Tag Archives: John F. Yegerlehner

Ration Book 3 (Gladys)

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: May 28, 1943 envelope

: May 28, 1943, p. 1

: May 28, 1943, p. 2

: May 28, 1943, p. 3

: May 28, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 28-1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters so far today, but 3 came yesterday – the latest being dated May 17 – The second check hasn’t come yet but will probably come in a day or so. Your letters all come, tho some get delayed. I am sitting on the front step writing so I can keep David in the sun. Mark has gone to 4-H Baking class. He took ingredients for a “one egg wonder cake.” John has to practice on the oboe. He has to play it in the band for the Memorial day ceremonies and he hasn’t played it yet in the band. He just got it a short while before school was out and has been learning to blow it. It doesn’t sound as well alone as the sax. I told him it sounds like a snake charmer. I suppose Mr. Webster thought the best way to break him into the band with it was to tell him he had to play at certain time.

I talked to Dr. Cole Wed. about Mark – in fact took Mark along and he thinks his tonsils should come out. This is a repeat in case the previous letters are lost or delayed.

[page 2] I thought the sooner the better and next week would be as good a time as any. Probably will be over it and entirely recuperated by the time you get this.

David has turned over in his buggy – that is why someone has to watch him all the time. He won’t stay put. His second tooth is about to come thru. I gave him orange juice again this morning and about an hour later he thru it up. I keep trying but he throws it up nearly every time. I still give him vit C and he gets canned fruit. He can’t take tomatoe juice either. His bowels are always more or less loose, so can’t give him prunes or juice. I tried giving him potatoe to tighten things up but he doesn’t eat them so well. He gains about a lb a month now – he is so active he works off his fat. He isn’t thin by any means – weighs 19 lbs now at 8 months – but is 29 inches long. He is very tan now and we keep him in the sun as much as I think he needs to be. Sometimes I manage to get him to take a nap in the sun. I get him out of doors more than Arlene gets Donnie out and yesterday her sister was here and said she couldn’t get over how tan David is – Donnie looks a little pale beside him.

Had to stop and put D. back in his

[page 3] Buggy – he was crawling out. Mrs. Zell loaned me a harness to secure him to the buggy and I think I’ll have to use it. John had a “fit” at such an idea but I asked him if he wanted David to fall out on his head – then he decided it would be better to use the harness. It sounded a little horsy to him.

Mark just reported home with his cake – came home proudly reporting he made it entirely without help from the instructor (Mrs. Rupp). It was a success and he is so thrilled. It is nearly time for the next sugar coupons and it’s a good thing with all the baking the boys want to do. They are cake eaters. I have managed to save from our sugar enough to make some preserves & jelly. The boys really missed their spreads this year and I want to get some made this summer. There won’t be much fruit to can I am afraid. The winter was so long and hard there probably won’t be any peaches at all around here. Clara M. has a strawberry patch and we are to get our berries there if she has any.

We have to apply for the third ration book. It has to be in by June 30 but I am going to mail ours today. I don’t

[page 4] know what book 3 will be for but tickets from no. 1 are about gone.

I had John put some clothes to wash and I think they are probably ready to hang up now. The sun is so hot today they will soon dry. I want to get our storm windows taken down. It has turned so warm we need the screens in the bedroom windows. The storm windows have been so swollen from all the rains we haven’t been able to pry them open but this heat will soon do the trick. I think we are going to have summer all at once.

I hear the boys coming up from the basement – sounds like I will have to get busy and hang up clothes or see about something for lunch. We are out of potatoes. The last I bought cost .75¢ ½ peck, but I think I’ll have to break down and buy more. We can’t do without meat and potatoes both – not that we are trying to do without meat but have been trying to use less.

My head feels like it is baked so think I’ll have to go in the house. David has decided to climb out of his buggy again – will have to take him in and put him to bed.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/07/ration-book-3-gladys/

They Were Expendable (Roscoe)

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: May 27, 1943 envelope

: May 27, 1943 new address

: May 27, 1943, p. 1

: May 27, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

May 27, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Again I find myself with pen, paper etc but very little if anything to write but maybe ideas will come as the writing progresses.

One of the fellows got several cans of boneless and skinless sardines yesterday and another got some various assorted cans of turkey and sardines etc. He also got the book “They or we were expendable.” I forgotten the exact title. In my wandering I’ve met the fellow Kelley who has so much to say in that book so it really gives the book a personal touch, or something.

Our stamp and stationary supplies are rapidly becoming a problem but I think before the supply is entirely depleted we will be able to get more or maybe I’ll have to write v-mail letters in your regular air mail – Maybe one or both will come thru. I keep changing my mind on that so often but I do that as situations arise.

