Tag Archives: Dr. Joseph Roberts

Your Dad was so pleased (Gladys)

1943-04-06Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA

4-6-43

Dear Daddy – Three letters today but I think some are still missing. J. & M. got theirs today with the gifts. They will write and thank you. Uncle Wes & Aunt J. stopped this a.m. enroute to C. C. We have about recovered from our trip. We were all tired Mon. but went to bed early and this morning all felt better. Mark and I are going to work in the garden when he comes home from school. Want to plant some peas & onions etc. It isn’t warm enough yet to put out everything. Our garden is directly north over by the corn field. Dr. M. called me today to tell me he had a letter form you about receiving the box. He sent that out early in Jan. Got an announcement from Wilma for her graduation. Will send her something. She is going to enter nurses training. Her boy friend has to go to the army this week. The last box of shells you mentioned with the necklace hasn’t come yet – Neither has the uniform or travel money. It is about time to feed D. his vegetables & milk. He still cries every time I feed him cereal but is hungry if he doesn’t get it and it digests good – so what should I do. I still give him Vit C – he can’t retain orange juice. He was so cute while we were visiting. He is just beginning to imitate. Everyone (almost) agreed he looks like you. Your Dad was so pleased about his name being the same as his grandfather’s. Will send more pictures later. Can’t get film so easily now. Mrs. Roberts called and thinks Joe is being moved. He had written for his other blue uniform then she got a cable not to send it.

Love – Mother

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

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/03/25/your-dad-was-so-pleased-gladys/

Quite an appetite (Gladys)

1943-03-11Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-11-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today or yesterday, but will keep looking every day now since receiving three this week. I think there is one yet to come. One letter came Mon. saying you had written three, but only two more came – Well the weather is getting a little warmer but will look for anything during March. Mark is getting along fine. Had temp of 103 ½ – yesterday but broke out good and is feeling much better this a.m. Sleeps OK at night and doesn’t cough much now. Temp was 99 1/5 this morning. He wants some dinner so he must be improving. Now if John takes them maybe he can get along as well. They closed the grade school – there were 56 out with measles. There are some cases of chicken pox & scarlet fever but we won’t have to worry about them. We are going to give David Immune Globuline if we can get it. Jack Byrnes ordered from Chicago. There wasn’t any to be had in Laf. Mrs. Roberts called me last night and she is going to try and find some for me – said Joe had some but thought his Dad took it when he left. – – Pause – to feed Mark. He had quite an appetite and is feeling pretty good. Dr M. said John could come home tomorrow evening after school Mark thinks John has had it pretty nice eating all his meals at the restaurant. Ira Dixon had another spell like the one he had before. They took his to St. E. – didn’t know whether it was appendicitis or kidney stone. Haven’t any late word about him. Arvilla was on the floor with him when he entered the hospital. Dr. P. wrote me a letter and said he would send your things when he gets instructions from you. I am answering his letter. He said they hated to see you leave. (So did a lot of other people).

Love – Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/09/quite-an-appetite-gladys/

I hardly know (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

1/28/43

Dear Mother,

I hardly know how much I’ve answered and how much hasn’t been. All I know is that there was lots of mail in the past few days. The last letter being Jan. 8 and you were better. All the other letters told of your ups & downs. Your letter may not seem interesting to you but I read every one of them several times because they are extremely interesting. The pictures are also swell – keep them coming ever once in a while.

This morning while things were a little lax, I got out your letters and check way back to August. And strange as it may seem when the ordinary mail didn’t come the V-mail did. There are lots of letters missing – Really

[page 2] more than I thought. Some of the days may be Sun. and since you can’t mail a letter then that might account for a few missing dates. Here is the score so far – I’m giving your missing dates. Some are the Aug. 19, 23-30. Sept 6 and then from the 12 to 30 inclusive. Oct 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 13, 15, 22, 25, 26. Nov. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, 26 & 29. Dec. 6, 18, 24, 25, 27 & 29. Jan 2. Now if you can think of anything important you wrote in those you might repeat. You will notice that more than ½ of Sept are missing. V-mail letters of Sept. 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 25, 26 & 29 – Oct. 2-5. Nov. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9 have been received. You see most of the V-mail letters work in where the other spaces are the largest. Maybe you wrote more V-mail and maybe when you wrote a V-mail you didn’t write other. In any case that gives you an idea of how much mail is missing. I haven’t kept track of other people’s letters because

[page 3] I don’t know how often they wrote.

