Tag Archives: Dr. Ira Cole

Diphtheria Shots (Gladys)

1943-04-12 #2Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-12-43

Dear Daddy – I wrote one letter today telling you I had your of Mar 16-17-22 – Uncle W & Aunt J stopped at noon a while. Ralph is better so evidently the adjustment helped his back – or something did because he was working again. John played 2 numbers at Music Club this afternoon and got a lot of compliments – however he insists he didn’t play well. Arlene had a good picture of she & Bill & boys and is sending you one. Donnie now weighs over 21 and D. is about 18 – so considering their starts D. is going all right. Rosemary has gone to Laf. to stay with her mother until time for her to go to the hospital. Jimmy Funk fell off the bed and broke his shoulder – but is getting along very good. I heard today Nick has joined the Army but I didn’t get the information from D. She wasn’t at Music Club today. He has been talking about it for some time. John is in Fla. at present and Gladys has gone down there for a visit. Sure looks funny to see Kent Café boarded up and all the filling stations closed at night. The filling St. men can catch up on their home life now – or make victory gardens. Mrs. Williams asked me today if you gave Darlene (the little girl you & Dr. Cole operated on when 6 wks old) Diphtheria shots. They thought that was what she had – but has a bad throat now and didn’t know if it could be diphtheria or strep. They were to bring her back for whooping cough shots then for smallpox so I told her it must have been diphtheria shots.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/11/diphtheria-shots-gladys/

Last Day of March (Gladys)

1943-03-31Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-31-43

Dear Daddy – The last day of March – windy but warm. No letter today but one yesterday. I am planning to go to Wilmington tomorrow and get Ruth & Romaine then to C.C. Fri afternoon. I have to take the car to a service Sta. and have it checked before we start traveling. It is about time for David’s vegetables and milk and he is singing a song and sounds like it may get louder. I am trying to get a sweater knitted for him to wear to C.C. but may not get it finished. I took him out for a long walk yesterday and want to get him out again today. It is so warm and sunny. I am afraid I won’t be able to get any more Vit C tablets so must get him in the sun when possible. The Dr. at Mayo Clinic told Irene she needed to rest and wanted her to stay there but she came back and is to be under Dr. Cole’s care. She is still working and I don’t know whether she is going to continue or not. I would bet she doesn’t quit work. Had a tip on where I may be able to collect some money due us, but won’t count on it till I get it (Russell Schultz). Mark wrote you about his bike – well maybe I shouldn’t have, but he wanted it so much and I think I can get him to work enough in the garden this summer to earn it. He is going to rake the yard this evening. I think it should be cleaned off now and a little grass seed put where the weeds were the worst last summer. I want John to help but he is playing in a band concert tomorrow night and he says he has to practice but I think he will work in the yard first. I think from what I hear several married men with children will be taken in the draft this summer. I hear the Beaver’s are going to get another baby. Also the Schultz’s and the Donahue’s. So much for Stork news – that is all I know of now. We are all well- So far John hasn’t taken the measles so hope he doesn’t.

Love Mother

E. Dunlop Street, Kentland

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/03/13/last-day-of-march-gladys/

John is coming home (Gladys)

1943-03-12Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-12-43

Dear Daddy – Bright and sunny today – temp mild. Quite a contrast from last week, but this is March. Mark is quite improved – no temp and measles are beginning to fade. He was itching this morning so I put some zymochol on him and that stopped the itching. He is quite cheerful. Dr. M. came out last evening and gave David 2 c.c. Immune Globuline. So far he hasn’t had any reaction. He ate his cereal at 10 & took all his milk then played a while and went to sleep.  Weighed 16 ¼ this morning. John is coming home this evening. I am going to try and get him to take the serum but you know as well as I do how he shuns needles. Well if he doesn’t take the serum and has measles I won’t be so afraid for the baby now, and I will isolate John if he does take them. There were 56 out of the grade school so they closed Thurs.  Fri but will open Mon. I think I’ll keep Mark home a few days yet so he can catch up a little on his eating before starting out again. Meat Butter, cheese cooking fats are to be rationed April 1. 2 ¼ lb meat per person per week – don’t know about the rest. Joe Kenny was married Feb 22 at Tuscon Arz – he is stationed there – Juanita Arnold & Donald Hall were married at New Brunswick N. J. Mar 4. He is stationed there. She is back here now. Tom Murphy & Mrs. have gone to Flordia for his health. Marlowe Haileys have a baby boy. She had to have a section. Ira Dixon is reported improving. They didn’t operate. Irene said she & Link were going to Mayo Clinic Sat for examinations – She is working all the time but says she doesn’t feel very well. Link is going for his knee. Dr. Cole told Irene if she didn’t get better to quit work & rest. We are all fine.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/12/john-is-coming-home-gladys/

