Tag Archives: Navy Receiving Hospital

Jello in a Little Dish (Roscoe)

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August 27, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 27, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 27, 1945
San Fran (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

Monday just after noon day chow and the chin strap and buttons came but no letter. I’ve forgotten what day I wrote you for those things but they seemed to have made good time.

I sent my gray suit to the cleaner and my laundry out. The suit is supposed to be back in 24 hours and the laundry by Thur. Not bad if true.

Kennry came back this AM after his trip east and

August 27, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] set about getting himself detached for oversea duty he thinks. Of course, he has been here for some time and was due for a little trip in that direction. He had an 18 hour lay over in Chicago and some of his brothers and his wife came up.

The show last night was “Caribbean Mystery” and it was as rotten as the one the night before. The plot was thin and the acting was possibly a half step above high school dramatics. The one tonite doesn’t even sound

August 27, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] good so I think I’ll continue with my mystery novel reading. We don’t have an officer club here so there isn’t anything to do but read. Maybe that is a good thing.

I’ve about half way contracted for a watch – $34.00. Maybe that isn’t too much to pay. It seems to be a good deal. Did Mark ever find that old watch of mine or has he forgotten all about it?

How cold has it been there? Last night I had to go to bed to get my feet warm. The decks are several feet off the ground

August 27, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] and that cold wind sure keeps the lower part of the room in a semi frigid condition. There was an earthquake this AM at 6 but it didn’t seem to disturb me. So far as I know it was just a little wriggle – like Jello in a little dish. Maybe it was the Yanks taking the nips.

Well, I must get doing something before I fall asleep or something less “exciting.” Lots of Love and all that Stuff

Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/22/jello-in-a-little-dish-roscoe/

Mobile Hospital (Roscoe)

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August 26, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 26, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 26, 1945
USNRH
San Fran. – 12

Dear Mother,

Just after noon day chow – veal cutlets, asparagus, watery mashed p., celery & a salad & ice cream. Now what to do for the rest of the day?

The show G.I. Joe is a stinker, I think, and the theater here also leans to that side. Last night was the first show I had a chance to see. The other times I planned something came up.

Tomorrow will be one full week and I’ve been outside the main gate once and that to Hunter’s point where I found the meat points. For all practical purposes this place could be on a south P. island. It was intended to be one of the mobile hospitals for overseas but it was stopped here and located in a place which in the future is to be a water storage place for San Francisco. In other words, it is a large valley. The main part of the hospital is down in the very bottom with

August 26, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] the wards and living quarters on the hill sides. All the buildings are temporary, just bolted together – no windows, a flexi-glass with screens – Just like overseas but for the small gas heater in each room. It gets very cold at night even with the windows and doors closed. There is no mail delivery today and no mail pick up so far as I’ve been able to find out. So maybe this letter will be a little short. I should write the folks but at the moment I’m not in the mood, maybe later on yes. I still haven’t written to anyone other than J.B. Moore. I just wanted to find out how things were going.

Well, I hope but this time next week something will be a little more settled but I doubt it. Personally I think ??? I’ll stay right here until they finally decide what is to be done with old fuddy duddies like me and that could be a long time.

Anyway lots of love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/20/mobile-hospital-roscoe/

Off Until Monday (Roscoe)

1 Reply

August 25, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 25, 1945, p. 1

25 Aug. 45
Receiving Hosp.
San Francisco (12)

Dear Mother,

Sat. PM and we are now off until Monday AM. I’m not sure what I’ll do but I’m pretty sure it will be nothing. This place is just about 6 mile from downtown and the only way to get here is by street car and then walk eight block – (mostly uphill) so I’m not too interested in going. A taxi would cost too much and anyway they won’t come this far out. I may if I can get someone interested go on out to the edge of town by foot tomorrow.

Three letters came today – yours of 21, 22, & 23. So far I have heard nothing from Harold P. so maybe he has decided to have Van or someone else give them the word. If I were you I don’t think I’d work too hard at that canning, etc., because I don’t believe you save enough

August 25, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] to warrant it and the points are off now so take it easy.

I don’t know what to tell you about the furnace since Chet seems so hard to contact – maybe if you keep on he will finally come across. I suppose if he doesn’t you will have to have Geo. M. go ahead. The only trouble with Geo. is the electric. He will have to get someone for that and that will probably be an extra $25. Do what you think best and I know it will be OK. I should be able to send some money home when I get my travel money but they don’t seem to be in a hurry about fixing that. I’ll probably get transferred again before that is fixed and that will complicate matters more.

If Jim should happen to come into the S.F. area and you get a letter be sure to let me know, as if you wouldn’t.

I bought ½ doz. pair of black socks and 2 ties today. I’m going to try to get my

August 25, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] laundry out Mon., but I’ll always be a little afraid that I’ll have to leave some behind. They say it’s 3 day service but I’ll have to see before I believe. Twenty four hours on dry cleaning. I’m going to take my good grey down on Mon. morn. Both the laundry & dry cleaning is here on the base. Our meals are 25₵ per and we check each time we eat and this is deducted from our pay. Some meals are not worth it but most of them are more than —.