You mentioned that Dr. Holliday was back – you know stories get around pretty fast and we have it that he wasn’t just as brave as he might have been and shady circumstances surround his return. That came pretty straight although he may be back only for a short time. In that case I guess no one could be too hard on him, but if he is back for good I’d rather think there was a colored gentleman in the woodpile. [This is a more polite version of the idiom which means “some fact of considerable importance that is not disclosed—something suspicious or wrong.”]

Last night it looked very rainy before movie time but we took our rain coats etc and went. It was a detective story with several persons suspected and when it came just about time for the quilty one to be caught it simply came down in bucketfulls, but we stayed. Didn’t even get a bit wet, but the rain made so much noise on my hat I could hardly

[page 4] hear the sound. This P.M. it is so windy I wonder sometime if our tent will stay put but so far it’s pretty well anchored – even though it does make lots of noise.

I turned John’s music over to the Chaplin and so far he hasn’t found anyone to play it. Don’t know if it is too difficult or written too poorly. He said he believed he could find someone and if so he is going to let me know. I haven’t heard much of Mark and his horn lately. Is he still at it and if so how is he getting along? And does their music have any affect of D. sleeping hours. I would think he’d get used to noise with the two older ones around because if I remember they weren’t too soft natured around there at times.

Dr. P. & W. have gone to the sea shore for a short shell gathering trip. I’ll go again one of these days and see if I can pick up a different variety and get

[page 5] an idea. Not that I think the things I make so wonderful but it’s something different. Dr. Joe is at a place where he can buy better things than here and I doubt if good are as scarce as here and the stores and supplies larger. I told you before – but I wrote him and got an answer but haven’t heard from my last letter to him. It’s “sorts” nice that you and she can talk to each other once in a while. I think.

Show’s over and all mail over. Good show no mail. It only rained a little during the show so we really enjoyed it. The wind is still blowing like the very duce but the tent is still holding fast, probably the flopping of the tent will help us sleep.

That will be all from here tonite good night and
Love Daddy

P.S. Did that ending sound like Allan Scott do you still listen to him?

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/26/i-hardly-know-roscoe/

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/

Bucket Baths are in vogue (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

1/9/43

Dear Mother,

You should be able to smell me now for I’ve just had a bath from head to foot. The water has been off some 10-12 days and bucket baths were in vogue but somehow the water came on today so a good bath. The water supply has been temperamental and bathing has been irregular but luckily there aren’t many women around a good bucket of water on a hillside and a naked body is something.

So far today we scored a little mail – got a Christmas greeting from Tommy Thompson and family. That was dated Dec. 7. There is another delivery today so maybe things will be better. We hope.

Just had and am still having a glass of tomato juice. That is one thing

[page 2] we have very little of and I’m surprised because it is a good source of Vitamin C and most people like it. I think Fred & Dr. P. swiped this as they came from taking a bath. I took my bath first and then they went while I held forth.

I’ve been thinking about the number of bonds you are getting and other papers around there whether it wouldn’t be a good idea to rent a safety deposit box. First of all I don’t know how much the rental is but you might investigate or you might talk to Nick who has one I think and ask him about the cost. The boys each have a bond and with ours also it might be worthwhile. Along with all of our insurance policies, etc. The policies can be duplicated in case – but it would be better – Maybe this a just a wild

[page 3] thought of mine which I got from censoring a letter this morning. Do what you think best.

After writing you last night I wrote to Joe R. and to Clarence Y. but I still have several letters to answer. I’ve been stringing them out some. Ed Johnson hasn’t written for a long time. He wrote twice and I answered right the same day but maybe his letters this way are lost in the pile the same as yours. I’ll bet if those persons who have to handle the mail were out here for a while they would be a little more prompt but their job is a big one and around Christmas it’s much more than at other times.

And I just happened to think again. Have you received any the uniform money? I haven’t and if you have tell me in every letter until I reply back because I want to send a tracer thru again if

[page 4] it doesn’t show up. All the others that I knew at that time have gotten theirs long ago.

We have had pretty strong winds today but so far we are still on the hill. This is the time of year for storms. Just like July & Aug at home. Hope you haven’t been snow bound too much.