Pretty well up to date (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 22-1943

Dear Daddy –

Have been writing V-mail this week but thought I would try this again. As far as my letters going by air in the past I am sure most of them didn’t the way you haven’t rec’d them. I wish I could do something to speed the delivery at your end of the line. I have gotten 7 letters this week – The last dated Jan 12 so that makes mine pretty well up to date.

It is sunny this morning and the boys are back in school after being out due to blizzard Tues & snow drifts making travel uncertain. Three days this week school was out. I suppose they will have to make that time up somehow, but school was started early last fall so they could get out earlier in the spring. We still have snow. I started to run the car in the garage and got stuck in the snow – Had to

[page 2] shovel the snow away from the tires. The first sow we had was Sept 25 while I was in the hospital. Clara M. said we would have 25 snows this winter and I am beginning to believe it. Last night the moon was full and it made the snow look beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture of the front yard Wed. after the wind Tues. The snow was blown in drifts and it looked like rock formation. Then the mail man came along and walked across it and spoiled the scenic effect. There are tracks over it in every direction now and it isn’t very pretty. It has been so cold and so much firing there is a lot of soot on it now.

Bill brought us a load of wood on his wheelbarrow. He said he would keep us supplied. He called me Tues night and said he was writing you a letter. They were so glad to hear from you. Arlene is going to review the article in

[page 3] Nat’l Geographic for Literary Club and has asked me to help her out some. I am going to loan her the shells & necklace for display. I gave your Mother some of the shells you sent and gave Betty & Buddy a few. We still have a dish full that we show off when anyone comes who hasn’t seen them. I haven’t mounted the coral yet but have been trying to get an idea how to do it.

In your letter rec’d today you wondered what rationing is like. So far it hasn’t bothered us because I get all the coffee I need and 4 gal gas a week in winter is more than I have used – due to so much snow haven’t traveled much. The meat situation hasn’t bothered us due to the locker and Parttens have promised us another quarter from one they are fattening now. Zells got 300 baby chicks and they are getting almost heavy enough to fry so think I’ll buy a few and put in the locker – if they aren’t too high. I don’t believe

[page 4] the price will be any lower in the spring. I told you before they have a chicken house directly north of their house. He is more like a farmer than any Agent we have had here in the last three. I said something about them living on a farm and Mrs. Z. said the farmers in this county don’t want their agent living on a farm for competitive reasons. Mr. Z. says he is going to have the entire back part of their lot in garden this summer – I think he is inclined to be a little “hot headed” but they have been good neighbors and have gone out of their way to help us. They aren’t the card playing, drinking kind. In fact they don’t even play cards. They have 3 girls and the Mr. wanted a boy so bad he was almost reduced to tears when the last girl was born. Hope I haven’t bored you talking about the Zells but I got started and kept on rambling.

Irene was over Sat. afternoon. She is still talking like she did before you left about working. She seems to be developing a nervous

1943-01-22 Yegerlehner, David 1943-01-22 Yegerlehner, Gladys (Foster) with David

[page 5] complex and can’t stand to be in crowds. She went to see Dr. Cole and he told her if she didn’t get better she would have to rest in the hospital. She said she wrote you a letter – Maybe she told you about her symptoms. She doesn’t look sick but that doesn’t always mean anything. We took some pictures in the den and the one enclosed shows the baby pretty good. He will be 4 mo old tomorrow and if the weather permits we are going to Hubertz and have some pictures made – of all of us. The pictures I took with our camera do very good for indoors but aren’t as good as in the sunlight. If I had a speed Kodak I could do better, but it will be warm enough before long and we can go out in the yard for pictures.

As yet the uniform money hasn’t come. I am going to see Agnes and get the taxes figured out. Have the figure you sent. She says we should file separate returns but I don’t know all about that – Have only talked to her on the phone so far. Will

[page 6] go to her office and get it all straightened out next week.

