Tag Archives: Navy Base Hospital #4

Dear Yeger (Rosenberg)

[Editor’s note: Dr. Julius Rosenberg served with Roscoe at the Base Hospital #4 in Wellington, New Zealand. Dr. Rosenberg was one of the doctors who stayed behind after Roscoe shipped out. As evidenced in the letter, the Base Hospital closed down in the late spring of 1944. Military activities were drawing away from the far south Pacific, and maintaining a Naval hospital in the region was no longer necessary. During earlier letters written by Roscoe, he refers to Dr. Rosenberg as his friend “Rosey.”

In a very strange historical twist, Dr. Julius Rosenberg shared his name with a rather infamous Julius Rosenberg, who was executed in 1953 with his wife Ethel for espionage. Both men were New Yorkers, were about the same age, attended the same University, the City College of New York, and served during World War II. ]

: June 17, 1944 envelope front

: June 17, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

June 17, 1944, p. 1

Saturday, June 17

Dear Yeger,

Well, here I am back in the promised land, although it certainly took a long time getting here.

I’ll go back to the beginning, and tell you everything since you left Silverstream. Base 4 officially closed April 1^st but we had practically no patients after the first week in Mark. We sat around doing nothing & just about went crazy. Finally the orders started to come & on April 13^th, 8 sets of orders to the States came in, including mine, Myers, Criss, Witter, Hynes, Reuckert, Schneider & Drennan. They were the only orders that came in from the time you left. We all went to Auckland & found that we had missed a fast ship by 18 hours. After waiting around for weeks we just missed that boat – The old Navy snafu. Then started another long wait – I waited at the Grand Hotel in Auckland for one month – nearly went nuts – and finally Stan Myers & I were ordered as passengers to a slow

June 17, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Liberty ship out of New Plymouth – so we had to take another train & then started a 25 day sea voyage – at 9 ½ knots – I never thought we’d get here – but we finally landed at San Pedro on June 8^th – almost 2 months since our orders arrived. We were in Pedro one week & I got just what I wanted and asked for – the course in Neuro-psychiatry at Philadelphia Naval Hospital – will report there on July 9^th. I’m now on my way to Chicago & from there to N.Y. Stan Myers is going to Sampson, N.Y., for duty. Was worried about landing at Pedro – but got a good deal there & had a good time.

Are you still at Great Lakes? – Write me all about yourself. Address is below.

Excuse the writing – I’m writing on a moving train – will mail this before I hit Chicago.

Sincerely,
Rosey

U.S. Naval Hospital
Philadelphia, Pa.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/06/dear-yeger-rosenberg/

Hello O’Shaunessy

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[Editor’s Note: At this point in the letters, there is no more correspondence between Roscoe and Gladys for 14 months until August 1945. The intervening months can be filled in with letters from fellow officers, family members and former neighbors as well as some Naval documents and periodic entries in David’s baby book. Today’s letter was written by Robert P. O’Donnell, a doctor who served with Roscoe in Wellington, New Zealand, at the Naval Base Hospital #4. Readers may recall that Roscoe wrote of his friend Bob on several occasions, mostly pertaining to his nuptials. This letter features a brief passage written by Bob’s wife Pattie.]

June 14, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

June 14 – 1944

Hello O’Shaunessy,

Got back to San Pedro on the 23^rd of May. Killed some time in San Pedro until my orders came, and then went to S.F. I got there on June 1^st in time to go aboard ship and pick up Pat who had arrived that day by separate ship.

Pat and I were in San Francisco seeing the town until June 6^th and then came on here to Rockford where we are dry cleaning everything we own and trying to repair the wear and tear of travel.

I have Great Lakes for duty. Am supposed to report on June 18 plus travel time. I figure that that will

June 14, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] be June 21 –

Dad and Mother got a swell letter from your wife that helped to pave the way for Pat. I’ll bet you were glad to see the kids again.

Had a letter from the Mayor of Wellington – Comdr. Lentz – He has started home and I think was stuck in Noumea awaiting transportation. I hope we can all get together in Chicago.

I think we’ll stay out here until about the last minute. What is the dope on living quarters? Are we going to be able to get them? If we can’t, can we get hotel accommodations easily for a few days until we have a chance to get quarters? What’s

June 14, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the story on gov. quarters – Do they have them?