Took a short trip thru the jungles again the other day and it’s almost like the time when John had candy all over his

[page 2] face – I don’t believe what I see. The growth is much thicker than the movies show and more interesting. The parrots, cockatoos are very pretty and about as colorful as the marine life around the islands. Those things are all interesting to see but as I feel now I would never have missed anything had I not seen any of these things but maybe I don’t feel quite that bad. I really hope we aren’t forgotten out here and I’m willing to give the ball bearing “Waves” a chance to get off their fat fannies and do their stuff outside the continental limits of the U.S.A. We get word now and then that there are men there anxious to get out so more power to them. Don’t get the idea I’m too homesick or that I’m feeling sorry for myself or want other people to feel sorry for me but I do hope a schedule is worked out where by changes are made to relive the men overseas.

I’ve rambled and jambled and said very little and I hope you taked take what I’ve written in good spirit.

Lots of 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/2014/07/06/they-were-expendable-roscoe/

A real summer (Gladys)

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: May 27, 1943 envelope

: May 27, 1943, p. 1

: May 27, 1943, p. 2

: May 27, 1943, p. 3

: May 27, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today has been a real summer, rainless day, (so far). The boys are out in the garden pulling weeds. It is still too wet to hoe or do any more planting but just right for pulling. We are having onions & radishes and will soon have lettuce. Everything is doing well. Potatoes are up about a foot high – some aren’t so good but most of them are. There are so many wild parsnips in our garden they keep coming up as if by magic. The ground is about right for me to get my flower beds finished and I want to work on them this evening. John has to go to

[page 2] band practice this evening so that will let him out but he volunteered to help Mark weed the garden. John has had the most to do so far because he has had a continual job mowing the lawn and the rain has kept Mark from working in the garden.

Mother has David out in the buggy on the terrace. He has had a lot of sunning today – Had a nap this morning in the sun. He is about to get another tooth thru and is a little touchy today – or maybe he is just spoiled. I think he missed us when we went to Laf. yesterday. He is so used to having someone pay attention to him. He is satisfied to stay in his pen or bed, or play chair but likes company.

Three letters came this morning. The latest being dated May 17 – So far the second check (100⁰⁰) hasn’t come but it will no

[page 3] doubt be along in a day or two. There’s a few letters missing but I believe they will come, because all of yours up to May 5 have come. Thanks for the picture. We enjoy getting yours as much as you do ours. Mrs. Zell said she could tell by looking at your picture the baby looks like you. Most everyone says he looks like you and Ruth M. calls him “little Jake.”

One paper came today but I haven’t had time to scan it over for news items that would interest you. The Rotary Club wrote you and that should pretty well cover the local news situation. As usual only one paper came today. The same old story. Seems like they would just change the date of publication. Mrs. Steinbaugh is running the Democrat now. It came today.

[page 4]Mark is a business man now. Since he has his bike he runs errands – Now the traffic situation is a different matter than when you were here. He went to town for Mrs. Zell & Arlene this morning. He started putting down his earnings. He wants to help pay for his Bike. I told him he couldn’t have a new horn but he said he would rather have a bicycle and keep the old horn. If he has his tonsils out next week he won’t need either for a while.

Mother had a letter from Jim and he is now a C.P.O., but has to stay in Williamsburg until Sept, then thinks he will go places. Then Thelma is going to return to T.H.

Mark wants to take a ride so I’ll get this finished so he can mail it.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/05/a-real-summer-gladys/ ‎

Home from Lafayette (Gladys)

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: May 26, 1943 envelope

: May 26, 1943, p. 1

: May 26, 1943, p. 2

: May 26, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 26 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Home again from Laf. Took John to Dr. Ade for a final check after a refraction last week – and John’s glasses were are not so strong this time, so maybe his eyes are improving. I took Mark to Dr. Cole and he thinks his tonsils should come out so I think I’ll take him down next week. He said it would be best for him to stay in the hospital a few days. As I wrote you yesterday Mark has been shaking his head again and I thought I would take him to Dr. Cole for a check-up and after examining him, said he thought the tonsils should come out. He said he would get Romberger to give the anesthetic. I suppose by the time you get

[page 2] this he will be well recuperated. He is looking forward with anticipation. The only thing he worries about – he is afraid he won’t go to sleep when they give him the ether. He took a music lesson today but that will have to stop for a few weeks. He has been wanting a bicycle so Link sold us the one he got from Art Burdick. Mark has been very elated since getting it last nite. He said his dream had come true. I was going to get him a Victory Bike at Sears but the Ration Board wouldn’t give him a permit.

I have to go to Star tonight to meet some women of the S.S. Class for a committee meeting. I have to entertain the class this month and I think it will be Mon. evening the 31^st.We are going to sew for the Red Cross. I had Cosmopolitan Club and after I have the class that will that will take care of my social obligations.

