Tag Archives: military correspondence

Danville (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 19, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just finished writing to the folks. Sometimes I almost forget to write them their regular Sunday letter until too late but somehow I got started at this letter writing early today. In fact it is only 1445 and their letter all completed. I have so many other letters to write that it seems a hopeless task so I just keep putting it off longer and longer. I don’t mind yours in the least – (anyway I’d better say that) because it’s a visit and if there isn’t much news or stuff you won’t be disappointed.

Yesterday I ran into a fellow from Danville, Ind., and his brother

[page 2] works for Jim Alley. He was telling me how cute their kids are – I didn’t ask him what he thought of Mrs. Alley. It had been a long time since I’d even thought of Jim but when he mentioned Danville it just occurred to me that Jim did go in business there. He said he would write his brother and have him tell Jim he had seen me. That is two boys from Indiana now that I’ve contacted lately.

There is some sort of a movie here tonite but I don’t remember the name – good or bad I suppose I’ll go in order to pass the time.

[page 3] There are always news reels on Sunday eve but they are generally weeks old. Even at that they are somewhat interesting.

A few hours later – The show is over and a round table discussion following the show is likewise complete. Just a few in the officer’s ward room – a bull session. The discussion was a general affair – medicine, war, diplomatic procedures and maybe a little smut mixed in here and there.

Tomorrow is Ruth M.’s birthday. I wrote her a birthday letter some time ago – hope she receives it by tomorrow.

It’s my bed time now so
Lots of Love
Daddy

[Editor’s note: Jim Alley was a high school classmate of Roscoe’s. They graduated from Clay City High School in 1922. Jim became a pharmacist, attending the Indianapolis College of Pharmacy.]

Alley, James - Indianapolis School of Pharmacy, 1924

Indianapolis College of Pharmacy yearbook, 1924 (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Clay City HS - Class of 1922 (Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney)

Clay City HS – Class of 1922 (Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/18/danville-roscoe/

A Weekend on Tulagi (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
12-18-43

Dear Mother,

Just one week from Christmas and all my shopping done. You of course know that is a laugh.

Three letters today – one from you dated late in Oct., one from the folks about the same time and a greeting card letter from the Walkups with a family group picture.

In your letter you told of D. getting a kick out of playing in the kitchen with the pots & pans and in Mother’s letter she told of the same thing while you were down there – so he must be rather a pot & pan man.

Undated Christmas telegram from 1942 or 1943

Undated Christmas telegram, likely the one sent in 1943

I sent you and the folks a cable today – hope they get there around Christmas time but I may have waited a little

[page 2] too long because I suppose everyone will have the same idea.

It’s a little amusing to see the influence of the North in the local Christmas decorations. The windows in some of the our buildings have been decorated with candles and snow. The candles are of course universal but the snow seems out of place. It’s just a carry over or a carry down under. Then of course there are some colored bells, stars, etc. I think the wards are probably competing with each other for honors or prizes. The prize probably to be are a snow ball or some such valuable object.

Our show here last night was “The Great Dictator” – remember when we saw that – seems like years ago. The shows here are

[page 3] much behind those we used to see. I didn’t go to see this one last night first because I was on duty – a good reason and of course I had seen it before so wouldn’t have gone secondly.

I’ve wondered lots about Foulkes’ brother-in-law. As to where he was etc. I think I’ve seen most of the places around these parts but could easily have missed him because some of my stops were only short. Just a visit one might say. I spend one weekend on Tulagi and it was a most enjoyable one because it was so different. Maybe it was because the officer I was visiting had beer and I hadn’t had any for a considerable length of time, and it was cold, too. I

[page 4] mean the beer was cold.

A pause of a few hours. In fact evening chow has come & gone. We had steak – good thick and French fried potatoes. The steaks were really good but not rate enough for me but don’t misunderstand I’m not complaining. There was ice cream also but I very seldom eat that anymore. There was a lettuce salad in the beginning and that is still good after being off of that kind of food for so long.

Well, I’ve really run down so solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

 

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/16/a-weekend-on-tulagi-roscoe/

My Belongings (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just two bits of mail today. One a letter from Joe Roberts – Written Sept. 5 and mailed Oct. 4 and another a card from the Li Reader’s Digest informing me that the Digest was being sent me by the Rotary Club and the Jr. Women’s Club. It went to the old place also and likewise all the issues will go there until I can get the word to them. It’s been so long since I’ve heard from Joe that I wonder if he is still where he was when he wrote the letter. You have never mentioned him having a change so I suppose he is still there.

When I came here I came by air and naturally couldn’t bring all my gear along and I’ve been worried all this time that it never would catch up but it finally did and now I’m unpacking again. This is the first time in almost a year that me and my belongings have been together. I had to watch my clothes pretty close in order to have enough left between laundry days, and another thing like a dummy I put all of my pictures

[page 2] in the goods I left behind but and now that I have them all together there is a pretty good sized pile of them.

My room is more filled up now than before but when I get things all stored I’ll have plenty of room. There are 8 drawers in this dresser and everyone is pretty well filled up only not neat. Just wadded and I believe I can improve if I try.