Florence Puetz called me yesterday. Their baby boy born Dec 13 is growing too. He weighed 6-9 at birth and now is over 8 lbs. She said he is growing faster than Rita did. She goes to Dr. Cole. Said Ray had the flu and both children had had colds. There seems to be a lot of sickness around but that is to be expected this time of year with the weather as it has been.

Going back to rationing subject – what seems queer around here now is the filing stations closed at night – most of them – and John Krull’s restaurant closed. Also Boonies little place by Standard is closed temporarily. Dorothy says they have all the noon trade they can take care of. I suppose they would get some increase from the other two places.

The papers came today but I haven’t read them yet. David is taking a little nap before his 2 P.M. bottle – then he will be awake most of the afternoon – Will be glad when I can take him out again.

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/13/pretty-well-up-to-date-gladys/

When it rains it pours (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan. 14 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I didn’t get the line added to yesterday’s letter so will just start another and put both in same envelope. I don’t make a habit of this but we were so late getting home from Laf. last night I didn’t get my letter on the night mail as I sometimes do. The old saying about raining and pouring seems true. John had a stiff neck this morning and had quite a time getting up but finally made it. He is much better but his neck still is a little sore and he moves around very carefully. He and Mark have both been home today and are getting pretty noisy. I think they can both go back to school tomorrow, but I thought another

[page 2] day at home would do Mark more good than going back to school. He is feeling about normal now. It is warmer and I think he can be turned out by tomorrow.

Had a letter from Mother today and she said she would come back up. I am going to call her and tell her to come on the bus to Laf. and since I have to go down tomorrow will meet her there. I think since Thelma has gone to Norfolk to live she feels a little left out in T. H. Not that she saw much of Thelma, but she knew as long as T. was in T.H. Jim would come back when possible and now that she is in Norfolk he won’t try to come so often – Mother thought Jim was coming back for Christmas and she stayed in T.H. for that reason but instead of Jim coming back Thelma went there – and stayed.

I had a letter from Jim, he had written on the back of their camp – “Bee Lines” – official publication of the “Seabees.”

[page 3] I talked to Agnes Molter again today about that tax business and when I get straightened out over this sinus infection will go down to the office and she is going to write you a letter about that 1941 tax payment. She still insists that we let that payment go – but I’ll let her do the explaining and also about 1942. She wrote in about that payment we didn’t make and received a reply – but when I talk to her will get it all straight.

My sinus is still draining and the drainage isn’t very good tasting. I am going back tomorrow and get another treatment. Also I am going to take the Baby down to Dr. Cole and let him check him over. He feels pretty good today – hasn’t any temperature but coughs some. It doesn’t bother him while he sleeps, but I will be glad when he gets rid of it. I think he is as good as John or Mark but I am afraid we are more apt to spoil him. However he still lies in his bed or on the bath table and watches his hands for long periods at a time.

[page 4] Dorothy is here and is getting ready to go to town so will let her mail this for me. She is going with me to Laf tomorrow. She was telling me the Johnson baby kept Ed up the first night they were home from the hospital. Ed was in the restaurant for breakfast and a little sleepy.

This is Thurs & she has to take food home to fix for supper – the proverbial Busman’s holiday.

Must close –
Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/27/when-it-rains-it-pours-gladys/

In case you missed some of my previous letters (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 13 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but probably some tomorrow. There wasn’t much mail except some adv. & my O.E. S. dues notice. In case you have missed some of my previous letters I will relate briefly about things. I had a strep throat – and the little bug wasn’t satisfied to stay in my throat. I suppose it was one of the same family, but traveled up to my sinus. I went to Dr. Ade and had treatments, thought I was about out of the “woods,” then Sun. the left side of my face began to ache and also drain – the drainage kept up and I thought would be cleared after so much discharge but that didn’t end it. It just kept draining and I called Dr. Ade today. He said I should come down and have it washed out. I went down and he punched a hole and washed the left side and what stuff came out. No wonder my face hurt. He said it would need another treatment, and I am to go back Fri. Also I am going to have Dr. Linp x-ray those teeth in the morning to double check on any possible tooth infection. Also if I can’t get this thing

