Tag Archives: genealogy

Mrs. Glen Hoffman

[Editor’s note: Mrs. Glen Hofmann was born Dorothy “Dot” Salter, the daughter of Denver and and Rita (Huffman) Salter of Clay City, Indiana. Those readers familiar with the letters will know of Floyd & Ruth. Floyd was Roscoe’s youngest brother. Ruth’s maiden name was Salter, and Dot was one of her younger sisters.]

February 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

February 23, 1945, p. 1

Mrs. Glen Hofmann
2032 Bancroft Ave.
San Leandro, Calif.
Feb. 23, 1945

Dear Gladys and all –

Just a few lines to report to the happenings of the “Seabees.” I guess you know by now that my hubby got home on his 30 day leave. He sure did look swell! (to me anyway. Ha!)

When his time was almost up he weakin and said I could come back with him. So here I am sitting in someone’s house writing to you. When Glen first got home he said there was no place out here for me, but as the time got shorter he changed his mind. Glen and his brother Eddie and I all drove back. We have to drive day and night to get here in time. We sure were tired, but now I haven’t gotten anything to do but rest. Yesterday I did our washing and ironing, and to-day I have been working on myself. I shampoo & set

February 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] my hair, and gave myself “the works.”

You should feel honored. This is the second letter I have written. I wrote Mother 1 letter. The rest have all been cards – you know the same old line on every card.

What really brought this on – was the letter I received from you just a few days before Glen got home. I don’t remember whom owed who, so it was OK. I sure was glad to get those hair clamps. I am sitting here with some of them in my hair now.

Glen has not come home yet, and Eddie has been reading all afternoon so I had some extra time to spend. I guess this is as good a way to spend it as any.

Excuse the mistakes, etc. I am still going in circles. We got ready & were here in 4 days (some trip!)

Bye, Bye for now –
Dot

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/24/mrs-glen-hoffman/

Thank You Card

2 Replies

Dear Gladys,

Thanks so much for the beautiful booties you sent to Vicki Diane. We surely thought they were cute.
The baby has been very ill, but she is better now. My mother & Inez are here – they came last Sunday. I am fine, only worried, of course.
We hope your family is fine and our best wishes to you.

Helen Ley

© 2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/23/thank-you-card/

A Baby Announcement

1 Reply

[Editor’s note: John Ed Ley was the son of John P. and Inez (Kline) Ley. Readers may be familiar with the Kline family. Forrest and Gertrude Kline were residents of Lafayette, Indiana. They are mentioned somewhat frequently in the WII letters. Gertrude was one of the first visitors to the hospital after the birth of baby David in 1942. Forrest and Inez Kline were siblings, and children of Nancy Mae (McCoy) Walker Kline. Nancy and Lovina (Schiele) Yegerlehner, Roscoe’s mother, were half sisters, making Forrest and Inez first half cousins to Roscoe.]

Vicki Diane was the first child of John P. Ley and his wife Helen Gibbens.

Further News from Lentz

2 Replies

January 14, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

January 14, 1945, p. 1

Sunday Jan. 14, 1945

Dear Yeggie – Just one year ago last nite we made the rounds of the shopping district in Wellington. You took me down because you knew your way around the streets. I remember meeting Billie there and then seeing Howard Witter later – I don’t know whether you remember seeing Howard or not, do you? We stayed with George – didn’t we?

Enjoyed your letter very much and I am glad you had plenty of time to write because it has been so long since I heard from you. Your duties are not so good but there are some worse and some better. When I hear from others I feel that I am not doing so badly here in spite of being on duty every other nite. In fact, you are on call all day & every day, I wouldn’t like the idea of travelling back

January 14, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and forth, especially supplying my own transportation. Here, I am my own boss and my – ahem! – assistant as Lt. Cdr. Arrange our hours, as long as one is on duty, daren’t leave the station exposed. I usually let him go home about 9 or 9:30 a.m. or whenever he chooses. He takes over for me on occasional evenings – we seem to be a pair as far as our domestic problems go, implying that we are in the dog houses; I never confided in you but all has not been well for a number of years. So – it could be worse.

