Tag Archives: Floyd V. Yegerlehner

Travel Plan Changes

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
146 West Graham Street
Kentland, Indiana
Nov. 2, 1963

Dear David –

Bill brought the desk blotters and the calendar this morning. I took a blotter to Mrs. M. She seemed very pleased. She has several things in her living room she has added since you left: a new chair, a new t.v., magazine rack and some art objects. I suppose you know H. Funk bought the hotel and Dick & Marge Ryan are running it. They are also running an Insurance business where Harold used to have his office. Harold is back in his own building.

Rosemary Murphy is working with the 7^th & 8^th grace children in our church. I thought she needed the class room Bible Study class was using, so by vote of my class they decided to go to the kitchen. Rosemary is promoting a camp project for next summer. Three of the boys in her class are working on our driveway edge to earn something to go into the camp fund. Before the three boys came here the entire group had earned $25.00 today. I said something to Dad not long ago about working on the driveway and he said he wasn’t interested. He took up the geraniums yesterday for some nurses at the hospital. He said since we would be gone this winter he wouldn’t try to keep them – He didn’t have much success last year.

I had sub-district meetings this week and I am glad they are over. I also finished a study class I was teaching at Raub. Clarence & Clara stopped last Saturday on their way to Ruth M.’s Just as they were leaving Floyd & Steve came. They had just come from Ruth’s. Floyd & Steve had spent a few days in Chicago. Ruth had intended to go with them, but Ruth couldn’t get off from work.

[page 2] We had a very successful UNICEF drive last Tuesday night – another item in a busy week. We had a very good response from children and parents and I mailed a check to U.S. Commission for UNICEF for $189.15 – $32.00 more than last year.

We may have to change the time when we visit Bonnie’s parents. Since the government of Indonesia has broken diplomatic relations with Singapore we may not be able to fly from there to Djakarta and if we have to go from Hong Kong to Djakarta we will definitely have to change dates. John is having his vacation Feb. 8 to 23 so it may have to be after that time that we go to Malacca. We will probably know more about it when you come home Thanksgiving.

Love Mother

P.S. It was nice hearing from you Oct. 26.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/17/travel-plan-changes/

Visiting Relatives

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
March 20, 1961

Dear David:

I think I forgot to tell you to add another $2.00 to your bank account, (GM dividend). I deposited it for you when it came, but haven’t written since then. I am a little tired today, but not as tired as I thought I would be. I have just about replaced everything and have washed all the extra bed clothes, so by tomorrow I should be ready for the club luncheon and meeting in the afternoon. The only thing left is food. I put the steak into several packages and put it in the freezer and the ham also. For some reason my apple pies didn’t get eaten and now we are working on them. The Clay City relatives and the Mutchlers left around 4:30. Uncle Floyd and Aunt Ruth and Steve stayed a while longer. When they got ready to leave Floyd told Ruth she had to drive home. He had taken a long trip on Saturday and only had two hours of sleep Sat. night. Mark and Shirley stayed long enough to feed Becky her supper. I put her in her pajamas and when they left Shirley had a bottle to give her on the way.

I have some tax business to work on, so must get with it. Can’t keep them waiting (they gave us ten days to answer a question and it has been almost a week since we received the letter).

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/19/visiting-relatives/

A New Chapter

4 Replies

Just about fifteen years after Gladys wrote her last letter to Roscoe in 1945, Gladys wrote one of her first letters to her youngest son, David, when he went away to college. The baby of the family, born in September 1942, was now almost 18 years old and attending Indiana University at Bloomington. Mark, the middle son, had married and his firstborn child, a daughter, had been born just four days prior to the following letter. Gladys and Roscoe’s oldest son John was living and working in Indonesia. Having earned a PhD in linguistics, John had worked on several projects related to Native American languages during the 1950s.

September 14, 1960

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Indiana
146 W. Graham Street
September 14, 1960

Dear David:

First to answer your questions

(my) Place of birth: Terre Haute, Indiana, November 1, 1905.
(Dad’s) (Roscoe Schiele Yegerlehner) Clay County, Indiana, November 25, 1904

Dad has: B.S. degree from Indiana State Teachers College
M.S. degree from Indiana University
M.D. degree from Indiana Univerity (9 years)

I had two years business college.