[page 2] cleared up pretty soon I am going down to the hospital and stay a day or two but hope that won’t be necessary. I am not running any temperature and feel well enough to be up but can’t seem to shake this thing. Then too the baby has a little cold but no temperature. I talked to Dr. Cole while in Dr. Ade’s and he said if the baby should start running a temp. to bring him to the hospital, so don’t worry about us as I have written before will go to St. E. if necessary – but I don’t want to go unless it is necessary. Mark went with me today. He didn’t have any temp. today but I thought I would keep him home this week since it is so cold and he was pretty sick, Sat., Sun. & Mon. He still had a little temp. yesterday but very slight. As I told you before about him, he got his from wearing wet clothes all evening. When he came in wet I told him to go change & he changed his pants and left on his wet underwear. John has kept well thru all this and has been my right hand-man. He deserves a medal for distinguished service. He is very patient about what he does but he was not very tolerant with Mark over his illness. Said if Mark

[page 3] would have changed his clothes as he should have done he wouldn’t have been sick. However I told him not to scold. Now enough about our aches and pains. It is still cold but the highway is cleared off so driving isn’t dangerous. I’ll just about use up my ration tickets if I keep making these trips – which I hope to soon be thru with, for this purpose, I still have 16 gal to buy before Jan 21 and this is the 13th.

Clarice kept the baby for me today. She was home doing ironing & mending and has said so many times she would like to keep him, and he is so good I don’t mind leaving him there when necessary. I wouldn’t make a habit, or leave him to go to parties, etc.

Last night we were listening to Fibber McGee program and they were visiting a hospital. They went up an elevator that sounded about like the automatic at St. E. – then Bill Mills the orchestra leader, was the patient they were visiting, pressed the button for the nurse. They asked him why and he said he rung for a nurse so they wouldn’t be disturbed for an hour. At the end of the program a nurse came in and Billy said, “You didn’t need to drop everything you were doing and rush in here.” I really got a laugh when I heard that elevator.

[page 4] John & Mark have gone to bed and David isn’t awake yet for his 10 P.M. bottle. I am now putting raw egg yolk in the formula & he also takes pablum, Vit C tablets & Oleum percomorph. He is too big now for the basket. I have the baby bed Mary Parttens sent me in the den but am going to move it upstairs for him to sleep in at night and fold the studio couch out and use that for him during the day.

Bart put your address in the paper. He didn’t put New Caledonia and Bob H. wrote you a letter just c/o Fleet P.O. San F. He thought you might not get it so wrote another after he got your last.

Haven’t had any recent word from Floyd & Ruth so don’t know what the situation is. It is hard to keep track of them they are traveling so much. I would like to see the movies he took of us – wish you could see them too – Well, I’ll get some good pictures taken and sent to you.

It is time for me to go to bed so I’ll add a line in the A.M.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/25/in-case-you-mi…letters-gladys/

You aren’t the “flighty” type (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 11 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Rec’d your Jan 1, 2 & 3 letters this morning. You had my letters up to Dec 12 and I had told you about Mark being sick – well this seems to be a vicious circle – after Mark had his round, John got the bug and then I had it and still struggling with my sinus but my throat seems well now. It did keep bothering me but seems fine now. Well to get back to the circle, Mark got wet thru and came in and I told him to go upstairs and take a warm bath & put on dry clothes. Of course he protested on the both so I said well get dry clothes on which I thought he did – That was supper time – and I didn’t know he had just put on dry pants until after started to run a temperature. He wore his wet underwear all evening then went to school next day and played out in the snow – even got his face washed in snow twice I learned later so no wonder he got sick but he is much better now. As soon as I discovered he had fever I started him on sulfa and called Dr. Cole & he said give him a whole tablet of sulfadiozine every 3 hrs. I am giving one every 4 hrs today because his temp is down and he is getting lively

[page 2] He was around the baby before I knew he was feeling bad and now the baby is coughing of course it is hard to say how the baby got his since I have been having so much throat & sinus trouble. However, I keep in close touch with Dr. C. and he told me to give David ¼ sulfadiozine every 4 hrs. He has just a slight temperature. He seems to feel fine and takes his regular feedings. Weighed 13-3 this A.M. – which shows a 10 oz gain since last Monday. Now please don’t worry about us because if anything serious should develop I would go directly to St. E. but Mark’s temp is receding and since I started to write this I stopped to feed David and had to change him and took his temp. which was 99 4/5 rectally – which you know isn’t much. Right now he is trying to get his whole fist in his mouth and is very mad because he can’t. He acts very much like he is trying to cut teeth but 3 ½ mo is a little early – – –