“The Shadow” is on while I am writing, so I may get scared, if you see any incoherence then you will know why. I have one of my radios here. In fact, I practically live here – my corpsmen are well trained, the chief had 30 yrs and does all the paper work and is very conscientious. Two Ph. M. had combat duty and one had hosp. training, have 2 colored Ph. Mates or the OB Battalion

January 14, 194,5 p. 3

[page 3] All are trustworthy and I find no difficulty – we are like one happy family. We have set up a small galley and the Marines supply us with coffee, etc., so we have occasional meals every day.

Am finishing up that damned annual San. Report – had a lot of new construction, – Battalion barracks, etc., to describe. Must submit it in rough to C.O. of station – he is an old fusspot as I do the monthly reports. Can you beat that? No more monthly reports but the quarterlies will be headaches.

Heard from Frank Olrich a number of times and from Bob O’Donnell recently. He has an average of 23 admissions daily, 125 in ward, duty every 3^rd nite. Not so good – all car [?] fevers & pneumonias.

Had a H.R. from Detroit Grosse Point with signed by J.R. Delaney. So he is near home.

Frank said he is on full duty and all are slated to go again – scuttlebutts – His hearing is the same. His boy was operated on for hernia – less than 2 yrs old.

January 14, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] You know he is at Shoemaker Calif. Ted Anderson is at Parris Island S.C. I haven’t heard from tohers.

My brother is still at Charleston S.C. Asst. Dist. Med Officer – soft job, no nite work or Sundays either. My kid brother – is ferrying planes now, has been all over U.S.A. and Canada & Mexico. Is being shipped to Florida for some short intensive course on Bombers – he was a P-47 pilot 81 missions. My nephew is in Burma – you remember him visiting me when I had the typhoid chill – he was a paratrooper, was injured, fracture leg, int. injuries, etc. – but now is in “air dropping,” cargo plane work in China Burma India area. A brother-in-law, Lt. Col., is Dep. Provost Marshall of some area. Got a letter from him yesterday.

I hear from W. and [?] as good and as well as the mail service goes.
My Xmas was quiet – had a few drinks; spent New Yrs weekend on station.

Well – write when you can – Regards to all the family – Don’t work too hard-
Sincerely,
Ed

[Editor’s Note: To read more about Dr. Lentz, his brothers, and nephew from a contemporary newspaper report, click here.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/21/further-news-from-lentz/

News from Lentz

1 Reply

December 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

December 20, 1944, p. 1

Dec. 20, 1944
MERRY XMAS

Dear Yeggie

Well – about time I wrote you a few lines. Really haven’t had anything new to tell you, everything is quiet, still 24 on & off, every other weekend.

No word from anyone recently – not even Bob O’Donnell. Did get several letters from N.Z.

Just think – you were down in N.Z. a year ago, perhaps in South Island over the Glazeeewr. Just about a year ago I was ComServPac and boarded the ship Xmas eve with “Want any help Criss” and MacClatchie. In a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my first trip to Majestic & St. George.

I hear that all is quiet in N.Z. – all the Americans are practically out, a few stragglers as O.W.I., J.P.B., A.R.C.

December 20, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] get in occasionally. Dammit it would be nice to get down there to do some inventorying.

Our weather is cold & snowy and it was down to 15° last nite. I am not used to it and my feet get cold.

Saw my Brother the other day (Lt. Cd. MC USNR) Ass’t Dist Med Officer, Charleston D.C., lucky son of a gun; he was on a 10 day leave. Won’t get holidays at home, due back in S.C. Thursday this week. The Kid Brother is up near Detroit in a ferrying command now.

My cruise box (Bokis) & sea bag arrived 2 weeks ago, all intact. Lucky! Did you get yours?

Am sorry I didn’t write sooner –
Regards to all the family –
Merry Xmas –
Ed Lentz

WRITE I hear from Frank Olrich occasionally & see John Willard also

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/20/news-from-lentz/

Commander H. Frericks

1 Reply

[Editor’s note: Herman Frericks was Roscoe’s commanding officer during his time stationed in the Russell Islands. Frericks was not a doctor. He served in both WWI and WII. He was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. When this letter was written, Commander Frericks had been stationed on Saipan Island, Marianas Islands for only a few weeks.]

