Tag Archives: George Wingfield Jr.

Sebastapol California

[Postmark September 16, 1965, Sebastapol, California]

Dear D. & B. This same view continues along Calif. coast. We have just come over a highway like the Million Dollar Hwy in Colorado but this time I wasn’t the least bit afraid. We are going D.A. Mercurio – 3490 Frei Road Sebastapol—just a few miles from where we are eating back now. We may make a trip over to Reno to see Wingfields, then down to L.A. to see Aileen & Tom. We really enjoyed the coast of Oregon. We took our time and picked up rocks & agates along the way. Our vacation has been very enjoyable. Happy Birthday in case I forget to send you another card. Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/12/sebastapol-california/

The Minister’s Raise

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

April 7, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

We have been looking for that letter. At last spring has arrived, and we hope to stay. Two weeks ago the ground was covered with snow, but Dad got the lawnmower ready just in case and after rolling the yard today thinks it will be ready for mowing next Thurs. That is going to make a long summer.

The town is being torn up for the new sewer system and I suppose it will be a year or more before we recover from the torn up streets—that is, get the repairing all taken care of. The digger is at present travelling down North Second Street and from the rate of progress being made, we figure they will either be in front of the Church Easter Sunday or maybe in front of the office. At least the town is catching up with the times a little. We have been giving programs again. We are to go to Indianapolis tomorrow to give a program for Uncle Jim and Aunt Thelma—I think it is their S.S. class. Since Indianapolis is on Eastern Time and we are on Central Time, we will have to leave here by 2:30 to get to Jim’s by 5:30. If I have to go alone, I will spend the night with them, but Dad is planning to go with me. He has surgery scheduled for Friday AM, so we plan to come back Friday night. Of course, we gain an hour coming back.

We received a magazine from Malacca today. It is all about the school and I suppose Bonnie knows what I am referring to. I presume they are not too upset over the situation. We heard the Foundations had to leave Indonesia. John was afraid of that, from all the news he had received from his friends still there. All the news we get about invasion attempts seems to indicate they haven’t been successful. (Indonesia into Malaysia)

For about two weeks I was having a little battle with a flu bug. I finally got over it, but the day we had quarterly conference here (which was held at 2 PM following a carry-in dinner) I came home after church and after a light lunch, went to bed for the rest of the afternoon. Dad had been up all night at the hospital and didn’t feel like going, so we gave in to our feelings and stayed home. The Finance Committee and Pastoral Relations Committee didn’t quite get together before the meeting and have things worked out like it is the custom to do and the minister wasn’t offered a raise and I am told that amounts to asking him not to return. At a Board Meeting this last Monday evening (Dad and I went to the Hospital to give a program for the Nurse Association) the raise was brought up and a vote was taken, 10 for and six against. Joan was in our office and told Dad she wasn’t sure they would be back. She indicated they weren’t sure, so I don’t know where the matter, or rather how it stands at present. Since I am not on any of the committees I had nothing to do with it one way or another. There are a lot of opinions on the matter. One group wants a change and another group thinks we could do a lot worse. I was with a group of women Tuesday and after hearing their tale of woe about the minister they have, I think we could do worse. Well, come June we will know. I have been going to the Presbyterian Church on Thurs. mornings to attend a Lenten series prepared and presented by Rev. Watson. I have been recording the lessons and will have to use at some future time if I need them. In appreciation we are going to have the Watsons come to dinner one evening. I had promised Joan we would have them come some evening for Rock Cornish Hens and Wild Rice, so I think we will have them come the same evening. I used the tapes in my S.S. class and several of my members liked Rev. Watson’s lessons. They seemed to think he was

[page 2] easy to listen to. Today was the last session and several of the Presbyterian ladies told me they think he is extra special and they know they won’t be able to keep him. I agreed with them. He hasn’t been out of Seminary very long and I imagine after a year or two more here he will be invited to a larger church.

John is coming home next Thursday for Easter vacation. Mark and Shirley and the children are coming for the day, Easter, that is. Aunt Ruth may come if she doesn’t go to Des Moines. I haven’t heard from Lea, but I told John to call her and invite them to come. We will probably stop at Floyd’s tomorrow for a minute or two and will ask them to come also. Wish you could be here, but I know that isn’t practical, but will expect to see you several times this coming summer.

Dad is finishing the job of separating the chest of drawers he took out of our bedroom. He is fixing it for Shirley to use in her bedroom. She thought it would be better in two small chests than in the one large one.

