Tag Archives: Guadalcanal

Sardines and Onions (Roscoe)

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: May 9, 1943 envelope

: May 9, 1943, p. 1

: May 9, 1943, p. 2

: May 9, 1943, p. 3

: May 9, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

May 9, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran

Dear Mother,

I’ve been going around this A.M. with a bran new pair of boots and really enjoying slopping – just like a kid with a new pair. We’ve had some rain and the need for something of that sort is terrific.

You have heard lots of stories about the “back house” and the clothes line – we had that happen last night only the fellow was returning from the “back house” and no harmful affects except a little “beefing”

[page 2] this morn. He says it was my line but he was way off the beam if that was the case and he readily admitted that he was a poor navigator.

For the past week we have by hook or something gotten some onions and sardines and here’s how we have been eating them. Take out the sardines place them on a plate – Then chop onions into the oil remaining in the can. Cover with vinegar and let set 5 min and then take one fork and pass both sardines and onions – each taking his mouthful in turn – you’d be surprised without even bread

[page 3] or crackers how good the mixture really does taste. Of course that is a between meal snack. The smell of our surroundings must be something because that has gone on for several days. I feel very sorry for the sick boys when go around to see how they are getting along.

Our mail has been very muchly absent for some time now but in due time it will come along and as I’ve told you before I know your mail will be spotty so don’t worry.

The one uniform check for 150⁰⁰ is in the mail and the other

[page 4] 100⁰⁰ will be coming along in a few days. If you need this money use it otherwise pay off the Ins loan – as we had planned.

This being Mother’s day I hope it will find everything very good for you and also may I wish you a happy wedding ann. as I think I’ve done before.

I’ve written quite a bit but said nothing so maybe I’d better stop while these pages are free of injected bits of local unrefined phrases.

Love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/06/01/sardines-and-onions-roscoe/

Another month has passed (Roscoe)

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: May 8, 1943 envelope

: May 8, 1943, p. 1

: May 8, 1943, p. 2

: May 8, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 8, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco

Dear Mother,

Another month has passed by since leaving the good old U.S.A. We have no way of knowing what our tour of duty will be – I mean how long but as I’ve said before another month in the past rather than the future. Time has passed much more rapidly than at the last place we’ve spent just half as much time here as there and it sure doesn’t seem that way.

The coconut trees here do become monotonous where

[page 2] back there they were an added feature to the landscape and if conditions were right could have been romatic [romantic] but here without much effort they could become rheumatic – meaning painful but they aren’t the whole show here so that is why I like being here.

I think I wrote you about one week ago that I had met a Dr. from Logansport. Since I have seen him and I wrote you that letter he has been ordered to Great Lakes for duty – what a break. So I still have faith that maybe I’ll get something of the same treatment as time

[page 3] goes along.

Got slowed down due to some conversation not the type which would be injurious but enjoyous.

Was invited out to a spagiti [spaghetti] supper last night. I knew before what it was going to be and tried my best to get out of it but no soap – so I went and acted as if it was very good – you know how over Joyed I must have acted. Anyway no one got made and invited as back but I’m going to try to evade the thing next time.

I’ll repeat – I have sent 150⁰⁰ of the uniform money and will send more the rest later – I want you to repeat on that also –

Love Daddy.

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/30/another-month-has-passed-roscoe/

Our tent leaked (Roscoe)

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: May 7, 1943 envelope

: May 7, 1943, p. 1

: May 7, 1943, p. 2

: May 7, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

May 7, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Just got in from another trip and this I’m sorry to say will have to be short as I’ve had no time to think but must get this off so that the mail clerk will take it along. I noticed by your letters that my mail to you is rather spotty and I’ve told you before that you can expect it to be that way. I know why but can’t tell you the reason.

It has rained almost continuously

[page 2] since I’ve planted my potatoes so I imagine they will rot before they have a chance to grow.

Our tent leaked over my bunk and night before last when I came to go to bed I found a pool of water in the middle of my mattress. Luckily I had two mattresses so I just took the top one off and that was OK. Needless to say I moved my bunk out from under that drip.