Mr. Floyd Yegerlehner (or Mrs.) 1603 Garfield, Lebanon, Indiana.
Mrs. Earl Mutchler, Wilmington, Illinois. (115 East Street)

Or you could give

Mr. Mark Yegerlehner, 6107 N. Kenmore, Chicago, Ill.
Or you could give Dr. John Yegerlehner, Malang, Indonesia. (just joking)

In case you look for your suit, I hung it at the north end of your closet on a hook, a little lover than the road. Why don’t you use that laundry case for your clothes hamper – well that might be a little unhandy. I will send you a plastic bag, since I have so many of them here, but won’t have time to make any cookies to send along.

Received a letter from John. I will quote you something from his letter. “Kate Garvey and I have been giving a five-week seminar (10 sessions of two hours each) for high school English teachers here: modern methods of teaching English. When I think of the lies I was told about the English language by that old crock Kitsmiller…well. (Really the teaching of English is in the stone age in America. It would be as if they taught alchemy instead of chemistry in high school) We should be able to do better here.” He had received my birthday card, but since you didn’t send yours it couldn’t get to him.

Mark called Monday evening to tell us not to try to come up this week. Because of the hospital rules, we couldn’t get in to see Shirley and the baby, so maybe we can plan to go next week. Mark is going to Traders Point Friday to get Mrs. Ward, so he will stop here on his way.

I talked to Mr. Molter this morning and he said you would not have to make a special trip home to register, but that you could take care of it when you come home for Thanksgiving vacation. You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to come home if you want to come, but he said you didn’t have to make a special trip just to register.

Mrs. Fields called this morning to talk to Dad about Mark. He is still have some difficulty and she was to take him to the office at 10:20.

John’s first dividend check from Standard Oil came today – $27.50. Also your dividend check from GM ($2.00) which I will deposit in your account. Put that down on your check book, to keep your balance correct.

It is about time for Dad to come for lunch, so must get things ready.
Love Mother

P.S. Decided to enclose sack.

[handwritten notation on back in David’s handwriting – Received Friday AM Sept 16]

Wright Quadrangle, Indiana University (Image courtesy of the Indiana Memory Digital Collection)

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/03/a-new-chapter/

A Nice Visit (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 30, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 30, 1945, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 30, 1945

Dear Daddy –

It’s past 3 o’clock (peace time) and our company has gone home. Ruth & Earl came at noon. I didn’t know what time they would get here so we didn’t wait dinner for them and we were just about thru but we had a roast & gravy so there was plenty for them. They brought a watermelon and we cut it for dessert. They left for home about half an hour ago. I thought we were to set the clocks back tonight so we didn’t have ours back and got up and went to church at 8:15 – I wanted to go early to get the Sunday School things in order and maybe it was a good thing I did because some of the children came early and someone needed to be there to keep order. I am sleepy – I fought mosquitoes until past midnight and then David got me up early so I didn’t get the benefit of the extra hour. I went to bed two or three times before I got rid of the mosquitoes.

Ruth & Earl had quite a nice visit on their trip home. They got to see a lot of the relatives. Ruth & Floyd were down home for the week-end so got to see them. Mom forgot David’s birthday last week, so she sent a card and book by Ruth.

It is cloudy and cold and raining a little. I am glad we have the coal – which I hope lasts until we get the oil installed. We heard over the radio today that the Standard Plant at Whiting was settling their strike. Just hope it all gets settled. I would hate to get an oil burner & no oil.

Arlene asked me to come to come down last night, since she was alone with the children.