I have several letters to answer. Had a letter from my little friend in Kyoto today. I had sent her a Christmas card and she thanked me for that and wants us to come back to Kyoto. We plan to go in 1966, and I am sure we will stay at the hotel where she works. We are going to the west coast in Sept. Had a letter from a friend of Dad’s who lives in Reno and he wants us to stop there for a visit with him and his family. Aileen wrote from L.A. that she has made arrangements for a place for us to stay when we visit her. Also had a letter from friends in Hong Kong one day last week. They had been living in a house which belonged to a minister from United Church of Christ (Duane’s church). Seems United minister was away on furlough. He must have returned, because the Bylers said they were in an apt. building and their apt. is on the 17^th floor. They also said with a view like that who needs trees, (or for that matter grass).

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/01/the-ministers-raise/

Officer of the Day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 2, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 2, 1945, p. 1

2 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

This is my day for the duty. So far it has been assigned to me six times and of the 6 I’ve only had to take it 2 times. Drafts came up or something so unless something comes up in the next 45 min. I’ll have to go on.

Yesterday a slip came out for us to fill out as to length of service, age, dependencies, overseas, etc., and number of points. So maybe something will come of it. Things like that are always encouraging. It is my firm belief that I will be out of this before Christmas. That seems a distance away but I do think it is true. Maybe I’m psychic.

There is no new news on a draft. In fact right now the patients are low so I doubt if there is enough for a draft. I’m afraid you may have had something wrong. You sorta expected the draft to come on a weekend. That was just a happen so the last time. It was really nice that it happened that way but I’m afraid that won’t work that way again. I still keep remembering the wonderful few days we had together and how I would enjoy another just like it. Memories like that are really something to live over and over again but new experiences are better

October 2, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] so maybe anticipating the next meeting will have some little corner which will make time pass a little faster and easier.

Cmd. Howell, Stanich and I were going out to have a dinner together tonight but due to the fact that I caught the duty we had to put it off. The last time it was put off because I caught the draft home and then Geo. W. was in on it. I suppose by the next time Stanich will be gone. It seems we have a hard time getting together. I see or talk with them on the phone but we can’t seem to get together.

There is an opera again Friday night and we are trying to get tickets. The last fellow who was going with me last time has been detached but there is another here who wants to go.

Seems from your letter that the old Wm. Jewell is closing. I’m glad in a way we got out because that would have changed the boys school program, etc.

Well Dearie it is about my O.D. time so lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/23/officer-of-the-day-roscoe/

George Wingfield Jr. Gets A Discharge (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 20, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 20, 1945, p. 1

20 Sept. 45

Dear Mother,

Well I spend last eve with the Stanichs and I was afraid I’ll wear out the welcome but now they insisted I come out for dinner Fri. eve. He is coming after me again. They are perfect strangers to this town and I think have no social life so they appreciate someone even me. I found out last night that Geo. Wingfield is now a civilian and is back in Reno. Got out on the points. It seems Geo. was in some time and of course has a daughter so all in all he had enough points. Stanish has enough points but his C.O. claims he is too valuable to release just now so he is waiting – just like the Drs.

Drew Pearson had another article in his comments again today – more power to him. Maybe something will get stirred up.

Back to the Stanich people – we just sit and talk and the time seems to fly. Vince and I have a couple of drinks and then about midnight Mrs. fixes some coffee, cheese, etc., and then he brings me home. Not too exciting by but it does get one off the hill for a few hours. They never mention playing bridge, poker, etc., so I don’t [know] whether they do those things or not.

One (jg) got orders yesterday but that seems the entire extent of the pack. The scuttlebutt is

September 20, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] now that the third fleet is coming in and we are to be used as replacements. That may or may not be true but if things hold off for a few weeks or months maybe I can talk them out of sending me out.

No mail so far but I hardly expected any this early – I believe there should be a letter tomorrow, at least I hope so.

Our patients are very few again – Right now we have just about as many as Drs. I won’t even be able to take a draft if more don’t come because there won’t be enough to make up one car load.

Kenney left Monday for some place near Japan. I talked with a friend of his who is leaving for the same place tomorrow. I imagine he will enjoy that kind of work. They are going to set up a small dispensary for a recreational center.

Well, with all this monotony there is darn little to write about. But one thing is sure, orders of some kind will have to come thru in time. They can’t just let us sit here indefinitely, or at least I think they can’t.