In yesterday’s letter I told you I received the

[page 3] uniform money and send 150⁰⁰ home and the other 100⁰⁰ I’ll send in a few days – I’ll just scatter them out a little in case some should get lost .

It’s just chow time so must get going –

Love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/28/our-tent-leaked-roscoe/

Uniform money (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 6, 1943 envelope

: May 6, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 6, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco

Dear Mother,

Ten v-mails came yesterday from you and two from others – Your latest letter was Apr. 13, but air mail is still faster but I’ve given you the word on that before.

Now – at least the uniform money came. This in two checks – I’ll send one in today’s letter and one in a later one. I’ll endorse them like I did before. So you should have no difficulty with them.

I’m more or less in a hurry this A.M. so won’t have time to get everything written I’d like but will try to reread the letters again and write more fully next time.

The $150 check I’ll send today and a few days later the $100 will follow.

The taxable salary that I receive now since Mar. is 220⁰⁰ per mo. before that time was 183³³ but that was included in the figure I sent at the beginning of the year.

Well, I must get going –

Love Daddy.

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/26/uniform-money-roscoe/ ‎

A few more potatoes (Roscoe)

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: May 5, 1943 envelope

: May 5, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 5, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Sometime today I’ll be able [to] plant a few more potatoes – for a fellow came in and gave me two good sized ones the center of which I ate and the outside I’ll plant but I still have my fingers crossed – Yesterday my little garden was under water and potatoes rot pretty fast in warm damp soil – So much for a lesson in horticulture.

There were rumors that some mail arrived but as yet none has appeared but maybe it will gradually be sifted out and get to us we hope.

I’ve been sitting and listening and talking so I’m not sure of what might get into this letter – Nothing bad because our conversation isn’t on a low level today.

Just had a little eye to eye battle with a lizard but he left. He ran under my chair. They don’t look good but they do catch lots of flies.

Well, I’m all written dry –
Love Daddy

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

© 2014 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/24/a-few-more-potatoes-roscoe/

Potato Eyes (Roscoe)

10 Replies

: May 4, 1943 envelope

: May 4, 1943, p. 1

: May 4, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

May 4, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Believe it or not I made garden yesterday. I was able to get 3 good sized potatoes and by carefully cutting them so that I had plenty to eat out of the center I got 20 nice fine eyes to plant. Not knowing the time for planting potatoes here and not knowing if the light of the moon or dark affect spud growth here I am at a little loss but I haven’t put out any financial funds and not too much physical effort – so if my crop is a failure I’ll not be disappointed.

Our mail is lagging again – True I’ve gotten some letters but the latest one was that which you wrote at Clay City so you see that is getting rather old now in fact I think it was just a month ago today that you wrote that.

Somehow I never did get word as to whether or not you received that second necklace I sent. There were some other things in that box but I don’t even remember now what they were – you may have received it and the letter saying so did not reach me.

I guess school will soon be out and the boys will be home to help you more or maybe hinder you more but I guess from the way you talk you will all be busy with your gardens and yards, but I hope you don’t try to work too hard on those things, and surely your food tickets will be sufficient. I’m really expecting that the locker meat

[page 2] will be rationed in one way or another. Wish you could send out a frozen chicken. That would be a real treat.

We I mean (chappic) chaplin and I are alone in the tent and he is reading his Bible so you see I’m able to write a little longer letter but probably just as drab to you as the others before hand – we have no library or place to go to write and when one is off duty others are also and since I’m the only daily writer I have to write in the midst of heated arguments and various un written writable phrases.

I’m anxiously waiting the arrival of a few packages of seed so that I can go into the garden business much more elaborately.

In Noumea we could see the female sex occasionally some white French live there but here I’ve seen only one such animal and she at some distance but dressed in native attire wich which consisted of the skirt only so In all probability when we do get to civilization we will just stand and stare. When one actually thinks of the thing it is preculiar and reminds one of that old song “Ruben, Ruben I’ve been thing what a queer world this would be etc”

Well, I’ve rambled enough so

Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/22/potato-eyes-roscoe/

Happy Mother’s Day (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 3, 1943 envelope

: May 3, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 3, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Francis

Dear Mother,

This is a little late but I’m enclosing a mother’s day greeting to be given you by the boys. It’s a little beating around the bush for me to send to you for the boys to give you – I also got one for mom and put it in her Sunday letter.