October 18, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 18, 1944, p. 1

Oct. – 18-44

Dear Doc: –

What a surprise when I got your letter, the last thing you said when you left the ARD-5 is that you would drop me a line from your new station. I’m not going to wait that long. You no doubt know that I was home on a thirty day leave but right back out again. I am executive officer of this base and it is a big job, plenty of work. I do have a nice place to live, I have a nice house for myself, living room, bedroom, complete bath even a flush toilet and a nice small galley and a stewart’s mate to look after it and cook my meals, I eat right here and am going well, I had cutting meat for supper and real eggs for breakfast.

My leave at home was wonderful

October 18, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] and I rather had hoped for some state side duty, but here I am. I did all the things I wanted to while home and sure enjoyed every minute and look forward to my next leave. Old Vince was here but is on his way, sure wish I had a crowd of officers here like I had at Navy 60, the gang here is terrible, at least about 90% of them. Just a word more about my house, I have a swell desk, radio, desk lamp, a really nice place to live, so I didn’t do bad for only being here about a month and a half.

Best of luck to you Doc and I sure hope we can get together again sometime, my regards to your family and I hope you are all well and happy

Sincerely,
Matie Frericks

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/16/commander-h-frericks/

George Wingfield Asks for Advice

2 Replies

[Editor’s Note: George Wingfield, Jr., was the son of George Wingfield, one of the wealthiest men of Reno, Nevada, in the early 20th century. George Sr. owned several mines, hotels and other financial interests in northern Nevada. His son, George Jr. enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and eventually ended up in the Russell Islands in the spring of 1943. Roscoe and George shared a tent together for a while. The two men corresponded after their separation. About a half dozen letters of their correspondence survive.]

Letter transcription:

October 12, 1944

Dear Jake,

Thanks for your letter of the 8^th; am sure glad to hear that you like the life down there and that your organization is so informal and agreeable. That sure makes a difference.

I think I have a pretty fair idea of my whereabouts when school ends, at least for a month or so. Expect to get order to Naval Air, Alameda, for further assignment. When I get there, the Admiral is going to put me on the first carrier that comes in or keep me until he goes to sea himself within the next 6 months. In any event I’ll be close to home for awhile and should end up with a pretty fair job afloat.

Have a rather difficult problem to work out which I need some friendly and frank medical advice on. Would feel reluctant to talk it over with a strange doctor and would respect your judgment most of the ones I know. Hope you don’t mind and that you will give me good forthright dope. Realize that one like yourself wouldn’t want to be positive on anything of this nature and so if you would care to oblige, I’d of course understand that any advice along this line is dependent on the individual. Anyway here’s the problem: I have been going with a girl back here and am thinking seriously of marrying her. She is 20 and has a history of T.B., having been in a hospital in Arizona four years ago with her right lung infected. She appears to be in good health now except that she is subject to asma and has to live in a dry climate and so she is now living and working out in Arizona. Up until the last month she has been taking treatments of some sort whereby air is injected in the region of the lung someplace by hypodermic. This has been discontinuted. Her last xrays show only a very tiny shaded shot in contrast to what it was once over almost the entire lung. Her lung is functioning. She is normal in weight, in fact a few pounds to the good but she is enemic.

What I want to know before I go too far in this matter is:

Under the circumstances, is this girl apt to be o.k. if watched carefully and if she lived say in Reno where the climate is dry but cold in winter?
Would that climate be o.k. for asma? Is asma hereditary? Tendency to have T.B.?
How big a risk do you think I’d be taking marrying a girl like that, frankly and as my friend?

Yours very truly,
George

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/15/george-wingfield-asks-for-advice/

Art Kenney

2 Replies

[Editor’s Note: Thomas Arthur “Art” Kenney ran one of the two pharmacies in Kentland. He joined the Navy in 1942, and served as a pharmacist’s mate. He and Roscoe were good friends for many years.]