September 30, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Her “maid” is still with her. She married Shorty Davis but he lives in a trailer and I imagine she would just as soon work some place as stay in a trailer all day. She hasn’t said anything about leaving Arlene and Arlene is planning to go up to the lodge for a week and leave the children with Francis. John Funk was at the lodge working for Bill and he got sick and Bill had to go up so he wants Arlene to go up there for a week. Arlene was down to see Dr. Cole Fri. and said she invited the Coles to the lodge for a vacation. She said after she extended the invitation she thought about Rosemary who is due to go to the hospital anytime. She didn’t want to withdraw the invitation and she didn’t want to take the Dr. away from Rosemary. Arlene also told me that Bernard’s baby had been in the hospital 10 days under Van Buskirk’s care and that they had brought him home and are going to take him to Cole now – they aren’t satisfied with his condition. He still has a rattle – he almost had pneumonia.

Mrs. Mathews asked me as we were leaving church when you were coming home. She said she was hoping you would get home before winter.

David is full of pep this afternoon. He wants to push chairs around and has his little chair going around in circles. He has a hard time when he has to stay in.

Love Mother

Mon. morn – Yours of Sept. 26 came today but yours of the 27 came Sat. so I don’t feel like I have the latest news. Maybe the next one will be in this evening. I’ll go see when I mail this. Still raining and raining. At least it is warmer and that is something. Clarence Simmons came to see me this morning. He wanted to know if you wanted to get “out” and if so they need a Dr. in Mulberry & they would get the Procurement Board to let you come there.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/19/a-nice-visit-gladys/

Office Plans (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

9-22-45

Dear Daddy –

It is a rainy Sat. We have been cleaning the house getting ready for David’s party. I washed the wall in the hall where I had used the paint and it washed nicely. The dirt came off easier with a brush. I am not planning to paint the hall now because it looks good enough as is. Will just wait until spring and maybe we can have a painter do the whole house. David rec’d a birthday card from Sherill Thrailkill and one from Ruth & Floyd. John asked David what he wanted for his birthday and he said a card, so John is going to give him a dollar with a card. Mark got a magic slate for him. Lucile bought a telephone for him one time while we were shopping together in Laf. I got the horses for him but he found it and has played with it two weeks. I thought I would buy him a wagon – there is a war model at the variety store, but Norma gave him the old tin wagon their girls had – she says they don’t play with it. Dorothy never did make the trip to Laf. so I didn’t get a chance to shop there. John wanted me to go today but I have been so busy getting ready for the party and since it has started to rain would rather not make the trip.

The boys are listening to a football game but there is quite a lot of static (Illinois & Pittsburg at Champaign).

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Just heard Ind. is leading Mich. 13-0 at first half. J. & M. went to the ball game here last night. Mark got to play in the 7^th & 8^th grade game. John asked him who won and he said it was a tie. I stayed at home and knitted. I started Bobby Krull’s snow suit. I finished the jacket & cap and Dorothy seemed well pleased. She is still having some cold, but was downtown yesterday afternoon.

I went to Cosmopolitan club yesterday at Mrs. Harry Hufty’s and met Phyllis Merrill’s mother. She said she had met me once before in C.C. I attended a Past Matrons meeting at Mrs. John Gilsons – (you remember or do you). Mr. Gilson works for the Lbr. Co. in C.C. I remember attending the meeting, but don’t remember Mrs. Merrill. There were a number of people there from Hymera.

John Krull is having his opening the 26^th – pretty good time after the fire. He should have plenty of business – especially at noon, since Nick still closes from 11 to 3. The Nu-Joy site is about cleaned off. Just curious to see if they rebuild there.

You said something about a central hall thru the back room – I still think the hall at the west side would be better because it would lead directly to the door that goes over into the room back of Mildred’s place. I am enclosing two plans, and you can see there would have to be a turn in the hall if it goes thru the center.

David is cutting waste paper to amuse himself – it’s hard on him to stay in – he seems to be the outdoor type.

Love,
Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/01/office-plans-gladys/

A Family Tragedy

1 Reply

After May 2nd, 1944, the letters go silent for a week. While Roscoe and Gladys were writing letters to each other further north, in Clay City, Indiana, a family tragedy was taking place. During the day, Roscoe’s oldest brother Sam fell off the back of a truck while working on his farm. He fractured his skull during the fall and died several hours later. At this point, it is unknown whether or not Roscoe, Gladys & the children traveled to Clay City for the funeral. Romaine, the daughter of Ruth (Yegerlehner) Mutchler, does not recall attending the funeral, although she does remember the sadness which accompanied the tragedy. With gas rationing and other travel limitations in effect during WWII, it is hard to say whether or not the family did go. However, the lack of letters would indicate that Roscoe and Gladys were together.