While I’m at it I’m now wishing you a happy wedding anniversary which comes as I recal about 3 wks from tomorrow.

I’ve been out this morning doing some running around and it makes one tired riding in the truck like vehicles over roads that aren’t to smooth.

They are building a tent for the chaplin so maybe we won’t spoil him in the next few days. He had his church service yesterday morning so didn’t have to go out last night.

Well, I’ll be writing tomorrow

Love Daddy

P.S. Your v-mail of Mar 26, arrived this AM.

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

Censored for female reading (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 2, 1943 envelope

: May 2, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 2, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F. P. O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Sunday morning and up and going. This as you know is my day to write home and I’ll do so when this is finished. My last letter to them was only wed. because of the mix-up.

Yesterday a chaplin moved into our tent and I’m not sure who will be converted us or him. He seems to be a very swell fellow and a Catholic. He’ll probably want a tent of his own when we can get around to it.

The officer who received the shrimp broke down and opened two cans yesterday P.M. and we got some catsup to dunk them in and were they good. You’d be surprised at the amount of happiness an sult can receive from a can of sardines shrimp etc. The last you wrote you sent have not arrived. This fellow that got them yest said his wife had to almost bribe the store keeper to get what she sent.

We have the usual conversation going on in the tent and really this should be censored for female reading but I’ll try not to inject any of the words and phrases that are going rampant. Really we’re not a bad lot but we have to have our little fun now and then.

There is a little lull in the conversation and maybe I can get an inspiration but I’m a little afraid things have started again and I’m at the end of my ropes.

So solong
Love Daddy

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

Digging Clams (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 1, 1943 envelope

: May 1, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 1, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

It seems as if another month has gone by and the good old summer time is drawing near at home and our winter is starting but we sure can’t tell about any difference.

Yesterday P.M. we went swimming for the first time in ages. First we got some limes and did some running around and then swimming and one of the fellows found a clam so we started digging and all in all we had about 3 doz. Of course we were all elated and discussed how we would prepare them but we weren’t sure if they were the eating variety. We then stopped at another place for chow and some fellow there said clams were good only in the R. months or was it in the months without R. So we were confused and threw the clams away. We still had the fun of catching the clams.

Yesterday I mentioned that I knew a fellows life history and he knew mine. Several weeks ago I said families weren’t discussed but that has been changed a bit and we have broken down, but still we don’t discuss things as much as at Noumea.

I have some outside interference of confe conversation so will have to close –

Love Daddy

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

Writing Paper (Roscoe)

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: April 30, 1943 envelope

: April 30, 1943, p. 1

: April 30, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

March
Apr. 30, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

You will note the writing paper. It came thru the mail from Uncle W. Arrived just one day after the letter telling me he had sent it. I’m not too fond of writing on this type paper but beggars can’t be to critical. We can buy paper now but most of it is heavy and if I can swipe a note pad from the office I’d rather use that.

I’m writing and sweating because it is hot and sticky but that isn’t unusual only I have to have something to write to fill up space. We were talking yesterday about how drab and boring our letters must be to those who read them but there isn’t anything more that can be written and I think you folk understand that – at least we hope you do. For a while we could write more fluently but that has been stopped as you have noted.

[page 2] Yesterday Commander Fredricks got a box from home filled with sardines and shrimp. So you can imagine what we did. He ate one can and I the other – or rather the contents of one can. He makes one feel good at time by the things he says. He knows the number of children we have and more or less my life’s history as I know his. So he writes home and tells his wife about us. Then he tells me what he has written. They live in Cleveland Ohio and have one daughter 20 years old.

My Reno pals are still getting along OK but the fellow from Missouri got orders to leave. I guess that is the way it will be one at a time orders out and someone new come in to take that place.

I had most of my laundry down but this AM two pairs of pants were still there and boom down came a big (frawn) (Spelling) cocoanut leaf or limb and “busted” the line but the pants were dry enough that they didn’t have to be washed again. We “sorta” have to watch those things while walking around.

I must write Uncle W. thanking him for the paper and letter –

So solong
Love Daddy