What kind of duty do you have? Are things in general snafu

In other words – get off your duff and start giving me the word on what gives –

Pat sends her love –
Bob

Lt. R.P. O’Donnell
208 Paris Ave.
Rockford,
Illinois

If you happen to hear of an officer transferring or anything just before I arrive grab onto his apartment

June 14, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] for me –

Hallo O’Shaunessy –

Is it going to be good to see you again? Please thank your wife for her letter – and we certainly would be grateful if you can help us out on somewhere to rest our weary little heads come nightfall. Incidentally you can see that married life hasn’t improved my old man.

Till we see you in the near future Yeagey –

Pattie

I have a cousin – John E. Kelly who is in boot came at G.L. got there in last week – Look for him if you’re giving shots –

Bob

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/05/hello-oshaunessy/

Nothing New (Lentz)

1 Reply

V-mail, dated March 15, 1944

Letter transcription:

From:
E.T. Lentz
Comdr. (mc) USNR
Navy 133 BH4
FPO San Francisco Calif.
Mar. 15, 44

To:
Lt. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) U.S.N.R.
Kentland
Indiana

Hello Junior – Nothing new in medical staff, still intact except three promotions – Andy, Cath & myself as you can see by return address.

Well – by today you should have arrived and I imagine it was a momentous day when you set foot on U.S. continent. We were all thinking about you and several of us have gone so far as to say we miss “Yegie.” Maybe, I’ll be seeing you soon.

Your laundry was sent as promised and you should get it by ’45.

My extracurricular activities have not been deterred, am playing golf as much as ever but not better. Received 18 golf balls (12 were reprocessed – just like new).

Write when you can –
Regards,
Ed

John W. made it
Porterfield also
See Alnav

[Editor’s note: ALNAV was a bulk communication and messaging system used by the Navy, a form of which is still in use today.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/19/nothing-new-lentz/

Change of Duty (Roscoe)

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Change of Duty orders, dated February 26, 1944

Roscoe received his orders to return to the United States on February 26, 1944. The journey would take a few weeks. Before he left Wellington, he presumably sent a cable home to Indiana as he makes reference to one in a v-mail written on February 27th. The cable has not currently been located, if it still exists. The first stop on the way home was to the north, in Auckland, New Zealand.

V-mail Number One (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 25, 1944 V-mail

Letter transcription:

LT R.S. YEGERLEHNER (MC) USNR
NAVY 133 BASE HOSP #4
F.P.O. SAN FRANCISCO CALIF
2-25-44

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA USA

Dear Mother,

This is V-mail number one conforming with the wishes of the postal department. It seems to be a good idea if everyone will oblige. I’m just as anxious to receive your v-mail or air mail but I do hate writing them. Possibly after I’ve written a few it won’t be so bad. Your v-mail dated 2-11 came today and it really was a treat to be informed of snow and snow drifts, but I do hope it won’t keep up too long.

I’m looking forward to the picture Bart put in the paper for it must be a wow. I’ve seen the pictures he has printed of the Beagley boys and the Rowe boy and I can’t say so much for the artistic work of the Newton Co. E.

Maybe tomorrow I can write another air mail so solong
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/28/v-mail-number-one-roscoe/

Write More V-Mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 24, 1944 envelope

February 24, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 24, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m writing a little early today and hoping that mail will arrive later, and writing of mail there is a notice out that we may be restricted to two letters per week. That is air mail letters and we are also encour informed to tell people at home to write more v-mail. So if you begin to get v-mail from me you will know the reason and possibly it would be a good idea if you used a few more. My excuse for not writing v-mail is very good. I don’t have any forms and cannot remember to get any when I’m around where they have them but if I

February 24, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] have to I guess I can make an extra trip.

One of the fellows today was chewing the fat and went into great detail in telling me how lucky I was to be here where it is nice and warm rather than back in Ind. where the winds are cold, probably slush on the ground and flu all around. My only reaction to that was Bull Dickey and I still think I’m right. Of course I’ll have to admit that a few of his points were well taken in so far as the weather is concerned but further than that I can’t agree. In fact I think he didn’t even agree with himself but was just idle conversation.

Just stopped long enough to open a coke, only my second so far today

February 24, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] but probably not be the last as I generally have one somewhere near bedtime and they don’t keep me awake. Probably would if I went to bed early but as a rule it’s near 1200. A habit gotten into at home – partially broken on the islands but restored when reading was again possible.