I can’t send you any more of our local papers because it has been discontinued because the editor has been transferred – even that bit of news isn’t available any more. Well, I’ll finish later but in case I forget – Lots of Love Daddy

P.S. Later – no mail – we had ½ dozen fried eggs bought them in the country and we pilfered onions  from and bread from the galley and did we eat – only the last egg was spoiled and it was mine so Dr. P. divided his with me. So long until tomorrow

Love again
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/18/bucket-baths-a…n-vogue-roscoe/

Shooting the bull (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

1/3/43
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea, New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Fran Calif.

Dear Mother,

Wrote the Folks this A.M. and just finished a letter to Uncle Wess so if there is anything funny about this letter it’s because I haven’t gotten out of my frame of mind – shooting the bull.

This has been a sort of dull day but still I can’t tell why or how it has differed from yesterday. It did rain at times and that is a little different because it hasn’t for several days. The days do pass rapidly even at that – guess it is because we are busy most of the day and look forward to the show at night. It doesn’t make any difference

[page 2] if the show is good or bad we go just the same – generally get there 15-20 minutes early to get a good seat and wait for it to get dark enough for the show to start. It’s pretty dark here at 7:15 so the show is scheduled to start at 7:30 but doesn’t often until around 7:45. At 7:30 when the show starts here on Sunday night. It is 3:30 AM on Sunday morning. It’s a kind of a game to compare times. At 12:00 noon here on Sun. it is 8:00 P.M. there on Sat. etc. We often say what the folks are doing at home when we are going so & so here. I think I’ve gone over all that before but it just happened to hit me as I was writing.

We’ll be glad to get the calendar from Geo T. and was surprised to hear that you had collected $23.50 from Gilmans

[page 3] that must have been a surprise to you also. Hope more people get the Christmas spirit. We must have about 12 bonds by now give me the number the next time you write – I just sorta would like to know.

I did write the sisters of St. Francis and thank them for their kindness and consideration given you while in the hospital. I had thought of writing them long ago but just kept putting it off.

A letter came today from Joe R, a greeting from the Smith’s in Lafayette and your letter of Dec. 4. Dr. Joe’s letter was written on Dec. 22 so you see it wasn’t as old as yours. He didn’t say anything about his location so if you haven’t told Mrs. R.

[page 4] she doesn’t know. I talked to a Dr. yesterday who had seen him and the place I wrote long ago is still correct but things can change as has happened to so many of us.

If you should start taking hypodermic liver you have a Dr. give you the first shot or two because you might do like Irene S. did when I gave her the Vitamin B so be sure and do that. Try to keep going on oral liver. Did Sherman send you the bill for the oral cold tab. Give them to the boys twice per week. And if they should develop a bad cold 6 per day – 2 before each meal – for only one day – If D. get a cold grease him with camphorated oil and watch his temp. It won’t bother if he does rattle if he has no temperature Take per rectum.

Well, I’m out of time & space
Lots of love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/05/shooting-the-bull-roscoe/

It’s 1943! (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Fran Calif

Dear Mother,

After finishing your letter last night I received 8 letters. One from Ruth Y., one from John (a greeting) and 6 from you but those were all back of the ones that came earlier this week. I hope the next ones come pretty soon because in that last one Mark wasn’t feeling so well. Your note you added in the A.M. was better, however.

Now if you haven’t done anything about the tax (I’m quoting your letter of Dec. 7). Here is what I’d like for you to do. Pay all of last year’s – I mean 1941 – In other words complete the installments. That was made before I joined the Navy and of course would never be cancelled. Then after you get that done

[page 2] if you have enough money to do that. I’m not so much interested in paying 1942, because I don’t believe it will be much, but send me the figures and I’ll tell you what I want to do and if it doesn’t meet with yours & Agnes’ approval OK. But the 1941 will have to be paid sooner or later anyway. You’ll probably have some explaining to do or pay a penalty or interest on those last two installments. So that’s about all about taxes. The total taxable amount that I have made since May 20 had been $1,317.79. And that to be added to the first part of the year less deductions. I wrote that once before but thought best to repeat.

Glad you got that last box of shells. I’m not sure how long that string in the shells will last but it was the best I had and there is a knack to stringing those things. That thing is exclusive because I don’t believe there is another like it anywhere. Couldn’t be.