SAMUEL A. YEGERLEHNER

CLAY CITY, Ind., May 3. – -(Special)- – Samuel A. Yegerlehner, 53 years old, died at 8:30 last night at the Clay County Hospital from a fractured skull sustained Tuesday morning when he fell from a truck two miles east of Clay city. Mr. Yegerlehner is survived by the widow, Esther; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Yegerlehner of clay City; two sons, Paul and Earl of Clay city; one sister, Mrs. Ruth Hutchler of Wilmington, Ill.; four brothers, Clarence and Ralph of Clay City, Roscoe of the United States Navy at Great Lakes, Ill., and Floyd of Bluffton, and one grandchild. The boys was brought to the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home and will be returned to the residence in Clay City Wednesday afternoon. Short funeral services will be held at the residence at 1:30 o’clock Thurdsay afternoon followed by services at St. Peters Reformed Chruch at 2 o’clock with Rev. Bredeweg officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Reformed cemetery.

YEG1940 - Sam, Esther, Earl, Paul & Leanna

Samuel, Earl, Esther, Leanna and Paul Yegerlehner, c1940s

Mark’s Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 26, & 27, 1944 (envelope front)

: February 26 & 27, 1944 (envelope back)

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-26-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 15 came today. So glad you finally rec’d David’s Christmas pictures. He does, I think, resemble your baby picture. So many people around here comment on how much he looks like you. Mark has him out now getting some fresh air and some sunshine – however the sunshine is a little pale now. It was brighter this morning. It is very warm and windy. Last night I was awakened by thunder & hail. It was quite a storm while it lasted. The hail was very bad for a while. The north windows showed the effects of the storm – especially the kitchen windows are covered with dirt.

I am having a little party for Mark at 4 P.M. Buddy is here now walking around with Mark while he pushes David around. I tried to keep the party a surprise but John didn’t know it was to be such and began talking about the party. John wanted to play a trick on Mark, so he sent him a birthday card and signed a girl’s name. This girl is in Mark’s room and according to Mark is poison ivy, or something equally unpopular. He says she is very ugly and he dislikes her very much. He suspected John as the sender and was ready to tear him apart. John told Miss Smith about it and she in turn told him about something she did when in high school. There was a girl who wasn’t very popular

February 26, & 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] and didn’t have dates – a certain boy she admired from afar – Well Miss S. sent her an invitation to the prom and signed this boy’s name. She said the girl wrote him a note accepting his invitation – The boy was very angry – but I don’t know whether he took the girl to the prom or not. I think John felt a little badly about sending Mark the card until Miss S. told her story, then he didn’t think he had done as much as she had.

This rain and warm weather is making things look green. The tulips are up so high. I am afraid they will get nipped yet but can’t keep them from growing in weather like this.

I see in the paper the Barces held a reception for Betty & Paul. They spent a week in Missouri on honeymoon. I think Paul has to return to Panama at the end of his furlough.

Kenneth Wood has been in Calif. since he finished his training at Allison, but has been sent to New York. He was in Kent on his way to N.Y. one day this week. Harlan Parr was in Fla. until last fall then sent to Mich., was there a short time, then sent to N.Y. I see in the paper that Frank Morton is working in Nashville. Mildred & Frank Jr. were down to see him. Frank Jr. will soon be in the Navy.

– – The party was quite a success – Two Zell girls, Buddy, Bobby, Jimmy & David Diedam were here. I made a white cake and decorated it will pink candles. John went to the drug store and got strawberry ice cream which carried out the color scheme. I made a punch with grapefruit & orange juice.

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Everybody seemed to have a grand time.

