – When he got a divorce from Norma he didn’t get anything but his clothes and with the baby coming, haven’t got much ahead. I told them they could have the old washing machine & rug I took out of the den. Glen is going to see about shipping the washer out by freight if it doesn’t cost too much. Glenn has been in pretty good health since living in Nevada and has had steady work but lived with the wrong woman too long to get anything saved. I believe Pauline will take better care of his money. She says she wants a home & their own furniture. I think he & Norma had their furniture but Norma got everything. Glenn doesn’t care to talk much about things but did tell me he should have left her long before he did – she ran around with other men. Pauline said she (Norma) was going with a man whose wife was an invalid, while she & Glen were still married and after Glen & Pauline were the invalid wife died so naturally everyone thought this man & Norma would be married, but after he was free to marry again he married someone else. A little complicated but maybe you can make it out. Elida has been married six times. Now is married to an Ensign in the Navy. Margaret Ann is married to a boy in the Army but Pauline says she doubts if it lasts – M.A. seems to be like her aunt & Mother – enough about such people.

[page 3] David & James L. are both taking naps. I took D. to Laf. yesterday but Dr. Cole was so busy I didn’t get him in to see the Dr. I was starting back to the car & saw Dr. Cole coming back from the Home hospital and talked to him out in the yard. David seems to have the same thing John has – an allergy – maybe Hay fever – maybe something else – One day he has it then the next day its gone – however John’s just stays. I took John to Van Buskirk for his eyes last Sat. then had him go over him for this cough & Van said John didn’t have a cold but some kind of allergy. When Jim was here he said how would John have hay fever – I said he had plenty of bla back ground for it. I have some good pictures of Jim & Glen & I with the babies – will send you one when I get more made. – Just had to stop & put the babies out in the sunshine – They are watching Glen & Mark washing windows.

John has been washing dishes and it’s time for me to do something – as if I haven’t been busy – but had to take time out to write my daily letter. Pauline wanted to know what I wrote about every day – I said just what happens around here. Haven’t had time this week to scan the paper for local news. Bob Hufty called me to invite me to Rotary Mon. eve.

Love – Mother

P.S. – Enclosing a picture of D. & me.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/17/glenns-first-wife-gladys/

900 Points of Beef (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 17, 1943 envelope

: September 17, 1943, p. 1

: September 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 17 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

No letters today but have had up to Sept. 6 so can’t complain. I went to Laf. today to see Mother & meet Glen. He left T.H. Tues. eve. & drove thru to Williamsburg without stopping & then started back the same day he got there. If you could see him now with Mark you would never know he had missed any sleep. When we came home from Laf. Mark & John went out to the fair with Statons and after feeding Mark David, I fried some of the new steak for our supper. I went to Sheldon & got some meat this a.m. – the quarter we got was over 130 lbs. It will take over 900 points. I am going over to get the bones when it is cut up and

[page 2] cook the bones to get soup broth. I had never thought of that until someone else told me about doing it.

I saw Dr. Cole a few minutes and he couldn’t give me any encouragement about Mother. – Her abdomen is full of fluid. He is still giving her Betalin every day.

There is so much noise & talking going on around I can hardly think. I saw Sister Celerita today – She has just been put on 3d Main. She was in O.B. three years ago. She was so glad to see me & asked about you. Sisters we knew when you were here are in other hospitals. Only a few are still in St. E. Sister Amelia is now Supt. of Nurses in St. E.

Will try to do better next time.

Love, Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/15/900-points-of-beef-gladys/

A Broken Slat (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter translation:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
9-14-43 [sic 9-16?]