Now that I have all the pictures and a fine wall I think I’ll put D.’s pictures up in an orderly fashion as per each month to get a comparison of how he has grown.

I had late duty tonite and it is now getting near 12 midnight so
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/14/my-belongings-roscoe/ ‎

Mystery Pal (Gladys)

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1943-12-17 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-17-43

Dear Daddy – This has been a busy day. It was nice enough to take David out so left the work and took a walk to air the younger generation. He was wrapped up to his neck so he wouldn’t get chilled. He really enjoyed the trip. We went over to see Jimmy Ed then down town and mailed David’s pictures air mail (48₵) so you should get them soon. Lucile gave me some snaps we took two weeks ago so I will enclose them in tomorrow’s air mail. John stayed home again today but didn’t feel very bed. Had a slight temp 4/5 of a degree this a.m. and 2/5 this p.m. However, I told Miss Kitsmiller I kept him home so he wouldn’t get sick. I think he had a slight cold which would have gotten worse if he had gone to school. I went to the S.S. Class party tonight and we had our annual mystery pal revelation. I got Dorothy Kindig’s name for next year – as John would say – that is just “lady stuff.” Mark had been skating since the pond has been frozen. Seems to enjoy the sport very much. I rec’d a greeting from “Pop” Porterfield today. Said to give you his regards in my next letter to you. He is still in Va. Saw Clarice Hufty tonight. She said she is expecting to go to the hospital any time now. So is Arlene. It may be a tie.

Love – Mother

YEG1943-11

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/12/mystery-pal-gladys/

Time and Censorship (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 12, 1943

Dear Mother,

Another Sunday almost gone and after it’s all said and done time does pass rather rapidly – not rapidly enough at times but when one looks back he sometimes just wonders where it has gone. Really it has been some time since I’ve left the last station but it doesn’t seem long but add that on to what I’ve had here and it puts things along toward spring – and who knows.

So much for that – I don’t just know why or how I got started on that time business and after all as we have written

[page 2] before – Don’t build too high on any time period and then if things don’t work out the disappointment will not be so great.

I did hear from one of our original group – not a Dr. He has been home and back again and I can’t see too much percentage in that – but here I go again – seems I can’t get off the subject.

I’d forgotten when I sat down to write that this was the day to write the folks so must do that before going to bed. There are other letters to write also – both the Ruths and some of my pals back up the line but it just seems I have a dickens of a time getting started. It’s not nearly so much fun writing to anyone but you as it used to be. Your letters are just natural to write, but

[page 3] I will say I’ve certainly fallen down in subject matter recently, and try as hard as I can I can think of nothing that would be of interest and still be passable. It seems there are more censorable things here than at any previous station. Maybe it just seems that way to me.

If I’m going to get a letter out to the folks I’d better get started. The reason I’m so late is – our orchestra played for a while – Then some old news for about ½ hour and a then long movie, so it’s a little late and good night –

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/02/time-and-censorship-roscoe/

Christmas Greeting (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 12 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Thought I would dash off a note to slip in with my greeting. I went to the Church tonight to hear a Christmas cantata sung by the choir. Mrs. Z. drove her car and I went with her. She had intended to walk (but I hadn’t because of a slight sinus condition) but a lively snow had started and she thought she had better drive. There is such a flu epidemic around now I didn’t want to walk that far thru the cold and get my nose stopped up. So far we haven’t entertained this present flu bug. David still has a little cough from his cold but doesn’t run any temp and so many people have after coughs that hang on. After the service we stopped at Shirks – Sarah is in bed and quite ill with a sinus infection. Terry had the flu and she got it from him. We didn’t see either of them but talked to Chaffe. We wanted to help some way – I thought I could do the washing in the Bendix and Mrs. Z. could help with the ironing, but Mr. Shirk had gotten

[page 2] someone to do the washing and they are getting a school girl tomorrow to help in the house. Before I came back Ruth M. called. She wants to know if we will come there for Christmas. I wrote her we would rather they come here. The way this coal works in the furnace it has to be stirred several times a day or it breaks a pin – We have had three broken pins since using this coal. It seems it clogs up the retort more than the other. At any rate I can’t promise her anything yet. It is colder now than it has been so far and the colder, the more often the furnace needs attention.

The snow tonight was very pretty – the kind we would wish for on Christmas eve. One day this past week we had such a pretty snow – it clung to the trees & shrubs for a while until the sun melted it. I would like to catch a scene like we have around here with a movie technicolor, over on the Kent grounds the snow really makes a beautiful picture. Hope all this snow talk doesn’t make you feel too badly about not getting some under your feet.

It is getting time for us to go to bed. John is practicing. Mark & David are both in bed, and I could use a little extra rest myself – David has such a habit of waking me before I am quite ready – but after all he goes to bed several hours earlier than I do so wants to get up earlier.

Love – Mother

P.S. Mon. Morn – 5 above –

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/01/christmas-greeting-gladys/ ‎