September 26, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 26, 1944, p. 1

Sept. 26^th 1944
Dear Doctor, Gladys & Family:-

I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself so I will pass away a few minutes dropping you a line. Well lots of things have happened since I bid you adieu over two years ago. You have seen lots I have seen some and the war has is definitely over the apex and we are all looking forward to when it will be over, which I hope & pray will be sometime next year. I received the Kentland Democrat today and see where another Kentland lad has paid the supreme price, Bruce William’s boy. I wonder how many more will be forced to give their lives before this war is over.

Francis said he has seen you a couple of times since you have gotten back to the States, but he didn’t say how you survived your tour of duty out here. I have often wondered if you picked up any of these tropical diseases. I hope you haven’t. I don’t worry too much about them but do hope I escape anything too serious.

Haven’t had it too hard out since I signed up sometimes feel a little ashamed when I read what some of the lads have gone through but guess guys my age aren’t suppose to be daredevils. I have been in Malaria Central ever since I’ve been in the Navy. I’ve done everything from hatching mosquitoes, identifying larvae & blood parasites, to bossing Natives, draining ditches and spraying oil. Out here I don’t have a lot to do guess they figure I can’t shoulder too much responsibility or maybe it’s the old Navy game of getting out of work. I do have a mighty good superior officer here. I was with him all the time I was in the States and will probably be with him all the time I’m out here. An entomologist from U. of S. Calif., taught there and really knows entomology.

September 26, 1944, p. 2

9-30-44

I started this the other nite and the generator went off so I will finish now.

[page 2] This is Sat. a.m. and about time for inspection but don’t know whether will have one or not. If I ever get back to Kentland I’m going to have field day on Fri. and inspection on Sat. Oh yeah and eat beans for breakfast Sat. a.m. so don’t come in the store Sat. before ten o’clock. We have really had our share of rain the last week out here. If this is the dry season God help us when the rainy season hits. Had a letter from Francis & Clara yesterday and still no orders for him, he says he’s sitting there expecting them any day. Wherever he goes I hope he gets good duty. He surely has been lucky to stay in the States as long as he has. From what he says guess he has gotten some good experience.

What do you think of the war now? Do you think we’ll make it back by 1946? I hope we do, but we are up against a wall in Germany and have a long way to go out here. I guess from what we hear of the news Halsey has been having the time of his life. He surely loves a good scrap. Several unrated (Seamen) have gotten orders back to the states from here. Most of them have been out here a year, they are going back for new construction. Personally now that Mather is gone I hope they leave me out here until I’m ready to be discharged. Well there isn’t any news I can write haven’t had a chance to make Chief yet suppose when my time is up I’ll get to hope so anyway so far I don’t have a good enough vocabulary for Chief yet maybe I can acquire it. Take care of yourselves don’t work too hard and maybe will all be back in Kentland in ’46.

Sincerely,
Art Kenney

Lucile Johnson

1 Reply

August 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sunday Evening
Aug. 13^th

Dear Gladys,

Are you having another siege of this hot weather, too? I have nearly roasted all day. Jimmy and I are planning on going to Monticello tomorrow for a few days so I have worked all day getting ready. Since Mildred is so busy I have been washing my own hair, and I even did that task today.

The Rotary Club members are entertaining their wives for dinner at the Sportsman Hotel at Monticello tomorrow nite. Wish you and Doc were here to go with us.

Yesterday we moved your meat. I am enclosing the agreement that Ed signed for you. We will just keep the keys here until you come to Kentland. Mr. Brand said you had the keys to the locker in Sheldon and wanted you to send them to him. We took some round steak from your supply and had lovely baked steak for dinner. It was so tender you could cut it with

August 13, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] a fork. We have enough left for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for the steak!