You probably have read about the Bush fires in Australia – well they have them here also but they are not so destructive as in Australia but bad enough for pasture land is often destroyed. They are sure a weird sight at night, almost beautiful. Maybe those two words don’t fit in any description but that is about the best way I can describe a mountain side burning.

February 24, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I have to watch a group of corpsmen for an hour this P.M. while they take their exams for higher rating. It really isn’t my regular job but one of the fellows wanted to be off so I told him I’d take over for a time. It means just being there so the boys won’t cheat much. I gave enough of those exams before so I’m glad that that is not one of my duties here – too much like teaching school and if I’d wanted to stay with that I wouldn’t e here, but I’m here so why teach. That may be mixed a little but you probably get what I mean.

I’ll add a P.S. if mail –
Love Daddy

P.S. a Nov. Reader’s Digest came

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/27/write-more-v-mail-roscoe/

O’Shaunnessy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 23, 1944 envelope

February 23, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 23, 1944

Dear Mother,

After having a battle lasting a good five minutes with some huge flies maybe I can write. These flies are the super bomber type, very much like the ones we see around home in the early spring and since screens are unheard of in New Zealand we just have to swat them with newspapers, etc. One can’t rest unless they are downed because they buzz peck on the window, ceiling or bulkhead – well you know how it is.

I didn’t say anything about the pictures by way of explanation but I guess there wasn’t much to say. The overseas cap I had one was borrowed and

February 23, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] my blue suit looked as if I had slept in it but I hadn’t. It really hadn’t been pressed in a long while. The one picture of myself I thought best was the one when I was sitting in the doorway. Really I think that one flatters me and it doesn’t look too good at that.

I’ve forgotten the name of our show tonite but someone told me it was a story with a setting in a South Sea Isle. That should really be good. I believe it was Rosie. Said he had seen it before he left the states. Possibly I should have explained or maybe I did – Rosie is short for Rosenberg and the latter name speaks for itself but we get along OK, strange as it seems. There are so many Irish people around here that instead of calling me by my real name I have been dubbed O’Shaunnessy and when someone calls out that name I know who they mean,

February 23, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] some fun wouldn’t you say? I think Bob’s wife started that in the first place with a name like McReynold and O’Donnell she thought that would be more proper. She comes out rather frequently for evening chow but he goes to town of course more frequently.

Later after the show – It was a leak out. Had its beginning in England, its middle in a South Sea Isle. A very beautiful girl on the South Sea Island and that is a downright falsehood. Maybe for those who don’t know it makes good entertainment but I’ve been around some and I know where of I speak, and I might add New Zealand with the Isles. However, I haven’t probed into the inner sanctum sanctorum for beauties but seeing the rank and file of the streets I have seen no prize winners. In fact not none that would even equal you. Is that flattery or what?

February 23, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Anyone here over I’d say 25-30 has false choppers. These people are very notorious for their poor teeth and of course they all say it’s due to a lack of minerals but I think it’s the age old custom of tea 4-5 times each day. Always, along with the tea, they have cakes, so you see sweets play a very prominent part and I have a feeling that that starts at a very early age. And of course it is a prenatal habit which must have some bearing on the child.

Just think only 6 more days in Feb. Surely something will come thru before long but several of us have been thinking that for so long now that it has become almost an obsession with us.

Well Dear we will just keep the chin up and know that love will find the way.
Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. There was no mail today.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/25/oshaunnessy-roscoe/

Photographs (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 22, 1944 envelope

February 22, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 22, 1944

Dear Mother,

This being the 22^nd we did have the turkey as I said yesterday. It was roasted – cranberry sauce also but you know – That didn’t appeal so much as one might imagine I mean to me. Anyway I had plenty to eat without that sauce. Cherry pie also but I also passed that up. In fact all I ate was some mashed potatoes and turkey. Not much variety but plenty of it.

Our continued warm weather still holds on and it has been trying to rain most of the day but so far a little sprinkle is all that has been forthcoming.

February 22, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] A few hours later – Had to go up on the compound and I wasn’t in any particular hurry with this letter hoping that some mail might arrive but no such luck so far. It’s about 4:00 PM and about that time. I believe we are more anxious for mail now then we were a year or a year and a half ago. I guess we didn’t know what to expect then but after mail comes regular it’s a little hard to understand why it doesn’t keep coming. Well it’s not hard to know why but it is hard not to get it. The mail topic really come in for its share of the letter today – almost ½ page. Something has to be used to fill up the space and really I can think of no better subject.

