Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 4, 1943
Dear Mother,
Bucking conversation this AM but it doesn’t seem to be any chance of slowing off so just as well get going.
Your v-mail letter of July 17 came yesterday – It seemed to just slip in because there was very very little mail and along with it came the Clay City news of May 14. So figure that out.
Seems as if the Funks are trying to populate the wor[l]d in a big hurry – we may be getting behind but I guess that is OK. No guessing about it.
[page 2] Seems as if the conversation is getting thicker instead of thinner. Another of the originals came in and the stuff is getting deeper and deeper. I think I’ll be able to buy a radio today. One of the fellows who is leaving has one and the He is asking 50⁰⁰ and the three of us are going to buy it – a little expensive but that is about the only luxury we have – and I think we can sell it when we leave – when we leave –
Well, The Convo is still going on strong –
Love Daddy
No letters today but had up to July 3rd this week. It is a typical hot & dry July day. We are needing rain now. After all the rain we had and just a week ago it doesn’t seem we would be needing more so soon. John just finished mowing the lawn again and if we don’t have rain soon again the grass won’t grow very fast. The Onargo man was here this morning and trimmed the trees & sprayed. It was Cailey – he was just working for them today. He has a job in a defense plant and had a day off. Now the two end trees look almost the same. They are to replace the one tree. It has come out of it but we are to get a new one.
[page 2] The ones Foulkes & Funks have in the middle of their front yards look like they are gone but they had them sprayed today.
Mark is out in the yard with David & John is washing dishes. John made cup cakes this morning. Mark wants to go to 4-H camp at Dunes State Park in Aug. I told him he could go if he practiced on his piano lessons & worked on other things when told to do so. He weeded some this morning and now John is sitting at the piano with him to get him to learn his notes. I didn’t buy the new horn for him because he didn’t practice on it any better than on the old one. John and I think he would do better on a reed instrument than a brass because it would be easier to blow. So if we come across a clarinet or sax will see what we can do. However I am about to buy the grand piano I wrote you about. Mother has $100⁰⁰ saved she was going visiting on and since
[page 3] she won’t be able to go any place for a long while she wants me to use it on the piano. That would leave $200⁰⁰ that I can pay later. I have been figuring what I can do in the next few months. I know it would be best to have the cash but pianos are so hard to find I thought I had better take one when I can. I have all bills paid up and nothing coming up except Ins. ever quarterly. The car ins. is due in Aug. Your next Hancock is in Oct. This won’t get the loan on my ins. pd. off quite as soon. But maybe can take care of it a little later.
The Rotary Club is entertaining ladies Mon. evening and I am invited. Will see about your dues. Have been so busy with Mother haven’t seen about them yet.
David’s eyes are about cleared up. Just a few red streaks, but definitely improved since starting on the drops Dr. Ade gave. He doesn’t
[page 4] rub them so much. I don’t remember what Dr. Ade said was the trouble, except infection that was going around. So don’t worry about it because it is almost gone, whatever it was.
Irene said her sister has a baby girl, born this morning. I suppose they wanted a boy. Most everybody does. Donahues wanted a boy, but I told Carl they probably felt like we do – wouldn’t trade David for all the girls. John says a girl couldn’t possibly have David’s personality, etc. David is very friendly – smiles at everybody and hasn’t yet shown sign of being afraid of people.
I think Mother is improving tho slowly. She eats little, but does eat something every meal, so that is better than nothing. Had a night letter from Jim. He & Thelma are recuperating from a sunburn they got at the beach. He has a 9 day leave but can’t come home. Says before he is sent out will get another leave & come home.
Another hot day – No mail today but have had several letters this week latest being June 12, We are doing our weekly wash – have half out on the line – It’s is nearly time to fix lunch – Mark has gone to Baking class – They are having a farewell party for Rupp. She is getting married. So many new teachers next fall – John just discovered he would have a man math teacher.
[page 2]I think he prefers women teachers. I don’t know why. Maybe they favor him – however he wouldn’t like to hear that.
David has been asleep and sounds like he is waking up – I hope not because he hasn’t slept long enough & it’s so hot today I know the afternoon will be hard for him if he hasn’t slept long enough. He is good up to a certain point but there are so many around him all the time he doesn’t play alone as well as J. & M. did – but that isn’t his fault. He is getting pretty handy with getting around his pen – Mother
[page 3] thinks he will soon walk alone but John did like he does and didn’t walk alone so soon.
Mother is still feeling not so good – She was feeling better with a few cooler days but it is so hot again and seems to take all her pep. She has taken nearly all the Bepron I got for her. I thought it was helping her but she doesn’t seem much better now.
Parr’s are coming to Funk’s for dinner this evening. I don’t know whether they are just on vacation or if he is being transferred again. They have been in Fla since Jan. I suppose I will see them while they are in town.