Lots of Love,
Daddy

[Editor’s Note: George Wingfield, Jr., was an important enough person in the Reno community that his discharge made the local papers. Follow the link to read one article.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/28/george-wingfield-jr-gets-a-discharge-roscoe/

Back in San Francisco (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 8, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 8, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 8, 1945

Dear Mother,

I’m all back in San Fran. We arrived in Klamath Falls at about 0800 this AM and I was told there were no planes going back to San Francisco so I got all my train reservations and then at chow time a Commodore Peale was coming down. In fact a plane came up after him so he let me come with him. It would have taken me 12 hours on the train but by plane it was only a 2 hour trip. It was really a swell ride – very clear and there was one high mountain with snow all over its top. It’s about 400 miles to Klamath so I did pretty well to make the round trip 800 miles in 24 hours and get all the other things done, I mean, the patients on the train and off, etc., (and $7.00 extra).

Now – about the Chicago draft. So far as I know now it is a go. My name is right on the paper. So be thinking the plans out and I’ll let you know a little more definite about when we leave, etc. I imagine we will leave here on Wed.

September 8, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] night about 8 PM, and we should be in Great Lakes sometime Sat. I haven’t the slightest idea how much time I’ll be able to get off and won’t know until I get there. I think the safest bet if you could arrange is to meet me there and then if I have time we can go on down to K. If not, we will have some time together in Chicago. I mean you can come to Chicago and I’ll meet you there. I’ll either wire or call later in the week so just stand by but be planning just what you think is best. Maybe Dorothy or Lucille will keep D. and the other boys can shift for themselves. Stand by then Dear for word from me. I really want to see you.

Either Geo. W. or Vince Stanich came out to see me this PM but that was before I got back so don’t know which it was – they didn’t leave name nor address.

I’ll mail this so it will go out on the only mail tomorrow and then if anything develops after that I’ll write later in the day.

Yours written Sept. 4 came today – glad D. is better, and hope John is better satisfied and Mark also – I mean about the plane – I want him to ride a plane but to make a real trip and not with just any pilot who may come along. It really isn’t safe. Well, Dear I’m really looking forward to next week this time,

Love,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/17/back-in-san-francisco-roscoe/

Four Nurses (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 7, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 7, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 7, 1945
USNRH
S.F. (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this in the AM in order to be sure it gets done because not having taken a draft out before I don’t know how much last minute work there might be.

Last night the Drs. & nurses had a Cock. T. party from 5 to 7:30 – Just the usual Yap-a-Yap. It was quite harmless thing and no one as far as I could see got too much & everyone seems to be aboard this AM. It was paid for and sponsored by the Welfare. I guess it was

September 7, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] supposed to be a Morale builder. The Drs. change so rapidly I suppose they figure that is a good way to have people meet in a sort of informal way.

The package came in yesterday after I mailed your letter so that takes care of everything except those several letters on the way. I do hope I get one or two today because by being gone it will be several days that I know I won’t get mail.

I never did tell you but a Dr. and several nurses always take these drafts – I mean male nurses. I thought I’d better clear that up a bit.

September 7, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] I’ll have four corpsmen – 2 for each car. Really the male nurses I mentioned are only corpsmen but I had to writes nurses in order to get the joke – some joke.

Drs. get orders out of here practically every day – It seems to be the Lt. Cdrs. and the jgs. I’m not sure what they are saving the Lts. for.

When I first came I called Geo. Wingfield and he was gone but I left a message and he called me yesterday. He had just gotten back and had lots to do so I didn’t get to see him. He told me

September 7, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] on the phone that he and Stanich would probably be out in 60 days. That sounds good because they won’t leave only Med. off. to run the Navy. I saw an enlisted man leave here yesterday with his discharge. That was a real one and not a medical. I wanted to look to see if maybe my name was on the thing but I guess it wasn’t.

Well, I’ll try to get a line off tomorrow someplace –
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/13/four-nurses-roscoe/

About Two Things (Roscoe)

1 Reply

August 28, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 28, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 28, 1945
USNRH

Dear Mother,

Yours of Aug. 23 & 25 came today. The one with all that stuff from Mead J. & co. had me excited. I thought it was pictures. I don’t believe I have any pictures at all. You see I never have fully unpacked because we have been told we were going to move into the new place as I told you before.

