George Wingfield Jr. | Genealogy Lady

: June 3, 1943 envelope

: June 3, 1943, p. 1

: June 3, 1943, p. 2

: June 3, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran

Dear Mother,

This time I’ll start with the most common topic food, because we sure had it last night. Geo. got a whole pheasant canned from the states: weighed over 2 ¼ pounds. It came in the mail yesterday and he invited the commanding office, another commander and myself so after all the rest had had their meal we went to the mess hall and had the feast. The gravy was excellent and the Hearts of palm salad and onions sure topped things in A-1 style – and also I forgot asparagus. Really I doubt if one could have a better meal anyplace. Hope

[page 2] that doesn’t make you hungry. That can probably cost 4.50 to 5.00. It was from a privately owned farm out west and canned for exclusive trade and at that price why wouldn’t it be. However, Geo can talk in high figures for he really has the potatoes. He often talks of going bird hunting with Marshall Field’s daughter or granddaughter but being in the hotel business in Reno he meets those people under the usual divorce proceedings – So much for Geo and the good meal.

Just took a peek at the turnip and radish seed I sewed day before yesterday and they are sprouting very nicely. So if the cows don’t come in and beat us to them we

[page 3] may have a vegetable now and then. This morn. I was awakened by the chomp, chomp, of a cow right outside the tent where the grass picking was good. Sometime at night those milk carriers give us a fright as they graze through camp.

If I have things figured correctly this month is the last month for payment on the old Hancock policy of mine. We should draw dividends on that now each year. I suppose you will get some kind of a notice that it is paid up and of course we will not try to cash it in at this time, but I would like to repay the loan if you haven’t done so. If your bank balance is too low to repay the loan, I can help out if I ever get paid –

Well, solong Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/20/canned-pheasant-roscoe/

: May 29, 1943 envelope

: May 29, 1943, p. 1

: May 29, 1943, p. 2

: May 29, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 29, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Just looked at the calendar and decided that if the Indianapolis races were to be held this year it would be day after tomorrow but since they aren’t being held I guess that particular date doesn’t mean any more than any other day.

A letter came from Ruth Y yesterday eve, just telling of their move and a little gossip at the end about Dr. Bond and his office girl which didn’t impress me in any way whatsoever. I guess things

[page 2] like that happen often and whenever they do there is always much talk – regardless of the truth.

It was cool enough for a while last night that I used the sheet and bed spread – maybe that is a sign of winter – However, this A.M. it’s as hot and sticky as ever.

The commanding officer asked me this morn. where I’d like to spend the weekend. I told him I’d like to go the beach and camp out for a night or two. That was the end of the conversation.

Yesterday I told of having eggs for breakfast – well it was different this A.M. – beans and toast. What a meal! I think however we will

[page 3] have cuttin meat today maybe twice. Sure hope there are some of those potatoes left so that we can have French fries. Here I go into the food subject again. It always starts in the conversation as – “How would you like to have a big think steak” and then all the elaborate trimmings that one ever heard of to be added.

Well, I hope some mail gets thru in a day or two –Ruth M & Ruth Y’s letter were both dated May 10. Which is four days later than yours.

So Long
Love Daddy

_________________________________________________

Although this letter does not mention Roscoe’s tent mate George, his initials appear on the envelope as the naval censor. At this point, Roscoe has dropped enough clues about his friend George that I have been able to figure out who he was. George Wingfield, Jr. was born 5 May 1914, and died 11 November 1987. He was the son of George Wingfield, Sr. and his wife Maude A. Murdoch. George Wingfield, Sr. was a very powerful and important person in the history of Nevada. In 1993, University of Nevada history professor C. Elizabeth Raymond published her book George Wingfield: Owner and Operator of Nevada. By the 1940s, the two Georges were co-owners of at least two hotels in Reno. In February 1943, Ensign George arrived in the Russell Islands with Roscoe on the U.S.S. John Penn.