Just had callers – Mrs. Roberts & two boys were here.  She had come over with someone else and stopped in to say hello. She had some pictures of Joe. He has shaved off his mustache and was not wearing his glasses. He looked quite

[page 3] different. He had a little boy in the pictures with him that looks very much like their smallest boy, John. He was in bathing trunks so evidently had been in swimming, but if he has written you probably has told you what he does. In one of his letters he told Mrs. R. his picture might be in the papers. The Army & Navy Officers Club was having a dance and he was holding the mistletoe over a couple and a picture was taken of the scene. Mrs. R. said she would watch all the papers for said picture. The aforementioned club may not be current but he was attending a social function around Christmas time.

Clara M. is here today helping. I have been having her come once a week to do ironing, etc., and since this week-end was such a strenuous one I was glad I had told her to come today. She washed, ironed and is now cleaning the living room. I want to stay away from any dust with this sinus condition. It has been draining all day but I don’t want to aggravate it. Of all times to get a sinus condition – oh well, I’ll get rid of the bug – I “betcha.”

After the snow, wind, drifting, haze, and everything Sat & Sun, the sun is shining today and that always makes a person feel better. The snow wasn’t very deep this time and is melting

[page 4] around the edges. There isn’t any haze today so we can see out again. I believe this is the “wintryst” winter we have had – well in so many years I can’t remember how far back. You know I never cared for winter weather but this is 1/3 of Jan. gone and Feb is a short month, then Mar. – so in a few short weeks spring will be here again and we will forget all about this weather and cold “bugs.” I hope I can manage to work in the yard this spring. I want to have flowers in front of the shrubbery like last year. I think I can get some full grown Spirea. Clara says if it is on her place – (she isn’t sure – may be on Mrs. Perry’s – the property line doesn’t seem definite) I can have it – she wants it taken away. So we may have some full grown shrubs in our back yard this spring.

I gave you all the figures you asked for in three previous letters. I will talk to Agnes and we will take care of the ’41 Federal, also figure up the ’42 and give you the amt that will have to be paid after deductions, etc. I hope this letter hasn’t been too much on the drippy side but I think you want to know how things are and as I said before if anything serious should develop you know I would

[page 5] get to St. E. immediately, but since you aren’t the “flighty” type I think you would rather know our little up & downs. As Gildersleeve says – “this is one of my bad days” – seems this has been one of our bad times but we are all feeling better today and hope by tomorrow everyone will be so-so again. Even with a temp. it has been a job keeping Mark in bed. John was very much “put out” with Mark. He said it was unnecessary for him to get sick – knowing how it all came around. I said “Poor Mark is in the dog house even when he is sick.” However John’s comment didn’t disturb our Mark.

John got his report card today. He can write you a V-mail & give you the results. He is practicing on the sax now. He is getting better all the time but he likes it and you know when he likes to do a thing that means everything.

David is chewing on his hands again and looking at a toy I fixed on his basket. He is the squirmiest little fellow – just turns & twists around most of the time when he is awake. Gets plenty of exercise. Will try and get those pictures taken and sent out as soon as I can stick my nose out in the air again.

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/21/you-arent-the-…ty-type-gladys/

I feel better (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 8 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another day to Laf- and that means not much done at home. Dr. Ade said my nose & throat looked better and they feel better so maybe I will be thru with treatments now – might have to go back once. I feel better so maybe I can get over this thing. It seems to drag out but it would since I have to go so far for treatments. I am glad I have been going to Dr. A. because if I had been going to M. I probably would have gotten discouraged and changed anyway (psychology). I have been to Laf. every other day since last Sat. Dorothy was going with me today and when I called her this morning she said the roads weren’t safe, but I knew the other day when we went (Mrs. Zell & I) the

[page 2] snow plows were working both sides of the pavement and I didn’t see how they could get bad no more snow than we have had. I knew she didn’t want to go, so I called her back and told her I was going to leave before she could get away from the restaurant. I decided I would try it and if it wasn’t safe I would come back but Mr. Zell had to do to Laf. to get some things for the office so John & I went with him and Mrs. Zell kept David. When we got to 41 it was dry and all cleaned off – as clean as in the middle of summer. So I got a trip to the Dr. on the County Agent’s gasoline. I still have 24 gal to use by Jan 21 and this is the 8th. Dorothy called me about 6 P.M. to find out how I made the trip. I don’t know where she got her information but she was so sure the roads were slick. Now don’t worry about me driving when the roads aren’t safe. If I had

[page 3]taken our car and the pavement had been slick I wouldn’t have tried to drive. So much for that. I got the Johnson baby a gift today, but didn’t have time to get it wrapped and ready for Ed to take to the hospital this evening. I have been “dripping” along with this nose & throat condition so haven’t visited Lucile at the hospital. I probably won’t get to see her until she gets home.