This is Sun. P.M. – I didn’t get to finish this yesterday due to the party, etc. Buddy wanted Mark to eat supper with him after the party and John wanted to go to the show with David Diedam – Mark saw the show Fri. night with Zells – I wanted to take David to the Dr. because of this cough he has had several days. Dr. M. gave him a whooping cough shot and said to bring him back the middle of the week for another. There are so many cough cases and he says the shots are the only thing he has found to help. After seeing the Dr. I went to the restaurant and got my supper. The supper crowd was gone and there was only two or three men at the counter, so I stayed. I wouldn’t have taken David in if there had been a crowd, or several children. David didn’t seem to mind the shot so much. Just cried a few minutes and was able to smile at the Dr. when we left.

According to Dorothy, the reason Doris Wilson didn’t get to the hospital to have her baby (no. 4) she couldn’t find Ellsworth in time. Dorothy said they (several couples) were at Tiltons, after the Bond rally show,

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] having refreshments (about 2 a.m.) and Doris called inquiring if Ellsworth was there. She didn’t say why she wanted, so no one tried to find him. He didn’t get home in time to get her to the hospital and the Dr. didn’t get there until after the baby was born. He was expecting her at the hospital. I’ll bet Dr. M. was plenty “sore” about the whole thing. I remember how they started to the hospital when Eddie Ray was born and stopped to see a show on the way.

It was so nice out of doors yesterday – but it’s not quite so inviting out today. The Zell girls, Virginia (11) & Betty (8) are here playing Monopoly with Mark. Martha Jane is the youngest (3) and is home taking a nap. John has been listening to the radio and David in running around the house getting into everything – Just found some of Mark’s cards, so Mark came running to the rescue. David loves to close doors and will close any door in the house he can find that will close for him.

Harold Portteus came yesterday to tell me he might not be able to get a permit to sell us the beef – but I think he will get the permit. If there is any objection I think, I’ll do a little talking. They had had a lot of hospital & Dr. bills the past year and really need to sell. Ruthie was in the hospital several weeks and Harold is just recovering from a hernia operation. He said he was anxious for you to get back. One reason being Jim’s induction into service. He said he was thinking about shots he would have to take and would like for you

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 5

[page 5] to give them a statement regarding Jim’s reaction to shots. Dr. M. said he could give them a statement but he knew in some instances the examining Doctors disregarded any such statements. Knowing how Jim is, I would think it would be very risky for him to take shots Army or Navy style. Harold says he thinks they will let Jim remain home until late fall because Harold won’t be able to do much heavy work this summer. Jim will graduate this spring. He is getting thru high school and that is better than some. Romaine’s boy friend will have to enter service this fall and has one more year of school. I would think some provision could be made for those boys who want to finish high school, but since they are taking fathers with several children, maybe it’s better to take some of the younger ones. I still think there are some who should be in and are not – but that’s an old story. I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd is called up for another physical. He is dissatisfied with his job at present and I don’t think it would take much for him to quit. He was rejected, but just between you and me, I think if he wasn’t working for this co. he would be called up for another examination. Do you get what I mean? He was told his rejection was due to his nervousness, but I really don’t think he is that nervous. Well that is my opinion and I may be wrong. This may all sound like I am wanting him to be in Service, but that isn’t the way I feel. If he can do more here raising tomatoes to feed the Army, he should be where he can do the most good. I am about out of space and feel fun down.

“Love Mother”

Mark’s Birthday Party (back row: Buddy Krull, John, David Diedam, Mark holding David; front row: Virginia Zell, Betty Zell, Bobby Funk & Jimmy Staton)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/29/marks-birthday-gladys/

Purdue Music Hall (Gladys)

