Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Oct. 20, 1943
F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Navy 60

Dear Mother,

I seemed to have gotten the address date etc., at the heading of this letter out of the usual order – for no reason at all. Just a mental relapse for a short period of time.

Last night’s show was – “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” a pretty good light comedy. It’s a scream to attend the show not so much for the show itself but to get the reactions of the men who are and have been from under the influence of women. The officers are a little more reserve in their comments, but when the leading actress makes here her appearance there are loud cheers & whistles which would cause most shows in the states to stop and investigate. Let the leading lady walk across the stage in a suggestive manner as they sometimes do and the same loud cheering – The thing that really brings down the house is mention of a South Sea Isle. The shows aren’t the only place where women’s influence is missing.

[page 2] The ordinary conversation of the men and some of the officers is dotted all too often with juicy bits of vulgarity which would make the hair raise of many a good man woman and/or men also. The favorite word which one hears most often is that nasty four lettered word which runs something like the f—k. You would be surprised as to the number of places where that has been used as an adjective. I’m not being vulgar in writing this – That is maybe not. In a Time Magazine of about one year ago that word was printed just as I have it written – Maybe you have read it. I shutter [shudder] to think of the influence necessary to delete that word and I have a feeling that there will be many blushing faces due to the slip of the tongue. I’m not pleading the fair haired boy but thank goodness that is one word I haven’t picked up even though possibly I have selected a few extra.

Woman’s influence on man might make a good topic and I could write from both sides since I’ve enjoyed the one side and despaired of the

[page 3] of the other and I’ll add that the woman who has had the most influence on me has been the very best – namely Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
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