[page 4] When people around here complain about the weather I remind them you have to take it all the time and we do get relief now & then. Statons are going to Monticello for a week’s vacation – I think I’ll just stay home with David & let the boys go vacationing if they want to. Mark is planning to go to 4-H camp. He wants to go to Earl’s & fish sometime. Ruth wants us to come over for a week but the way Mother feels I am not going to plan anything.
John is begging me to get lunch so will stop this which doesn’t seem to be much today –
Mar 19, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner MC USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran. Calif.
Dear Mother,
I felt real spendthrift like today and wrote each of the boys a letter and sent each a small souvenir (don’t know if that is spelled correctly). I think if you look it over carefully and use your imagination you can piece a story together. Those things are made to be arm or wrist bands. Those I made myself and you can see they aren’t so fancy but things to send home from here are very few in number. We could send cocoanuts but on second thought you can buy them there as good and as cheap.
Last night we heard some news and also Kay Kaiser. In the news they told of the great league ball teams having their spring workouts at Lafayette and Bloomington
[page 2] Indiana and after all those towns are pretty close home.
You mentioned that Statons had written and Funks but other than Ira, Geo, Bob & Bonnie I have had no mail for ever so long – your letters are mostly missing since Jan 25. Just those came that I wrote of yesterday. Of course we always have high hopes.
We are getting real civilized – Even have a few candy bars now and then but no refrigeration so know that means – Spam corned beef and canned hash bless the stuff – oh yes we still have powdered eggs and some bacon.
Well, I’ll not use any more paper this time – we have a pretty good supply but one never knows if more will come – So
Dear Daddy – Like spring again today but since we have had so much sub zero weather may have more before this month is over. Everything is quiet at present except for the stoker running – J & M both reading Mother and D. in bed. After the 6 P.M. feeding D. gets tucked in. He is getting old enough to show off – not quite 5 months – but J & M fuss around him so much when they are home and he is awake – I imagine he will be quite an actor by his first birthday – but will try to keep him from being too spoiled. Mark was first cornet player in the ban and was set back to second, so I got him to practice more and now he is back as first. I think if I keep on urging him he will get along. John has a habit of practicing the sax every evening when he comes home from school – Francis Kenny was married and is stationed in Bethesda Maryland. Art was attendant. He is in New River, N.C. – Byrnes said he has a permanent assignment there. Eileen Masters is in the WAAC – was she the one at St. E? K. Jones has been home – is going to take sub training when he goes back (New London – Conn) Boomershine is in N.Y. – He got a (j.g.) It seems strange for high school boys to be enlisting but that is happening now – Yost & Egan are two – – Funks went to Green Bay today for a visit. They took Louise along but with both boys they need help. I am glad D. isn’t as large as Donnie – because Donnie is so heavy (over 20 lbs at 6 mo.) To date no money for uniforms. The Dept that mails my checks has been moved to Cleveland. If Dolores comes home in April I am going to try and go down for a week-end. I think D. will be old enough to travel then. Your mother is anxious to see him again. Give me your suggestions about the yard.
About the middle of the P.M. wind blowing moderately and the sun hot. That covers the usual items of the news in short order. This A.M. I got your letter of Dec. 15, one from Ira Dixon written Nov. 28, a Christmas card from the Joe Mullen family and a letter from Hicky Reinhart. That was better than no mail at all but still not good. Your letter was a little short due to the J.A.M.A. add which I did nothing about. Guess they’ll have to get along without my 8⁰⁰. I wish you would however contact Dr. Mathews and pay my Co. Med due. It should be about 11⁰⁰. Maybe I should pay that – but I just asked Fred and Dr. P. what they were doing and they both said to hell with ‘em. So maybe it won’t be necessary. If you see
[page 2] him you might ask him what the other boys are doing. Only I just happened to think I guess I’m the only one – Since Dr. Oppenshaw didn’t belong to the Newton Co. Society. You might ask him what the Jasper Co. or the Iroquois Co. boys are going – that is if it’s handy don’t make a special effort.
In your last letter Mark was better and I presumed D. was also since you didn’t mention his case in that letter. As I told you before that (sickness) in the family is the biggest worry here and of course that is why mail means so much. Well there is no use to worry and as that won’t help. You have no reason to worry about our welfare here because we are all doing extra well in the good ole summer time.
I’m still working on this shell thing of yours and don’t expect it for some time as I just work in my spare time and when I’m in the mood and since I’ll be here for some time – (as far as I know-) there
[page 3] isn’t any real hurry.
Our show tonite is The Navy Blues. It sounds as if it could be bad or good but I’d hate to bet in either direction. Maybe I can add a line afterwards.