While in Loebs today I saw Alice & Stilly Berry – they stopped and talked but didn’t mention the balance of their account. They showed me the picture of their baby. They wanted Algood’s address.

Mead’s sent us a 50 cc bottle of Oleum Percomorphum. I talked to Byrnes over the phone about writing to the Co. and I thought he understood I wanted Dextri-Maltose, Pablum & Oleum but he just asked for the Oleum. If I had known

[page 4] that I would have written the letter myself but this 50 cc bottle will last a long time.

Monday when I was in Dr. Cole’s office & his nurse made a blood count the Hemoglobin percent was 81 red count 4,160,000 – and I had a shot of Liver & Vit B so I should be in pretty good shape. Mrs. Cole came in with Dr. Cole’s lunch while I was there. I think she does that every day. He asks about you every time I go in. I think I mentioned all this in other letters but maybe you missed them.

The uniform money hasn’t come yet. The bank bal. without the Ins. & taxes, etc., paid is around 500⁰⁰. I told you in a previous letter I got a new coat – $108⁰⁰. Last week I bought 6 bonds (37⁵⁰) – In yesterday’s letter I asked you about getting a piano I have a chance to get for $100⁰⁰. It is a small one like Ruth Mutchler’s. Let me have an opinion.

Mrs. Roberts called me last night. She hadn’t had a letter for over a week and was wondering why. I haven’t had one since Wed but probably will get two or three or tomorrow.

Love Mother

Your first letter came Sept. 22

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/17/i-feel-better-gladys/

Five months since we left Moffett Field (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Jan 8, 1943
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Francicso Calif.

Dear Mother,

According to date it is now just five month since we left Moffitt Field. In some ways it fu seems a long time and in other ways it seems only a short time. Anyway we are here.

Mail was a little better today got your letter of Dec. 13 in which you told of the boys being sick. Of course by now it is too late but I still worry about them. Don’t be to fussy about them. Watch their temperatures and if they go to high then do something. As long as temperature is only around 100° don’t worry. Give them Sulfadiozine as per instruction of

[page 2] Dr. Cole but not too long at any one time give with plenty of fluids. If they get too sick take them to the hospital for a time, but don’t stew and get yourself down.

Glad people like the necklace [necklace]. I think I have an idea for another only I’ll have to get some more shells. Maybe we’ll be able to get there and get some other varities [varieties] and kinds. I have several kinds now but not enough to send home.

We had one of those real real rains last nights – everything is soaked and muddy but things are a little better now than before because there is some crushed limestone around and as long as one is able to stay on that it doesn’t bother but one miss step and you are in the yellow. After the rain today the sun came out and was it hot. It has been hot and steamy all day long.

Glad to hear the boys are still listening

[page 3] to the shadow. Keeping the old family tradition going. Our radio news are about nil and I haven’t heard of anyone getting the radio programs. We were told not to bring radios along and we can’t send for them – oh we could but when would they get here. Some few did smuggle radios – small ones and Australia is all that can be gotten and we are not in a position to listen when the programs are going on.

Don’t know if we will have a show tonite or not but I’m afraid the hillside will be too sick and wet, but if they show one we’ll probably go rain or moon shine. It’s not moon light now so that is one privilege we don’t enjoy even though we do have movies.

It is now about 1700 and almost chow time so will finish later. Later after the

[page 4] show. The title “Fugitive From Justice.” It was OK but very short.

There was no mail this P.M. that 2 Newton Co. Enterprizes and one CC News came. The Newton Co. Enterprise had been opened and censored, but nothing was blanked out but it was only a 2 page paper when before it was 4. Everyone’s mail is late so try V-mail again as I’ve repeated in my previous letters.

I’m still far behind in my letter writing but if I keep on writing and no mail coming in I’ll catch up.