Especially the steak meal and yesterday the chicken. However, the chili & rice and the spag. & meat balls are a total loss. I do sorta mess a little with them but go very light. There is always milk & coffee and bread which will do until the next meal if chili happens too often. We had shrimp salad with tomato sauce today

August 25, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] noon – very good. Also roast beef – turnips and cabbage with watery mashed potatoes. I didn’t take any of the potatoes – too anemic.

We still live in the temporary quarters but expect to move into new ones about the first. I don’t know what those will be like. These are good enough but the furniture isn’t good.

I have an Ellery Queen story book which I think I’ll have a date with for the next few hours. I read two stories in it last night but there are several still waiting and in reserve I have a Charley Chan book. I think with those I’ll be pretty busy until show time tonite. The show is the story of G.I. Joe and it’s only just down the hill.

Well it’s the week end that get’s you isn’t it?
Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. Is Mark working on the enlaying [?] picture, if not I may want it later.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/18/off-until-monday-roscoe/

An Old Man (Roscoe)

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August 24, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 24, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 24, 1945
USN Receiving Hospital
San Francisco (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

So far there has been no mail but I guess it isn’t hardly time as yet – this has really been one long week and tomorrow is just Sat.

My trip to Corona, Calif., with the draft is all off. There was is a Dr. here whose wife is going to be there at that time and he asked me if I would let him have the draft and I could see no reason why, so we had it fixed so he could go. Later he told me he had six children so I’m not so sure it was such a good idea. He is an eye man also he is going to teach me some eye refraction so I felt it was OK to trade. However, if a chance comes for one to Great Lakes I won’t be so anxious to give up. There is one going next week but the

August 24, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Dr. taking it has been waiting for months. He lives in Wisconsin so I can’t feel too badly.

Last night – my first on O.D. wasn’t good – Had an epileptic who went on leave and threw fits and a drunk arrested. Between the two I was up a greater part of the night.

I don’t know if I told you or not but Kenney has his orders again which look much like overseas orders but he hasn’t returned as yet.

This “du-hinkey” I was telling you about on points yesterday may or may not have any bearing. Some few have more points than I, but not many. One Dr. has 57½ but there is nothing he can do, at least nothing has been done but maybe that thing was a beginning. We hope.

I have the entire PM off but this was inspection day and since I’d never been here for inspection I stayed until it was over at 2:30.

I went with a Dr. to Hunter’s Point this AM

August 24, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] to the commissary to buy groceries. He wanted someone to go along for the ride. It isn’t nearly as nice as the one at Great Lakes but the meat counter was loaded with all kinds. There was stacks of sides of bacon. While there I looked down in front of the counter and there lay 5 red tickets – H1 thru M1. I think they are all good. I’m sending them to you. Maybe you don’t need them. I’m sure I don’t.

Last night at 10 PM we went over to the Gally for the usual snack before bed time. The cook had taken out the tenderloin – That part next to the t-bone – He fried each of us a fine thick slab for a sandwich and because he didn’t have any lettuce or tomato he fried an egg to go over the steak. It was all very good but that slab of onion I had on mine didn’t taste so good later when I had to get up for those

August 24, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] patients.

I feel like I’m an old man around here because there has been 8 or 10 Drs. come in since I did. A large percentage are brand new (jg)s – their first duty in the Navy – Some seem to be rather sky and other are pretty bold – they all learn as time goes along.

I thought when I was planning on going to Corona I’d have to buy a new chin strap for my cap but now I can wait for the one you are sending.

Our rooms aren’t too comfortable at present but not bad for the price we pay – (nothing). There is only one chair, two beds, two metal stands, and two standing clothes lockers. No desk so I’m writing on my lap.

The wind had been really blowing today but it is fairly warm but Oh! Tonight. I have two wool blankets and I’m still not too warm, but by leaving the heater on until bed time the room doesn’t get too cold.

Well, Dear I’m about run down and I think I’ll lie down and try a nap –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/16/an-old-man-roscoe/

Corona Draft (Roscoe)

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August 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 23, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 22, 1945 [sic Aug. 23]
USN Receiving H.
San Fran. (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

This will have to be short – since I have the duty and am writing between phone calls, etc.

There was a paper out today for us to sign with the number of points we have at present, etc., so maybe something will turn up.

I’m to go on a draft with patients to Corona California on Monday – it is a 12 to 14 hour trip down the state – hope I can get due east one of these days –

Well, will write more tomorrow.
Love Daddy

P.S. I’m off tomorrow PM so maybe can write more

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/14/corona-draft-roscoe/

Cold in San Francisco (Roscoe)

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August 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 22, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 22, 1945
USNRH
San Francisco (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

I see by the date that this is John’s birthday. Hope he got the little present I sent him.

I’m writing this shortly after noon day chow – so I can mail it as I leave at 4:30 although I could come back at night since we live only on the hill and the P.O. is not far away.

