Tag Archives: Dr. Joseph Roberts

November 15, 1942 (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Nov. 15, 1942

Dear Mother,

Pre World War II 10 Yen

Pre World War II (c1930) – 10 Yen

To begin with I sent you some Japanese money in yesterday’s letter, that according to the censors is OK. You probably won’t be able to spend it for anything or at least a very small amount of what it was worth at one time. I never did know what it was worth but some said it was the same as $5.00. Don’t ask how or where I got it, because I won’t tell. Not now. I have some other money but it isn’t passable just now then today was pay day so I have some other USA money and I’ll send you a check in tomorrow’s mail I think. It might be Tue. and I’m also sending each of the boys a little for Christmas. Yours and David’s will be together – but the other boys will get theirs in a letter. Now that’s the third time I’ve told that to you so hope you get the whole business and needless to say I’d like a report on it when it arrives.

Things have been quiet and not much to do. A few days ago another (jg) and I had a 107 patients to take care of. We of course were responsible to a higher up

[page 2]but it was our job to take care of them and that’s a pretty good sized job. For that’s as many as we often had in St. Elizabeth Hospital. And it about twice as many as could get into Iroquois Co. Hospital.

Had chicken for chow at noon – ½ chicken per person and seconds if necessary, mashed potatoes gravy – asparagus tips, pea soup and apple pie. So you see that isn’t half bad and today was the day for another carton of cigarettes. That comes in our monthly mess bill. Doesn’t sound like rationing here.

No mail yet today but we still have hopes. It’s just about time now for the usual delivery but have [not] seen or heard anything. There is always a disturbance when it comes in.

Took a bath this P.M. Sewed a pair of pants, washed my head and now have my dirty clothes soaking for tomorrow’s laundry. Pretty busy Sunday P.M. but we are always busy in the morning, up to noon, and those things have to be done when we have time.

Last night when I went into the Hall to

[page 3] write your letter it was clear – with the moon shining and all at once it began raining like the duce. We all ran because our tents were open all around – reminded one of closing windows back in civilization.

Did you ever give Dr. Joe’s wife my address for him? I have never heard from him, so can’t write him unless I’d write to her and have it forwarded, but I’d rather write direct.

Maybe mail will come and I’ll write to the folks now.

No mail. I’ve written to the folks but it is now Monday morning. We were busy up until light went out will write more this Eve.

Love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/17/november-15-1942-roscoe/

November 3, 1942 (Gladys)

V-mail dated November 3, 1942

V-mail dated November 3, 1942

Letter transcription:

LT (JG) Yegerlehner MC
Navy SSA (White Poppy)
c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.

Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
Kentland
Indiana
11-3-42

Dear Daddy –

Mark and I are cleaning house. Today being election Mark has a holiday – he washed windows and cleaned the overstuffed furniture and is going to clean floors. He is trying to earn enough to get me to buy his bond. I tried to check up on our financial matters. We still owe about 75⁰⁰ to various drug co’s. The bank bal. including the 150⁰⁰ and Nov 1 allotment is 903. I have a bill or two around town to pay but not much. I will get those drug co’s paid now that I have a little more time to do things. I am still busy but feel more like doing. I didn’t pay the last half of the Federal – should I go ahead & pay it? Mrs. R. was here yesterday. This is the present add [address] of Joe – J.M. Roberts Lt Comdr, Mobile Hosp #4 USNR Fulcrum – c/o Postmaster San Francisco. However she had a letter from him stamped New York, NY Navy Mobile Base Hosp. #4 BR. She was quite baffled about the NY stamp since his ad is San Francisco. Wondered if you would know what it meant. He wrote that he may be transferred to the Marines. I sent your laundry but you may be slow in getting it since the Christmas mail is being sent now. Let me know if you get it and if there was anything besides laundry in the box – I won’t tell you what it is because I want it to be a surprise and if it doesn’t get thru don’t want you to be disappointed.

Love

Mother

Missing mail (Roscoe)

Thankfully, the letters that Gladys wrote between August 29th and October 14th did make an appearance.  I know a lot about my grandmother’s life during that time because the letters did survive. However, at this point in the narrative, they were missing in action. I wonder if they traveled around like my grandfather’s laundry. How many interesting places have they wandered in the past 71 years?

Letter transcription:

Oct. 25, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just now received your letter dated Oct. 14th. That is regular mail. At present then letters from Aug 29 to Oct 14th are missing and lots of questions as to how often mail is coming. When the first letter came etc are still missing. In fact all that you wrote in that interval are missing. Which makes me wh wish I had those letters. Of course, you and the boys are Ok and that is the main thing and that was only 9 days ago so that helps although it isn’t as well as being there as you know. I don’t know what happened but this snail sorta slipped in on us. Thanks for the slip. There was only a few of us that got mail. Thanks to the one a day letter and the air mail stamp. I guess we can afford that much. (12¢ each day). I’ve asked and re asked how the bank balance stood but still no answer but there is probably lots in the intervening and in the mail post Oct 14. So I’ll just wait. And I still don’t know how often you get your mail.

Glad to hear that Davie is coming along – remember 5-7 ounces per week is sufficient. I can’t advise you on the formula because I don’t know how or what the feeding is. I suppose that is in the mixed up mail also, but by now, you have my new address and maybe that will help. If not we will be getting Christmas mail on July 4 and “vice virtue.”

I’m wondering which way Joe R. went and you didn’t send his address so I can’t write to him. Maybe you have sent it before. I figure there are some 30-35 letters missing so that probably accounts for lots of missing information.

On Fri night it started raining and has been at it pretty regular since. It’s the wettest rain. No big drops but it seems to come in continuous sheets and the mud. Our floor isn’t good but the mud certainly gets deep with only

[page 2] one sweeping per day and since we don’t have a broom it has to be done by the boys who take care of the tents once each day.

This is my regular day for writing to the folks so after I finish I’ll try to get a line to them. Of course I haven’t received any mail from them since in Aug also and that makes it a little hard to write.

Somehow some where some ham was obtained today and we had chipped ham gravy-potatoes, pineapple, buttered beets & cream of Tomato soup for dinner. Today One of the best meals we have had. Last night for supper we had spaghetti over which there was huge quantities of extremely highly seasoned chilli. Well I ate it. Our desert was chocolate pudding. So all in all I didn’t eat too much at that time, but we did get a bottle of beer and that has lots of strength. So didn’t fare so badly.

That cold weather sounds good, but this reminds one of a dark fall day which is expected to turn cold afterwards but it won’t. We know now it will either be rainy or clear tomorrow but not cold.

Well, guess I’ll write to the folks. It’s about 1630 now so will try to start theirs before chow and church. Will let you know if anything further developes.

Nothing further developed – went to church and slid around thru the mud.

Lots of Love

Daddy

© 2013, copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

This post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/05/17/missing-mail-roscoe/

Protected: No letters (Gladys)

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Protected: Update from the baby book (Gladys)

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Protected: Amanuensis Monday – September 29, 1942

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