Well, don’t worry too much about the boys and keep yourself in good health –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/16/five-months-si…t-field-roscoe/

Answering questions (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 6 – 1942 [1943]

Dear Daddy –

Yours mailed Dec 31 (Dated 29) rec’d this morning. You will surely get lots of mail now. I called Funks to tell them about their letters and gifts rec’d but Arlene & Bill are in Missouri but will be back tomorrow or next day. They will probably write to you again. I just read your letter again to be sure and answer questions. The uniform money hasn’t come. I have had Mr. Monroe out twice to look at the furnace. I will have him go over the radiators again. He keeps it oiled. I have been keeping the car checked at Childress. I will have him take a look at the battery this week. In case you missed the letters I mentioned the baby’s feedings, I am giving him Vit C tablets. Now 3 tbsp pablum at 10 AM plus 5 oz milk. He acts like he is going to get fat

[page 2] but he has a good appetite and there isn’t much to do with a baby but satisfy their hunger. However he doesn’t take half the dextri-maltrose the Mead chart calls for. I am afraid he would look pudgy if I put in 6 tbsp instead of 2 ½ – 6 is what the Mead chart gives for 3 mo. old. I asked Jack Byrnes to write to Mead Johnson about baby food – since we use pablum dextri & oleum. I rec’d a letter from the Co. and said they were sending a bottle of Oleum but didn’t mention anything else. I haven’t talked to Byrnes about what he wrote asking them for. There seems to be a shortage of canned milk. I could only get 12 cans from Knowltons, 3 from Bairs, 2 from Fords, that is of Carnation. I went to Laf. again today so got a dz cand of Pet at a store there. If you get all my letters you will wonder about all the trips to Laf. I have been going to Dr. Ade for throat & sinus treatments. I asked him today why it was dragging along so and he said it was

[page 3] the nature of the “bug” that is around this year. I am not sick enough to go to bed but my throat & sinus keeps bothering me. I have been staying in very close – only go out to make the trips – I went Sat, Mon, today (Wed) and am to go Fri. I didn’t drive during Dec so still have enough gas tickets to make several trips is necessary. He told me today to take neopronticil. I told you in yesterday’s letter I am giving neo to the baby. Dr. Cole says he has a sore throat. He runs a little temp but seems to feel fine. His temp was running 100 every day and now since I have been giving him Neo it has dropped to 99 2/10. I suppose when I get my throat all well he will get over his. It doesn’t bother him. He sleeps good and after the 10 P.M. bottle sleeps till 7 A.M. (next morning). At present gains 1 oz a day, sometimes more. I sent you several picture just before Christmas. Maybe you have them by now. You didn’t mention the pictures Arlene sent, or did you get them?

[page 4] John doesn’t have to go to school tomorrow or Fri – due to exemptions from all exams. Now if you were the bragging type you would tell everyone that. Mark of course has to take all exams because that isn’t done in the grade school. John is going to do David’s washing in the morning – if you can call it that – putting the things in the Bendix & then taking them out – and by the way – the Borax does the trick for the ammonia diapers – we dissolve ½ cup borax and pour it in the last rinse and then we have no odor, otherwise the smell is bad the next time we remove a wet diaper. I am not bragging – just stating a fact. Mark tried out his skates today but didn’t do so well. We are having cold weather again. Just before Christmas it turned warm & the snow melted but it is cold again and there was snow today. Made slow driving but the snow plows were working both sides of the pavement. It seems like we are going to have plenty of cold weather this winter. The snow isn’t as heavy, unless it keep snowing, as it was before Christmas.

The Johnson’s named their heir

[page 5] James Edward or “Jimmy Ed.” I would like to go see Lucile while she is in the hospital but won’t go unless I get rid of this head condition. Now I’ll have to return the buggy and I only used it a few times. Unless the weather gets a lot warmer won’t need one till spring. I rec’d the comb & brush manicure set & flowers for Christmas. I told you that before in several letters – Also the money you sent. Do you think I should put all our money, we don’t use for expenses, in war bonds – Let me know. The bank only pays 1% – the Bldg L. – 4% or they did but that may be cut now. After I get the insurance & taxes taken care of – and all the other first of year expenses will send you a financial report.

Seems like I have covered a lot of paper & not said much either but it is hard to write when the boys (two eldest) are asking questions & talking all the time but I keep hoping I’ll do better next time.

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/13/answering-questions-gladys/