[page 3]Arlene and her younger sister went to Laf. with us today. Louise is gone now but Arlene got Mary E. Tuberty to stay with the children. Louise went to Ga. where her boy friend is stationed to be married. I didn’t get any letters today but had several yesterday. Got the $50⁰⁰ check & deposited same. You wrote on the back payable only to Gladys R. Y. – but didn’t sign your own name – but Mr. T. said he would send it through. Hope I don’t have to send it back to you to get your signature. It is getting late and I must get going or will be late. Will do better next time.

Love Mother

David is fine. Says da da all the time.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/03/home-from-lafayette-gladys/

14th Anniversary (Roscoe)

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: May 25, 1943 envelope

: May 25, 1943, p. 1

: May 25, 1943, p. 2

: May 25, 1943, p. 3

: May 25, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

May 25, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

As I remember it this is the day or was the day some 14 years ago – of course I could have missed it a few days but I think I’m correct. I sure hope the next one will be more pleasant for both of us.

I wrote a letter to “Hicky” Reinhart yesterday – sure hope he gets this in better time than the last one. Both our letters made two way trips because they had been sent to the place we were transferred from.

I told you about having fresh potatoes – well from that same source the fellow got a piece of frozen meat all packed in a burlap sack and he thought it was pork – but it’s Lamb. That is OK, but as a rule Navy lamb isn’t what civilian lamb is. I think it was lamb – several years ago and eventually grew out of that stage.

Yesterday being laundry day I have my clothes all clean and ready for another week. The wash this week consisted of 2 sheets, 3 shirts, one pair of pants, 4 towels, 5 underware trunks and

[page 3] numerous socks. It is washed for us and we hang it to dry and do the pressing simply by folding. In that way everyone from the highest to the lowest looks wrinkled but that doesn’t bother.

The last few nights the moon has been unusually bright and it sure is beautiful intermingled with palm trees and ocean but under present circumstances the beauty is somewhat retracted from.

We had hearts of coconuts again last night for supper – It’s the million dollar dish but I’d rather have good old celery or carrot sticks served in ice

[page 4] cold water.

This is just a hint – If you could pick up a few cans of canned chicken it sure would be fine – provided it didn’t cut too much off your own rations – we had some the other day that a fellow got from home and it was delish – but I wouldn’t want to use up any of the rations for you and the boys – a can of olives would also be appreciated.

Well, I’ve said about enough – hope you are enjoying the anniversary day as much as possible under the circumstances and may the next be more enjoyable

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/02/14th-anniversary-roscoe/

Wordless Wednesday – Brothers #1

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John and Mark Yegerlehner, 1933

Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/02/wordless-wednesday-brothers-1/

14th Anniversary (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 25, 1943 envelope

: May 25, 1943, p. 1

: May 25, 1943, p. 2

: May 25, 1943, p. 3

: May 25, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 25 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today marks our 14^th. Just hope we can celebrate the 15^th together.

It is still on the rainy order here. Last nite we had a clear sunset but by the time we went to bed it was beginning to storm. It is undecided this a.m. Right now the sun is shining & Mark is out with David getting some Vit C. In spite of the rainy weather we get David out between showers enough to keep him tanned. He will certainly be well tanned if he keeps on the way he is going. He has skin like his Daddy – Mark was helping with his both this morning and commenting on how handsome he is because

[page 2] he looks like Daddy. Ruth called David “little Jake” while we were over there. He is 8 mo old, weighs 19 lbs and has a tooth. He was as glad to sleep in his own bed again as the rest of us. The bed Ruth had borrowed for him was just a small crib and it cramped his style.

This letter and other things encl. came this morning from St. E. I think I covered the situation in my letter after I attended the ceremony but they requested it be forwarded so here it is. When we went to the P.O. to mail your letter last nite (6 P.M.) Parr handed John four letters from you. So far the latest is May 10 and one check for 150⁰⁰ is here. You said in your latest you would wait a few days to send the other.

Mr. Zell said every member at Rotary last night wrote you a letter so your mail should pick up.

[page 3] I am going to take John to Dr. Ade this week for a final exam, and also I want to take Mark to Dr. Cole. He has been showing signs of nervousness again – He was doing pretty good until, since school has been out. He shakes his head so much. I put him to bed early last night and am going to try and keep him from playing so hard. He seems to feel good and has a good appetite but shakes his head. Dr. M. looked at his tonsils after he had measles and said they looked bad, however I think I’ll take him to Dr. C. for a going over. If he needs his tonsils out I would rather leave him in the hospital a day or two. He thinks he is going to have a picnic having an operation – you know him – he is really anticipating it with relish. Mark was so tired & worn out from our trip I didn’t send him for a piano lesson this morning. Don’t worry about him because I am sure with rest and a little less excitement he will soon be over this condition. He plays so hard and last week was the first week of vacation. I think he

[page 4] tried to cram too much into the first week.