2 Replies

: February 18, 1944, p. 1

: February 18, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-18-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 7 came today. This has been a full day. I took John and four other 8^th graders to Purdue Music Hall to hear the Indpls Symphony Orchestra. It was a special children’s concert and well attended by school around Lafayette. After the concert we went over to Laf. and shopped. Lucile kept David and I was to get Jimmy a pr. of shoes, since Lucile stayed home. I went to every store I could think of and finally got two pr. of white shoes – one pr. for D. One pr. was too large for D. and the other is the same size that he is wearing now and the new shoes are 5 and his present shoes are 4 ½. Both pr. I bought today were 5’s and one pr. is a size or more larger than the other. Lucile kept the larger pair and if she decides they are too large for Jimmy now will keep them for later. It is so hard to find white baby shoes now it’s best to hang on to a pr. once you have them. Some of the stores had brown shoes and some places had none at all. I also tried to get some material to make David some play suits and found nothing I cared to work on. Cotton is being used for the Army and Navy so extensively

[page 2] there is very little for civilian use. I tried to buy sheets today but none to be had. I did get some new dishes but couldn’t get at all what I wanted. However what I got is nice and will break as easily for me as the more expensive. After shopping we started back to Kent a little past 5 P.M. I distributed our passengers to their several stopping places then John & I stopped at Johnsons to get David & Mark. The Johnsons were having dinner and asked us to eat so John & I ate our supper there too. After trying baby shoes on both boys we gathered our several belongings and came home. I gave David his bath and he got happy and started to splash water and by the time he got thru I had to mop the kitchen. I was hurrying because I wanted to go to the Class meeting at Nesbitts – and in walked Floyd. He was on his way home from a meeting in Chicago. He said he is about ready to quit the Co. He talked a while then went down to Nick’s for a steak.

I used a little cold cream & powder then dashed off to the party. I came home about 11 o’clock and having eaten refreshments thought I could write a while to let my lunch settle. Now I don’t go this pace every day, but there are days like this. I noticed at the party that Evelyn Beekman is about ready to have another baby – her last one is younger than David. I’ll write another letter tomorrow & mail together.

A Variety of News (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 17, 1944 envelope front

: February 17, 1944 envelope back

: February 17, 1944, p. 1

: February 17, 1944, p. 2-3

: February 17, 1944, p. 4

: February 17, 1944, p. 5

: February 17, 1944, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-17-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 5 & 6 came today. Also had a letter from Ruthie, wanting your address. Seems Glenn has been ill with a topical fever, temp being 108. Ruthie wants to ask you if you know anything about Dengue fever. Ruthie says they won’t go to Ga. This year as Floyd thought they might. He isn’t so sold on his job as he used to be. He feels like he gets kicked about too much. Of course if he was in the Army he might be glad to get back to his job. I am not the one to judge but so far Floyd has had rather smooth sailing in his young life. Last summer he had to do a lot of heavy work and things he thought was a little below him but I still think he has a better

[page 2] job with more possibilities than school teaching.

I mentioned before about the Yost-Barce wedding. It was last Sat. They went to St. Louis to be married – why I don’t know. Maybe some of the family live there. I didn’t recognize any of the names mentioned of the places they visited. A Mr. & Mrs. Kerlin were attendants and Mr. & Mrs. Wood gave a dinner for them. They are to return home after a week’s honeymoon. I understand Paul will have to return to Panama.

I see in the paper that Mr. Hartley died – from complications due to a fall. You remember him – lived across the street from us at 2 & Carrol.

Lucile came out with Jimmy this afternoon. We both decided as smart as Jimmy and David are about everything else they should tell their mothers when

[page 3] they have a toidey – but neither one will. Lucile put panties on J. this morning and he had a B.M. in panties – She had to give him a bath he was in such a mess. She is going to keep D. tomorrow while I am gone. I promised John to take him to Purdue to hear the Indpls. Symphony orchestra. Lucile won’t get much done but change diapers, etc. I asked her how a person would train twins. She said Ed asked her if she didn’t want another baby. She said not for a while. She is going to sell the baby buggy she had for Jimmy. She has a little Reed stroller she used now. She says she hopes she won’t need another buggy until after the war, and by that time can buy another.

David eats a cookie now & then. He knows the cookie jar (Dorothy gave me one for Christmas).

[page 4] and when he wants one goes to the jar and tries to say cookie – what it sounds like is kee, but we know what he means. He knows so much about what we day around him, we spell some things. Never say “go” unless you are ready to take him out.