Now about the two things your letters covered – one the furnace. I think that sounds like a good deal. I don’t know how Geo. M. would feel about it but I guess we have always paid him, etc. The firing by hand can be carried on in case Chet doesn’t get around to work when he thinks he will. I guess you can just keep on his tail until he does come across. Of course burners may be a little

August 28, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] slow in coming on the market. If you have enough guts you might call Monroe and tell him you have a much better deal – don’t think I could maybe you can – otherwise I’d tell Chet to go ahead.

Now about the petition – Just hold off if nothing has been done up to now. I believe things will break in a month or two and I’d rather have it that way. “In the first place” if things like that get back to Wash. it might work in reverse and then too whoever was the big shot in getting the ball rolling might feel that we were under obligation to him. I firmly believe it won’t be too long and I’m willing to wait another month to see what develops. After that I may do something myself but I would rather give the bureau a chance to act first. The point system I feel will be applied to the M.C. and I think I’ll stand a good chance then. I’d like nothing better than to be coming home right now but I don’t like to rush things so don’t push things. However, if someone around

August 28, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] there does do something you can’t stop them but don’t encourage – Just yet.

I may go out this eve. Remember the wife you sent the flowers too last Easter a year ago. Well I called him yesterday and they are living very near and he told me to call and come out. Or rather he would come and get me – Stanish is the name. I’ll let you know tomorrow what happens. Geo. Wingfield is in S. Calif. on temporary duty from here so maybe I’ll get to see him and Howell who now is a commander is also around here – He lives in Reno also. He and his family are living out this way now. I called him yesterday and he came out to talk with me. He is quite a big wind – but he told me if I wanted transportation all I needed to do was call him. I don’t think I’ll try it because he talks and I’m afraid his cars are not

August 28, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] as good as his word.

This is a little ragged. I mean the letter but maybe you can get what I’m trying to say. I’m writing and listening at the same time. There is a fresh new (jg) here with me and he sometimes talks while I’m thinking. We have two wards together so we both use the same office.

Irene’s trouble may not be a phlebitis and again it may. I’m a little inclined to believe it will be present after she comes back especially if she plays golf, etc., as she has been. The rest and elevation will probably do more good than the penicillin. I told her when I was home to exercise less but it didn’t seem to have any affect. But why am I making 2,000 mile diagnosis?

Well, keep a stiff upper lip and lots of love –
Daddy

A Reply from George Wingfield

2 Replies

October 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 20, 1944

La Forge Cottages
Touro Park West
Newport, R.I.
Oct. 20, 1944

Dear Jake,

Thanks a million for your most excellent dope. Really appreciate it.
Nothing new since I last wrote but you’ll hear from me when I get settled on my next set of orders.
Great news about the Phillipines – we’re sure moving.

Best regards,
George

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

Release Clause (Roscoe)

4 Replies

June 9, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 9, 1944, p. 1

June 9

Dear Mother,

Just wrote a letter to Geo. inviting him to come thru our town on his trip East. I told him we would be here after June 15 or 16.

I did all my talking with the mother of the lady who owns the house when I rented it. And today I got a call from the owner relative to a lease. The reason she wanted that was because her husband is in the Navy and in case he would come home she would want her home in 30 days – the lease is for 3 month. I’m taking it to a lawyer here at the station to see if it is OK. There is a clause in it which releases me in case orders come thru. I haven’t signed and won’t

June 9, 1944, p. 2-3

[page 2] until I get advice from this fellow tomorrow.

The piano will stay in the house and she has an ironer which she if going to leave. The boys will like this – She has had an old colored man take care of the lawn in summer and the snow in the winter and she is going to have him continue at her expense. She is afraid if she lets him go she won’t be able to get him back again.

The drain board around the sink as I recall is a composition substance and isn’t in good condition. That is about the only thing not nice and of course the color of the outside isn’t anything to shout about in fact I think

[page 3] it yells right back at you. I now know why your letters were slow. You missed Tue. because of Zell and the train schedule. You’ll let me know more definite later as to time & place.

My Free letters go just as fast as your air mail letters so I’ll just save my money.

I don’t know what to advise you about the trip. There is a train from Chicago leaving there at 7:00 PM, arriving here at 7:00 AM and the bus trip to Quincy isn’t good. That is about a 5 hour trip from here. I believe the train would be much more comfortable for all concerned.

June 9, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I mean 5 hours each way. Of course I’ll make the trip if necessary.

I ate plenty of green onions for dinner today hope you can’t smell them from this letter. I thought I’d get all those things out of my system before you came down.

Well, Dear I hope this letter writing will soon be over –
Love Daddy