Tag Archives: Liberty

Velma Thrailkill

1 Reply

: November 13, 1945 envelope (front)

: November 13, 1945 envelope (back)

November 13, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mrs. George C. Thrailkill
311 West Kansas Street
Liberty, Missouri

Mrs. Yegerlehner,

I did enjoy your letter and also the one to Sherrill for David. I have thought of answering it many times but did not find the time. We are a little town but still go fast and furious. The other day – I called on Mrs. Ivy on the war Chest. She asked if we had heard from you. Said she missed you so much, the other people were too quiet. We still miss you all. I would like to hear David tell me to “button my lip.”

It is almost Thanksgiving again and Christmas will be here before we know it.

Do hope Dr. is back in Kentland. At least a few of the medical men seem to be getting out. Liberty is getting its share of discharges. There is

November 13, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a list in the paper every week of the ones discharged and it grows fast.

Sherrill is doing well in school. She is taking Latin and Algebra and seems to like both. She still misses your family a lot.

The Russell youngsters are back in school at K.U. According to Mrs. Russell, Richard is doing much better this year than he did last year.

I know you will remember my nephew, Jack Roorback. He came home from Corpus Christi last week on a short leave and married Reba Buckhardt last Sunday evening at Antioch church. I had some bad moments but guess we have to make the best of it. They are both just 19. He left

November 13, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] last Thursday p.m. for Corpus again. She will finish this term at Jewell but imagine she will go down with him after that.

Mr. Reppert is still in Manila. According to Mrs. R. he will not have enough points to get out until next June. She is feeling pretty blue about it, I think.

This past week we have had loyalty calls among the members of the Methodist church. This was family Sunday and believe it or not the church was practically filled. We had a grand crowd. A full chair too.

It is announced that Dr. Schumacher and family are returning

November 13, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] to Liberty the first of December. He will be discharged.

John will probably remember Miss Nickerson at school. Her “young man” returned a few weeks ago and they were recently married. Mrs. Joy’s husband has returned to the States. He is a dentist and was stationed at Australia for some time.

George is at the Veteran’s Hospital at Excelsior Springs 5 days a week as Contact Representative for the Veteran’s Administration. He likes it fine.

Write again when you can. We all enjoy hearing from you and your family.

Sincerely,
Velma Thrailkill

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/16/velma-thrailkill/

Mrs. Jane Van Syoc

1 Reply

September 25, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 25, 1945, p. 1

September 25, 1945

Dear Gladys,

The last two days have been cloudy ones with occasional showers – good ones to be indoors catching up on letter-writing and packing. Yes, we’re packing and hoping to return home by the middle of October.

All the officers here have enough points for discharge with the exception of Captain. The school is to be decommissioned in December so all of them should be civilians by the beginning of next year. Van, however, has applied for discharge since he’d like to enroll the first semester at college. How soon does Dr. expect to be discharged; he surely has accumulated enough points?

For the last few Sundays the officers and wives have eaten their Sunday dinners at school. It seems pretty fine not to have to prepare food on such hot days. You are fortunate to have boys who are interested in cooking. Having good cooking

September 25, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] equipment makes it more enticing too. I’ll certainly be glad to bake again with an oven with a thermometer.

John is surely active in school – there aren’t many musical functions in which he isn’t taking part, are there? It looks as if Mark might be following in his footsteps. Did David miss them when they started school? He has his little friends probably to keep him occupied though.

Van and I went in to K.C. Saturday to see the football game between Kansas U. and Texas Christian. Kansas U. didn’t have much of a show – they didn’t even score so it was rather one-sided. The weather was much more suited to baseball. Most of the men were in shirt sleeves and the women who wore coats soon took them off.

In the last two weeks I’ve done a bit of sewing. I have a light weight wool jumper and cotton dress made. There are several “little things” which are on the way to completion. I have a set including a sacque, kimono, gown and Gertrude which

September 25, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] I’m embroidering and making a crocheted border on each.

Van says to say “hello” and would like to hear about Dr. so write when you can. Perhaps our next letter should be sent to: 441 Balch St., Kalamazoo 33, Mich.

Sincerely,

Jane

Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/08/mrs-jane-van-syoc/

Vaccination Certificate

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: August 21, 1945 envelope front

: August 21, 1945 envelope back

Letter transcription:

August 21, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 21, 1945

Dr. Yegerlehner,

Would you be kind enough to write a note or a vaccination certificate for Madelyne and Francis Jr. as Madelyne is entering school Sept. 6^th and it is imperative I have some notification that she has been vaccinated. If possible would you make out separate notes. I hate to bother you for this. The date was sometime last Aug.

How is Gladys and all the children?

I sure miss Missouri and would love to be back there. Mont is stationed on Guam and is anxious to get home and see his new little daughter. She’ll be 3 months old tomorrow and just as sweet as can be.

Would love to hear from you

August 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] people, we did have some very nice times together.

Hope to hear from you soon
Thanking you Sincerely
Madelyne Moynihan
19 Mr. Vernon St.
Somerville Mass.

P.S. If you do get a chance drop a note to Mont he would love to hear from you. His address is:

Lt. Francis C. Moynihan U.S.N.R.
Staff Air Pac – Sub Com Fwd
℅ F.P.O.
San Francisco,
California Box 24

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/09/vaccination-certificate/

Guest of Honor

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Letter transcription:

Lt. R. S. Yegerlehner
324 W. Kansas
Liberty, Missouri

Dear Lt. Yegerlehner,

You and your family are invited to be the guest of the Navy faculty, officers, and ship company at a picnic held at Lake Mauer, Saturday afternoon, 4 August. Supper will be served at 1830 but many are going in time to have a swim before that time.