Our garden is still too wet to work in and the weeds are growing more daily. I got radishes & onions yesterday after we came home and Mark got such a thrill out of his first garden stuff. The potatoes are up about a foot high. They have done better than Zells in the same patch. Mr. Z. said he thought theirs had rotted from so much rain. He got theirs planted before we got ours out.

John has gone to take his music lesson this morning. The recital is to be next week. He got to play on Johnson’s new piano while we were there and of course kept busy at Ruth’s a good bit of the time.

It is time to start lunch so must get busy.
Love Mother

Home from Wilmington (Gladys)

2 Replies

: May 24, 1943 envelope

: May 24, 1943, p. 1

: May 24, 1943, p. 2

: May 24, 1943, p. 3

: May 24, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 24 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just returned home from Wilmington and it’s still raining. Last Fri it was nice and we got our washing and a few other things done, then on Sat the fair weather continued so we went to Ruth’s and took the 350 sweet potatoe & 4 dz. snap-dragon plants. Earl was waiting and as soon as Ruth fixed his supper, he took the plants out to his garden and set them out. His garden is 5 miles out on 113 – It is on a hill and the drainage is good so with fair weather Fri & Sat it was just right to put the plants out. He also went out Sunday and worked all day or most of the day but it has rained so much and

[page 2] is getting so late he said he felt like he had to work when the ground was dry. Well it certainly is wet now. We drove home thru rain all the way. In some places it poured. We had to go thru some water on the pavement but not much. Just before we left Wilmington there was a hard shower.

I brought back several different kinds of flowers to set soil out. It will have to dry off some before I get them out. John wanted to know if he had to mow the lawn when we got home. I told him it would probably need it.

David is very glad to get home. Ruth’s neighbor loaned us a bed and chair – the chair has a table around it and I brought it home to use as long as he will stay in it. He is in this pen now having a good time. I have knitted him a sweater outfit

[page 3] and it was very popular. The cap has a bill like a regular boys cap and that took the prize. The neighbor who loaned the bed and chair wants the pattern for the whole outfit so she can knit her 2 yr old one. Mrs. Servies crocheted the cap but I made the sweater & pants.

I had four letters of May 1, 2, 5 & 6. The uniform money was in one. I will deposit it tomorrow. I’ll have to write the Ins. co. as to the amt of the loan. I read your letters rather hurriedly so will have to scan thru them again. Had to rekindle the fire when we came home and before I did that had to clean out the furnace. It is about time to feed David but I want to get this in the mail before 6 P.M. I didn’t get a letter written yesterday but being company it isn’t easy to always to

[page 4] writing. I enjoyed our visit very much but a little tired – which is to be expected after driving home thru the rain.

We had dinner at Johnsons yesterday and got to see their new home. It is very nice but not as large as ours. Of course Clarence had time to work on theirs which made a difference in finishing. He did the wiring and all their switches are silent.

I am trying to write and the rest of the family is trying to get David ready for bed so I’ll have to stop – I know this letter has been jumbled up but will try to do better next time – after I have had a good rest in my own bed.

Hope you have the garden seed by now.
Love Mother

Heading to Wilmington (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S.YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-22-43

Dear Daddy – We are about ready to leave for Wilmington with 350 sweet potatoe plants & some snap plants. Mother is feeding D. his 2 P.M. meal – the boys are ready and waiting, both had hair cuts & a bath so they look ready to be seen. I feel a little rushed but think I’ll be O.K. after we get started. It has cleared off and seems to be getting hot this P.M. so maybe the ground will be in the right shape for Earl to set out plants today. I told you in yesterday’s v-mail David cut his first tooth. The one next to it is about ready to pop thru. I took all your clothes out and aired them yesterday. Those little moth bugs had been in and I used a new spray – hope this one works. I wish your Navy uniforms were here – I am afraid they will be moulded beyond help staying stored. No letters today but had yours of the 10^th the 20^th – not bad – 10 days. It is about time we want to start and I have a few things to do yet – will write a more detailed letter when time permits. Grand day after all the rain this week.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Wordless Wednesday – Ready for a swim

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Mark and John Yegerlehner, mid to late 1930s. Their grandfather, John Henry Yegerlehner, sits in the background. The man next to John Henry is likely William O. Yegerlehner (Yegerline), John Henry’s nephew (and Roscoe’s first cousin).

Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

© Deborah Sweeney, 2014.
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/06/25/wordless-wednesday-ready-for-a-swim/