I stopped to glance thru the Dem. to get some news that might be of interest to you but didn’t see much.

I have heard the Great Lakes Training School is to be closed. Also Camp Atterbury. I suppose those places have served their purposes and there is no further need for them. Jim said in his last letter they weren’t getting any more Seebees to train. There is a campaign on the radio now to get new W.A.V.E. enlistments. So many of the programs bring a Wave character into their sketches to give a pep talk. There have been campaigns for the other women’s organizations from time to time

[page 5] Several girls from here are in the W.A.C.S. and a few nurses are in service but I don’t believe there is a large percentage. Catherine Ade is in the Marines. I think most of the girls around town are still at their jobs in offices or factory. With so many men gong from here all the time the girls almost have to stay. I heard over the radio about a certain town in Ill. that had a custom. I should say leap year custom, when on the 29^th of Feb. the women took over the government of the city and of course their object was to arrest eligible bachelors, fining them with dates, etc., but this year they won’t follow this custom, reason: “they are either too young or too old.” There is a current popular song bearing that title I thought was rather cute. I suppose you have heard it some time or other,

[page 6] but in case you haven’t – it’s a girl telling her boyfriend she will be true to him because as the title says, those left at home are either too young or too old.

Mark worked his Arith. at school and brought it home for me to check and has been pestering me all evening to check it, so to get some rest from him I had better check his problems. Arith. Isn’t one of his easy subjects, and he won’t work on it any longer than he absolutely has to. He is working in fractions now and they baffle him somewhat. I wish I could get him to spend more time on homework but when he gets thru with what the teacher has assigned – that’s all.

John is working at the piano, and I have another letter to write if I can keep my mind off the music.
Love Mother

Getting Forgetful (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: January 12, 1944 envelope

: January 12, 1944, p. 1

: January 12, 1944, p. 2

: January 12, 1944, p. 3

: January 12, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 12, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m getting forgetful. I forgot whether or not I added a P.S. to my letter yesterday telling you your Christmas package came – It did. This time it was in pretty good condition but the contents could be seen without opening the box. In other words the ends were very ragged. The chicken bones are all melted into one huge chunk but still within the paper. And why the alcohol and tobacco chasers? I haven’t opened much of it yet. The chewing gum is the best article. The wafers are good – really surprisingly crisp but I’ve lost practically all my taste

[page 2] for sweets. Just the very smallest bit of sweet is enough so I’ll have candy enough to last all year long. One of the officers who was ordered from here gave me a pound box of candy weeks before Christmas and most of it is still in the box and Floyd & Ruth sent some and it is practically intact. I’ll wait a few weeks and put it out in the ward room and it won’t last long but I know I’ll never eat it, unless I get more of a sweet tooth than at present. I hope I don’t sound ungrateful about the gift. The hankies were fine. I am a little short on those and they will fix me up about right.

I wrote Joe Roberts a letter last night and will try to answer

[page 3] another of those long unanswered letters today. I have an awful time now trying to figure which one I should answer.

I did some laundry this P.M. Last Thurs. I sent my khaki shirts & pants to the laundry as well as 5 pairs of underware trunks, and today I washed 9 pairs of trunks and 16 pair of socks – don’t ask me where all the things came from. I still have 5 clean pair of trunks and one pair on so that makes a total of 20 pair and approx. 2 doz. pair of socks. I still don’t wear any undershirts so don’t have to worry about that part of the laundry. White shirts are no problem because they are not worn enough. Just to weddings or special things which

[page 4] are far and few between for me. And one shirt will last thru several engagements.

Before I forget it I don’t think it’s necessary to file an income tax return this year but again Agnes M. knows more about the laws and if she thinks necessary go ahead. All we get for sure on the tax problem is scuttlebutt, but there is something about this year & last year or something so let me know what you do.

Don’t run yourself too short on buying bonds as I won’t be able to send too much money extra on account of saving it for travel. Maybe I’m being optimistic but it never is wrong to plan ahead – For now Dear that is all –

Love Daddy

P.S. Thanks for the Christmas present.