About all of Kentland is either in Wisconsin or are expecting to go there within the next week or so. The Bowers, Geo. Dale Tiltons, Doc. Limps, Pauline Dennis and the two younger boys and Greta Dixon left early Sat. morning. The Sammons are already there. I understand the Foulkes are going to their cottage this wk. The Funks and Krulls are leaving Thurs. P.M. of this week. Nick is closing the Restaurant for two weeks. I understand the Funks are staying for a month. I guess several other people from Funks are going to Wisconsin, too.

Arleen entertained Bridge Club two weeks ago last Tues. and had a shower for Dorothy. She received such lovely gifts: a big blanket from Arleen; a carriage robe from Cecelia Donahue; a chenille bed spread from Sarah Glenns Dowling; two Percale crib sheets from Rose Bruck; a carriage pillow and lovely hand made pillow case from Pauline Dennis; Marie

August 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] gave her a beautiful pink satin quilted “cuddle nest.” That was something new to me. You can use it in the carriage sort of like a Bunting. I had Margaret Kruman knit her a darling pink sweater, hood and booties. (Of course, you knew it was to be a girl!) Dorothy has been buying some things recently. She got some shirts, receiving blankets and some pads. Had to leave an order at Loeb’s for curity diapers. You should see her. She is as big as a barn, but still serving beer at the Restaurant on Sat. nite. Nick doesn’t have any help on Sat. nite so she still works. I wouldn’t do it. He could close the place first.

Jimmy attended a birthday party last Wed. David Dennis was 5 years old. I baked him the Birthday cake and Jimmy kept yelling all forenoon – “Davie’s cake!” He talks constantly now. Is putting words together at last. He says, “Daddy come on.” “Down town, market!” He loves to go shopping. If he is in the room where I am and wants to go after something he says,

August 13, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] “right back.” He tells a whole story in about three words – “Haircut – coke – penny!” That means he had a haircut, that we had a coke afterwards because he was a big boy and didn’t cry, and that he had to give the man a penny for cutting his hair. All silver are pennies and he has no use what so ever for folding money.

Jimmy had half of his first whooping cough shot Thurs. A.M. Doc was afraid he would break out, but we have had no reaction. He is to take the other half of the first tomorrow and if he doesn’t have any reaction from that he is going to give the others in full shots. I tried my best to get him to give him a full one the first time but he wouldn’t do it. Jimmy’s nose had been running, he sneezes so much and his eyes are so watery red and swollen, and I am afraid he may have hay fever. Doc thought perhaps it was just the dry, dusty weather. I don’t know when we have had a rain. I certainly hope he doesn’t have hay fever.

August 13, 1944, p. 5

[page 5] Ed says that is a rich man’s disease. We can’t afford to go to Wisconsin for a couple months. Jimmy still has several (many I should say) – toilet accidents yet, so disgusted with him I don’t know what to do. I think he still be having accidents when he starts to school.

If Doc gets a leave and you come to Kentland, we would be glad to put up Doc, you and David, but I don’t know where we would put the other two boys unless it would be under the bed, and it might be a bit dusty there.

Would love to see you. I’ll bet David has changed considerable. I know Jimmy has. We had his 18 mos. pictures taken. We thought they were real good.

Your meat is all moved so you can rest easy on that score, and we were glad to do it for you.

Hope to see you yet this month in Kentland.

Love,
Lucille

David’s 22nd Month

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Baby Book, July 23, 1944

Transcription:

July 23 – 1944

David’s 22nd month – 27 lbs – 34 3/4″ tall

David is learning the words we spell – know when we spell “car.” Has finally learned to drink orange juice. Also likes to sip Coke when we drink one. Says, “Coke” very plainly. We now have a piano for John to practice on and he likes to play on it. John is trying to teach him (David) a beginner’s piece. While I take a sun bath he likes to get a handful of sand and pour on my back.

The Yegerlehner boys, July 1944, Liberty, Missouri

The following picture appears courtesy of Gladys’ niece, Gerry. It was originally mailed to Gladys’ brother Glenn in Nevada and remained with his family’s photographs.

Baby Book, August 8, 1944

Aug. 8 – David started running a temperature on the 10th he started to break out with measles (3 day). By 13th he was over them. Lost a finger nail – got it mashed and after two weeks it started coming loose.