[page 3] I got the idea from one Lentz bought at another Island. I thought it rather unique but as far as fancy it isn’t. I’m anxious to get your reaction to the Cat’s Eyes I sent a few weeks ago and the boys’ reaction to the 20 millimeter and the 50 caliber shells I sent them. The bath mat was for D. So so far all have gotten something.

I got a kick out of the Krug boys idea of a comeback. After all he did have something. I’ve got some metal money of Noumea I want to send but will wait until I get other things to send along.

Yesterday when I got the eight letters (you remember I got 14 a day or so ago). Well Fred seemed a little jealous said the only reason I got that many was because I wrote every day and that was useless because there wasn’t that much news. I was reading one of your letters and it was the two page variety

[page 4] but he said there couldn’t be much in it. All I said was that I like to read them just the same. It all reads good even if there is no news – but I’ll say most all of them as far as I’m concerned are jammed full of interesting things. Lots better I think than many of the letters I censor every day. Of course those are most or less scanned very rapidly and aren’t in the least interesting. One day I got one of your letters just after finishing censoring and I found myself reading it just like when I censor. Then I happened to think. So the first part of the letter was reread.

This being New Year’s day we had creamed turkey – mashed potatoes, peas bean & carrot salad and apple pie, good enough but I haven’t been eating very heavy – don’t get enough exercise.

The picture of the house with the snow was swell. That snow. Of course the house was O.K. also. I’m putting all

[page 5] of D. pictures in order of the age. And I can see that he is growing.

You remember the purse and picture folder you sent me. Now I’d like a picture of each of you about that size. Not a snap shot. D. might be a little hard to catch – I mentioned that before, but you haven’t had time for that yet so if you haven’t started had them taken I wish you would. You an buy folders just like that. Several of the fellows have them.

Don’t know if there will be any mail today or not. I’ve written Joe R. but have had no word and I also sent a personal note but haven’t heard from him on either count.

Well if anything further develops I’ll add a line.

Lots of Love

Daddy

P.S. I forgot – a happy New Year again.

P.S. 2 Write a V-mail letter now and then I believe they will be faster than air mail in the near future.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/01/its-1943-roscoe/

Protected: Monday Morning (Gladys)

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Protected: Was I surprised (Roscoe)

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Letters received (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Dec. 21, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just back from the show, 52nd Street, A musical comedy. I really didn’t enjoy it very much because in the open air the sound doesn’t carry very well and the plot wasn’t good so it was about a total loss as far as I was concerned.

I received your letter today of around 17 and 18 of November. There was three in all and there are some things there I want to comment on. First, I don’t remember about the septic tank. That is I don’t remember you mentioning it. Anyway those shouldn’t be cleaned out yet and possibly will never have to be unless as you say Monroe connected

[page 2] the sink to the tank and even at that I don’t believe they are due to be cleaned out yet. I really believe there isn’t enough grease to cause those not to work. Anyway the worst thing that could happen would be for them to stop up and then they can be cleaned out without much more trouble than if they aren’t stopped up. There are two and I don’t believe they would both go out at the same time so you can use the other until someone can clean the stopped up one.

I’ll be glad to get John’s song for I believe I can get someone to play it. So if he hasn’t sent if have him do so.

I also received Floyd & Ruth’s

[page 3] box today. It was in very good condition. The peanuts really were swell. One can gone already but the only trouble is I’m about half “ga ga” since eating so many. I’ll save the other two cans a few days until I get over this can. Of course, I shared this can with 5 others so maybe I didn’t have too many.

I also received a letter from Wayne Watson – A V-mail but he had put an air mail special so it came thru just like it was. A V-mail also came from Sykes. So you see I have several letters to write but not tonight.

In your letter today you told me of the flash light batteries

[page 4] in the candy bar but I found them yesterday and wrote you about that. The shirt was in the box. Thanks. Wow I wish you had sent the whole of the laundry in Their box.

We all enjoyed the comic books haven’t started on the puzzle books yet nor have we played checkers. Probably won’t play any either.

I guess I told you but if I did or didn’t. I wrote Joe R. but haven’t heard from him yet. Our latest mail is still Nov. 27 so I’m really expecting mail now any day which will be later.

Well, I hope I’ve answered everything – So Solong
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/08/letters-received-roscoe/