Before I forget – I wish you would mail my gold braid and the two gold buttons from that cap I have at home. I couldn’t

August 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] wear blues or whites either since I don’t have that for my white cap cover. I don’t plan on going anyplace but when it comes my time to go on the draft I’ll have to wear blues I suppose. So send them right away. Just take off that gold band on the cap bill and the two gold buttons on the side. If they will you might air mail them. Then later when you have more time you had better send those khaki pants and that shirt because if I have to go out I’ll have to have them. These grays will not do any good since they have to be dry

August 22, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] cleaned. If I remember that pair of pants & shirt were pretty dirty – just throw them in the bendix and don’t press them, at least not the pants. There is a laundry on the base here with pretty good service so I can have them done here.

I thought I was going to the show last night but we got in a draft of patients and that was off but maybe I can go tonight – The show is “Cabin in the Sky” with Rochester & Ethel Waters – Maybe that will help pass the time. I started reading the “Case of the Sleep Walker’s Niece” by E. Stanley Gardner last

August 22, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] night and just got to the first murder when it was time to turn in.

I haven’t received any mail as yet but hardly expected any since you possibly didn’t write since before Mon. Tue. morning.

It has been so cold here – seems like the middle of winter – about 10:00 PM the fog comes in and from then on until morning one nearly freezes. We have a gas heater in each room and believe me it feels good to have that on before going to bed and in the AM. I just turned the heat off in my office a short time ago – must stop –

Lots of Love
Daddy

You can download a copy the book The Case of the Sleepwalker’s Niece here, a Perry Mason mystery which was adapted into an episode of the show in 1957.

One Ward (Roscoe)

1 Reply

August 21, 1945

Letter transcription:

August 21, 1945, p. 1

Aug. 21, 1945
U.S. Navy Receiving Hosp.
San Francisco (12)
Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this in the PM while on the ward. I have one ward assigned to me at present with plenty of patients but they don’t stay long. It seems the ships dump them here and then they are screened and sent to hospitals nearer home so most of the work is routine.

A draft of patients come in and another our very frequently. The Drs. have to take their turns in going with the drafts – Hope mine is to Great Lakes. I think I could manage a day or two home that way. One Dr. I know has

August 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] been here about one week and he is taking a draft to Klamath Oregon. I’ll let you know when and if I take one of those trips.

There was an ALNAV from the Bureau which states that medical and dental officers are excluded from the point system so that is that. I do believe, however, that they will start discharging before long and I also feel that I’m not going back out. That last feeling is due to the fact that there are several here who have been out and they have been here for some time but of course in the navy one never knows.

There was also an ALNAV for promotions but so far as I can figure it came within two months of me so I’ll always

August 21, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] remain two stripes that is until I become a civilian, at least I’ll get the mustering out pay that way.

This isn’t what one would call splendid duty but it is doing something to get the boys back and nearer their homes. Maybe it could be done by someone else but at least it is something.

I’m writing this on this paper and with mailing it in this envelope – don’t know if 8₵ will take it or not. I’ll write some regular and see if it makes any difference – if not I’ll not spend the 8₵.

There is a show on the grounds every night and there is a reading

August 21, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] room so I doubt if I get out much to go downtown – there is no percentage in that as I see it but maybe after I’m here a while I’ll just have to get away if it’s only a sigh seeing trip.

I haven’t started writing letters to anyone else as yet but may one of these days. I noticed an Acey Ducey board at the B.O.Q so maybe I can find someone to play with. The B.O.Q. we are in now is only temporary. We are supposed to move into some new quarters one of these days.

I’m afraid to write more now. It might weigh too much – so
Lots of Love
Daddy

Navy Receiving Hospital (Roscoe)

4 Replies

August 20, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 20, 1945, p. 1

Navy Receiving Hosp.
San Francisco (12) Calif.
Aug. 20

Dear Mother,

I’m here but can’t give any further word than that at the moment. It is now approximately 6 PM, and I’m about ready to make my phone call. I haven’t signed in as yet because I didn’t get my bags with my orders, etc., until a short time ago, and of course, couldn’t do that until I had all those.

The hospital is within San Francisco itself, I would say about 50 blocks from downtown. There are several

August 20, 1945. p. 2

[page 2] fellows here just like me and all wondering what is going on. Many of them have been out of the country and I understand the point system don’t apply to medical men. That last isn’t official but I’ll find out in the AM.

Francis Kenney is here waiting also. Right at present he is gone on temporary duty with a draft of men to Virginia but will be back in a few days.

I met an officer whose

August 20, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] wife lives in Springfield, Ill., and we more or less “palled” on the train. He knew some body in the main office here and he called and found where the hospital was so all I had to do was hop a street car and come out.

This is just a new place and they are providing quarters for the officers so it looks as if all I have to pay is .25 per meal per day and rent free – but I imagine there will be some sort of a laundry charge later on.

The fog of the bay is now

August 20, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] drifting in and it seems the cool of the evening is upon us, but there is a gas burner in the room and things should be OK.

I don’t know where I’ll find a phone nor do I know where to mail this and I don’t have any air mail stamps. You know all my troubles now so I’ll try to mail this and find a phone and write more tomorrow –

Love Daddy