These necklaces that I’m making – you don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to. They are a curiosity but not a thing of beauty. So just because I made it is no reason that you have to wear it. Hope that is clear. In fact they probably won’t stand too much wear.
It is now after the show and it was a good navy show if true but the things they do just aren’t according to the way I heard it.
Fred got some pictures today of his boy and he was remarking how much he had grown. I couldn’t let him get ahead of me so I said that my boy had grown also. So I got your picture we had taken when we I was home and had them look at
[page 4] you and then at D. pictures. Was that mean? Anyway it was true.
The mail this P.M. was better. Your letters of Dec. 16 and 17 came today – along with a greeting card and letter from the folks and one letter from Floyd. I can’t kick about as to the amount but would like some a little later. I am just wondering if you went home Christmas.
I know you have lots to do because even with one child lots of my Mothers used to have trouble keeping up and you have everything so I know you have a job. I really feel guilty having what you might call bankers hours, and you with all the responsibility of the home and D. but under the circumstances I can’t do anything about it – This is not of my choosing as you know but we hope
[page 5] and pray thing will turn out for the best. And what a home coming when it does come. So much for that.
I’m all out of shells and the thing I’ve made won’t go over my head so I’ll have to make another trip to the sea – and maybe I can find some more coral. The kind I sent before is hard to find for it is just freshly broken loose, but I’ll keep trying when I do have a chance to go out again.
I can think of nothing I’d like that you might send so don’t worry. I think all the Christmas packages came. I wrote Funks and thanked them and wrote the Sisters so that answers again your questions.
So Solong good night and lot of love,
Daddy
Lt (jg) Yegerlehner MC USNR
Receiving Station
U.S. N.A.B.
C/0 F. P. O.
San Fran. Calif.
I missed getting a letter out Sat, but we went to Laf. and when we came home was too late. I wanted to go see Dr. Ade about my throat – it wouldn’t get over being irritated. I also wanted to take David down for Dr. Cole to see but he couldn’t see me Sat. and I am planning to go tomorrow morning. That sounds like a lot of travel but Dr. Ade wants to see me again tomorrow. My throat feels much better since he worked on it and hope another treatment will fix me up. I feel better generally too. I am going to have a blood count made because after taking so much sulfa I probably need some shots. Clarice kept David for me yesterday but of course I’ll take him along tomorrow. She said he was very good while she had him. He is that way most of the time. He is on the bath table now kicking and looking around.
[page 2] When we came home Floyd & Ruth were here to spend the week-end. They have been traveling around so much hadn’t been able to get any laundry work done so they brought their washing along and did it. Floyd is to take his physical and if he passes will be in the Army. They will probably write you if and when.
I told you about the bed Mary Parttens loaned us for the baby. They brought it in yesterday and Floyd set it up. We have it in the den and it looks like the piano will have to go to the living room because it makes the den too crowded. I think I’ll make a real nursery out of the den since David has to have his things downstairs.
Five letters came yesterday which brought your mail up to Christmas Eve. I am so glad you found the batteries. Also glad you rec’d as many boxes as you did – since that was all you could have for Christmas. Now maybe you will get the other boxes I sent. It’s odd you have never received any letters from Funks. I know they have written to you and sent you a box for Christmas
[page 3] Just had a caller – Eleanor Towers – she came to see David – and the rest of us. So many came after we came home from the hospital but this was her first visit.
The weather seems to be changing some. It has been raining & warm but the wind is blowing and I believe it is getting cooler. Floyd was wishing for sunshine today. He brought his movie camera along and wanted to get some good indoor pictures. We have some photoflood bulbs we used so maybe they will be good. He took some of the boys out in the yard and some of all of us in the house. He had some developed that he had taken down in C.C. He has a screen & projector so we got to see some scenes from the farm with your Mother, Dad, Clarence, Ralph Glendon & Kenneth and one of Bob. I don’t know when we will get to see these he took today, because if he goes in the Army can’t tell where he will be sent. Dorothy Salter’s husband and Herschel Steiner are in the same C.B. camp
[page 4] in Rhode Island. I think Hilda said Ed was being sent to a camp in R.I.
We have eaten so much candy – received some nice boxes for Christmas. Floyd & Ruth brought the boys – John & Mark each a can of peanuts and then opened them and we have been eating them – I would much preferred to send them to you. Hope you get the ones I did send in your birthday box.
Our radio is getting a little off – I think it needs a new tube. It blurs and hums sometimes. Dorothy said theirs had gone out entirely – you remember they got theirs when we got ours. I’ll see Geo T. about it. Maybe he will have some new tubes. Just wish I could send you a radio but they aren’t for sale any more.
The boys are listening to Gildersleeve and it is about time for David to get a bottle so must get this finished.
– – Just stopped to put the bottle on to warm and from the sound of the thumb being sucked I think he is ready for supper
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