I’m going to try to get the pictures today that Rosie and I had taken last week,

February 22, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] provided I can get into town. That after all is a real problem with us. I can’t explain just why but the trams, buses, etc., don’t exactly do like they do in the States and we are a little distance away. I’ll try to write the rest after I see if we get the pictures.

Later – I got the pictures OK but due to a misunderstanding there was only one print made of each so Rosie and I will have to toss to see who will get to send which. I’ll try to send those of me by myself and later send the remainder when we have other prints made. I think one or two of them are fair of me and also of him but you won’t be able to tell of course whether his are good or not.

To have a roll of films developed and one print made of each cost 2/11 which

February 22, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] adds up roughly to 42 to 45 cents. That as I remember is about the same as back there unless they were sent to some of those quarter joints we used to send them to.

While in town I went to the show “Above Suspicion.” I’d say it was only a fair show but I hadn’t seen it before and it was a little different getting away from the compound for a while.

Well it’s getting well onto bed time so after I show Rosie the pictures in the A.M. I’ll insert one or two for your approval –

Love Daddy

Wish I Had Some News (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 21, 1944 envelope

February 21, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 21, 1944

Dear Mother,

There was a little mail today but none for me. It was dated the same as mine was last week so really I’m ahead because mine was about 3-4 days earlier than theirs. So much for mail – we’ll hit one of these days again.

Tomorrow being Geo. Wash. birthday we are supposed to have turkey in some form. I noticed on the menu it was turkey, candy, cigarettes, etc. Of course the natives aren’t well acquainted with our holidays nor are we with theirs. As I understand their holidays come mostly on Sat. or Mon. so they can make a weekend of the whole thing. I’ve never been in on any of those affairs so I don’t know

February 21, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] how long they last. I have been to their horse races as I probably told you. It reminded me of a big over grown county fair with betting of course legalized. Yes I bet and dropped a few shillings but that helps pay the tax so I just contributed about $2.00 in round numbers. Service men get special passes to the races – all free so it was work $2.00 just to get into the place. Of course everybody takes tea along and here and there among the cars one can see many picnic lunches spread and someone getting a bucket of hot water from someplace to make tea.

The races have been cut down much since the war – now they are generally held on two successive Saturdays but before the war a full week of racing – each day.

February 21, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] You just knew it was coming someplace in the letter – you guessed it. There is nothing more to offer on the 18 mo. business. We still do a good job of talking and wondering but nothing happens.

Rosie my Jewish friend told me today it was 18 months ago today that he last saw his wife so evidently she didn’t go to the port of embarkation with him either. This is also an anniversary for me it being one year ago today that we landed in our new home. The situation sure has changed both for me and the war in general. This eve we had good fried lamb chops and last year I don’t remember but it was something prepared with a can opener or probably just a plain hunting knife because I don’t remember having a huntin can opener.

February 21, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] The radio is just now blasting out with “My Old Ky Home.” Last night we were able to get Jack Benny – That was the first time I’d heard him in a long time. Possibly you have heard the program. Jack it seemed had purchased a swimming pool and the whole episode was about that.

Yesterday and today have been two of the hottest days we have had. I think I mentioned in yesterday’s note about the heat. Maybe I’m just used to being out of the tropics and am a little used to cooler weather – anyway it’s been warm.

Well Dear I sure wish I had some news for you about the 18 mo. I’m really getting the urge to get out of this place and of course the urge is in the direction of Indiana –

Love Daddy

Slip of a Letter (Roscoe)

2 Replies

February 20, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sunday

Dear Mother,

This being Sunday I’ll just slip this in with Sat. letter. The two heavy sheets of paper of yesterday’s letter make almost enough for on letter’s worth but this small bit shouldn’t make any difference.

Since there isn’t anything to write about but the weather will start out by saying it was a little cloudy todo this A.M. and cleared later in the day and was I believe one of the warmest days I’ve seen. Really it was warm enough to go to the seashore but it’s too far to walk hence I didn’t go. We do have a river fairly near but it’s too cold most of the time and there are too many big rocks which makes it too hard on the feet.

Well, my space is short and subject matter is shorter – so solong.
Love Daddy