Sincerely yours
Charles E. McClard

R.S.V.P.

_________________________________________________
NEW MEDICAL OFFICER
AT NAVY SCHOOL
Lt. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner Re-
ceives Assignment To Fleet
Lt. Comdr. Wright Here.

Lieut. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, medical officer at the V-5 Naval Academic Refresher Unit at William Jewell college the past 14 months, expects soon to be reassigned to the Pacific fleet and will leave next Wednesday for San Francisco, it was reported today by Lt. John B. Moore, commanding officer of the school.
He will be replaced by Lt. Comdr. Claude B. Wright, who is scheduled to arrive in Liberty sometime this week from Jacksonville, Fla., where he has been in a naval hospital.
Dr. Yegerlehner came to Liberty after twenty months with land-based hospitals in the South Pacific. During his service there he had charge of sanitation and helped establish new naval hospitals in New Caledonia and in the Solomon Islands and elsewhere in the Pacific area. He was also at the Great Lakes naval training center for a time.
During his assigment here he has also had the supervision of the ‘sick bay’ at the Parkville college navy unit.
Mrs. Yegerlehner and two sons, Mark 12, and David 3, expect to go to the family home at Kentland, Ind. A third son, John, is a music student at Northwestern university. The Yegerlehners lived at 324 West Kansas street while in Liberty and during their residence made many friends.

© 2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/02/guest-of-honor/

Leila Roberts

1 Reply

March 26, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mar. 26, 1925 [sic 1945]

Dear Friends:

We speak of you folks often, but letter writing just seems to be one of those things we are forever putting off.

We are still in the same spot and from most reports are fortunate to have what we do for there are so many who just can’t find anything.

Our year is practically up and yours is up so I suppose we can both expect most anything but we’ll just sit tight and hope!

We drove down home last week-end and as usual spent most of our time cleaning, but we at least didn’t find any moths on this visit, but there is always plenty of dirt.

I am at our neighbors tonite staying with their baby while they are in

March 26, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Chicago shopping. We trade off once in a while for its next to impossible to hire anyone.

Joe is a “big surgeon” now – he did 40 circumcisions last month! No promotion in view until next summer according to a fairly reliable source for they no vacancies for Commanders at present.

Joe’s Mother asked me for that pair of blue knit pants I let you use for David so she could make some for Adda Mae’s baby. If you happen to have them with you and aren’t using them would you mind sending them, then I’ll return them if David can still wear them.

Commander Kennedy is still at the station.

We’d enjoy hearing from you sometime if you have a spare minute. Hope all are well.
As ever
The Roberts

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/27/leila-roberts/

Baby Book December-March

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Sadly, the baby book has come to an end. Gladys was less diligent in the last few pages, combining multiple months onto one page. But it does give another glimpse into the family’s life in Liberty, Missouri.

Transcription:

Dec. 25, 1944 –

David’s third Christmas – we are living in Liberty, Mo. After calling on friends Christmas Eve, we came home and exchanged gifts. David was so excited and had as much fun opening his gifts as the rest of the family. He received a large Panda, Books, Wagons, blocks, puzzle, sand bucket & tools, suit and glow in the dark picture.

March 1945. David is now 2 1/2 years old. Weighs 32 lbs. 36 1/2 tall. He is talking quite a lot. Can express himself very well. When we ask him a questions he replies, “Who me, talking to me?” or “not today.” He plays out in the yard and “makes” cottage cheese, meat, pie, birthday cake, etc., in his sand box. He says his soldier doll Bobby and Panda bite him. He likes to go to Sunday School. Sherril took him to a party given for children by the Girl Scouts on Easter Sat. It was so warm today (3-31-45) he went out in the yard and undressed. He loves to take his clothes off. Can put his shoes and sox on but doesn’t lace his shoes correctly, can dress except for buttons. Usually gets his shirts on backwards. Apr. can now lace shoes. June 29 – broke out with chicken pox while visiting Krulls.

YEG1945-01 - Roscoe and family, Liberty MO

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

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

David’s 23rd Month and Second Birthday

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Sometime during the month of August or early September 1944, the Yegerlehner family enjoyed a day at a local lake, or perhaps a trip to the nearby Missouri River.

In late September, David celebrated his second birthday. Gladys wrote about the celebration and his presents in the Baby Book.

David’s baby book, September 23, 1944

Liberty, Mo.
Sept. 23 – 1944 –

David’s second birthday – 28 lbs – 35 1/2″ tall

David had a party and received two books from Marylin Moll, sweater from Francis Smith, sweater from Bobby Steinbaugh, Tinker Toys from Mary Lynn Brian, Jeep from Nancy and Jimmy Masek, pull toy (donkey) from Gary Sanders, block from Billy Straup, pull toy from Mrs. Russell, antimated book from Aunt Doroty, books from Mother, Daddy, John & Mark. Airplane from Sheril Thrailkill.

Mother and John made a cake for the party and put two candles on it. Marilyn & Francis blew out the candles for David when they were lighted. All the guests at David’s party were Navy people. All will soon be leaving Liberty, except Mary Lin Brian her mother.

At two years David is quite a big boy – he goes to the toidey by himself. At night he calls when he needs to go and gets out of bed and is in the bathroom before the light is turned on. Still takes an afternoon nap – goes to bed about 8 or 8:30 in the evening.

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.