Dear Daddy – Pauline & I went to Laf. today. We stopped to see Mother then went to shop then returned to the hospital. I called Dr. Cole. He is giving Mother Vit. B shots every day but she isn’t eating any better. She had quite a lot of distention of the bowel today. He said he couldn’t see that she is any better. Her supper came while we were there but she wouldn’t eat much. Alma came out & kept the babies. She said they weren’t any trouble. Both took naps while she was here. She was going out to the fair this evening with Jack & the boys. Mark went with Zells after school. He won third prize on baking and third on vegetables. He is home now and I just ordered him up to the bath tub. John had to do the furnace work this evening and came up sneezing. I have been letting him out of the furnace work recently because of his hay fever. Your letter of Sept. 3 came today. Glad you rec’d another picture. More are on the way and have some being developed today. David broke a slat on the venetian blind at the south den window. I moved his pen so he can’t reach it now & glued the blind slat together. He is always reaching for something he shouldn’t have & climbing out of things – I wonder what his Daddy would do about the climbing urge – Seems it is more than spankings can take care of.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/12/a-broken-slat-gladys/

Another Chilly Day (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 15, 1943 envelope

: September 15, 1943, p. 1

: September 15, 1943, p. 2

: September 15, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 15 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another chilly day. The sun did shine and we got a washer of clothes dry. We have to wash every day with 2 babies in the house. James L. is so different from David. James L. will stay put any place. He can be left on the bath table, couch, bed, play chair, Taylor Tot or anywhere – David climbs out of anything but his bed & play pen and has for months. This evening Pauline was holding David and said James L. is much easier to hold. David won’t sit still – just wants to climb all over a person. I often wonder what his Daddy would do about his urge to move around all the time – Maybe just like we do – just try to keep him from getting a fall. I put a pr. of corduroy overalls on him today and J. & M. thought he looked like a boy should look. He still has long hair, but it curls up around his neck & his Mother can’t cut

[page 2] it off – she keeps saying she will give him a hair cut when he is a yr. old. I think I know what Daddy would say – “give that boys a hair cut.”

Uncle Wes & Aunt J. were here enroute to C.C. this a.m. – Uncle has lost 30 lbs. & doesn’t look so good. Has had a bronchial cough that has taken him down.

J. & M. have gone to the fair tonite with Zells. They had grand stand seats. I made them wear wraps. It is so cool they need heavy coats – but didn’t want to wear anything. It’s hard to think it is so cool this early in the fall. Mrs. Zell said today it looked like snow. Of course it didn’t snow but the clouds would look like snow clouds sometimes.

I have to meet Glenn in Laf. tomorrow & see Mother. David seems to have a little cold or it may be an allergy – I can’t tell and I want Dr. Cole to see him. Since John has his fall allergy too or it may be just a cold. This cool weather so early is a good excuse for colds.

Arlene called me today. She hasn’t any help yet and it keeps her busy doing everything. I asked her to go to Laf. with me but said

[page 3] it was so hard for her to get away now. She has to have everything prepared for meals before she leaves. I really feel sorry for the girl because she isn’t too strong and with this other baby coming has her hands full.

I havne’t had time to get John & Mark down to writing you again but will try over the week-end to get them to. John has a teacher (Band) Clements from Jasonville – He knows Floyd & says he knew of you. He and John had quite a chat one evening after school. I know only a few teachers so far – Al had to hire so many new ones this fall.

My hands are all over the “spell” they had but are tender and burn this evening from running out to the clothes line today. Pauline is cleaning house for me while they are here. She got the little bedroom cleaned today & wants to clean the boys’ room tomorrow. She is a hard worker & clean. A lot different from Norma. She wasn’t much on the work order. She says Glen will take the screens down & put on the storm windows. He wants to wait a few days to see about Mother before they start back. He is much heavier than he used to be. His asthma isn’t as bad now that is it cooler.

It’s about time for the boys to come home from the fair.

Love – Mother

Family Photographs (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 14, 1943 envelope

: September 14, 1943, p. 1

: September 14, 1943, p. 2

: September 14, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Sept. 14 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but rec’d 5 yesterday and David’s birthday letter. I’ll put that $2⁰⁰ toward another bond for him. He & James L. keep things lively around here. Jim wanted his car at Norfolk but he & Thelma were afraid to risk driving it back so they are to start back this afternoon by train & Glenn is bring the car for them, and come back on the train. He is to be in Laf. Fri. This is Tues. We plan to go to see Mother tomorrow then again Fri. & meet Glenn too. Pauline wants to do some shopping tomorrow for J.L.

Alma Walker called me this afternoon to inquire about things and told me before if there is anything she can do, will be glad to, so she is going to stay here tomorrow afternoon with the babies. They are both good and not as hard to take care of as two yr. olds. Alma had Dr. Van B. work on her nose Sat. & said he tortured her. She said she still has a headache from it. John sure had hay fever – or whatever it is he has – this morning. Said he hated

[page 2] to go to school – he was sneezing so – his eyes were red and he coughed. I believe we will have to do something about his condition in another year. Last fall he had a mild case. – This year it’s more pronounced. I imagine it will get worse every year unless we can do something for him. I had picked some flowers for Glenn & Jim to take to the hospital and had some marigolds. Glenn said he could feel the pollen from them the minute I brought them into the room. Said it just seemed to go right up his nostrils. I haven’t yet found anything that bothers John but I suppose it is some kind of vegetation. Probably marigolds. Arlene said they couldn’t raise them in their garden because of Bobby’s hay fever.

We took some pictures today before Glenn & Jim left of all of us with the two babies – that is Jim, Glenn, Pauline & I. J. & M. were in school. I do hope they are good so I can send you a few. We are out of film so Boonie loaned us his Kodak with five shots left on the roll. Jim was wearing his blue uniform. He had to get has coupons from the ration board to drive the car to Va. Thelma got them at T.H. but he needed gas to get from here to T.H. so had to go to the board here. They gave him coupons for 10 gal.

[page 3] Mrs. Roberts called me last night to inquire about the family. She has kept in touch with me all summer either by phone or coming over. I have called her too but haven’t been over but once early in the spring. Of course we always talk about you & Joe & wonder when you will get to come home.

Mark has green beans, carrots, Swiss chard, onions and cake on exhibit at the Fair. He got a free pass by exhibiting for 4-H. He did the baking entirely by himself – no one was in the kitchen when he made the cake.

David is in the play pen making a little fuss & James L. is in the play chair banging things around. Yesterday morning I called to John to get David’s bottle and David said “dah, dah” right after me so we have been trying to get him to say John. Once in a while he will say “dah” after we say John. He is making a fuss now so I’ll have to see about him. He pulls everything down he can get his hands on if we don’t watch him. I was talking over the phone & he was in the Taylor-Tot and I turned around just in time to catch him – He won’t stay put in anything he can climb out of.

Love Mother

: Glenn holding James L., Jim, Gladys holding David September 14, 1943

: Glenn holding James L., Gladys holding David, September 14, 1943

: Jim Foster with his nephews, James L. and David

Your Vital Statistics (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: September 13, 1943 envelope

: September 13, 1943, p. 1

: September 13, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sept. 13, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Your air mail letters of Aug. 27 & 29 came yesterday and v-mail of 28. We really received mail about every day last week. It sure spoils us for now we expect lots maybe our good fortune will keep up.

Also got a letter from Ruth M. and one from Mom. Your letters are of course always most anxiously looked for and eagerly read and theirs comes next. They always praise you in their letters and that sure makes me feel good also. They tell me how well you are taking care of things and how capable you are – Of course I know that but it makes me proud that other people see it also.

I suppose you will have to have John slow down on his reading away from school. I know it will be hard for him but a few less magazines might be

[page 2] a help. I guess that will correct itself because if he has lots of headaches he will just have to read less. So Mark’s wound is healing OK. That is good – and D. is getting a mouth full of teeth. Now how about your weight and your feeling etc.? You never say much about yourself. You might let me in on your vital statistics.

This AM at breakfast we got a little news item that all the Taverns in Indiana were closed. We thought the announcer said taverns. Maybe that won’t be too hard on the poor people back there. Some of the better radios around here can get stations throughout the day but ours is only good in the evening.

Yes, Dear you guessed it. I must get to work and I’ve rambled enough – so solong until tomorrow –

Love
Daddy