Tag Archives: New Caledonia

Thanksgiving in the South Pacific, 1942 (Roscoe)

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On November 26, 1942, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her “My Day” column her thoughts about celebrating Thanksgiving during wartime. A transcription of her thoughts are found at the FDR Library’s website. Transcriptions of all her “My Day” thoughts can be found at the The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project.

Letter transcription:

Nov. 26, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m going to write this early in the P.M. because we have a pretty full evening ahead – chow then hospital rounds then another show and then we plan on putting up some shelves in our new home. We are now living in the back end of a q. hut have electric lights and everything – bed with springs but no water. I took a shower bath this A.M. and had to go about ½ mile so here after I’m going to take a bath out the back in a bucket at night, by the time I walked back from the bath I was as sweaty as before. The toilet is still about as far away as it was and the mess hall is farther but the electric lights are a great improvement and a good smooth deck is really something.

I mailed out Christmas greetings last night to Mrs. Plummer and to the folks and to all the brothers & sister. So I suppose I’ve done all the Christmas shopping I’m going to do. I’ll probably be wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in several letters to come and will

[page 2] send you some new greetings if another type comes out.

I was at Dr. Ash’s place today – had a long talk with him. Their mail hasn’t been coming in so good lately it’s really been like ours. I’ve gotten mail about 2 wks later than his.

I don’t know if I got all our new address on last night but I’ll get it on tonite for sure.

It rained hard last nite but today has been clear and hot and our very welcome wind has slowed down lots and we are suffering some from the heat and it isn’t so cool in the hut as it is in a tent with all the sides up.

Well I’m going to the P.O. now and I suppose it will be after the show before I get back again.

Got one letter dated Oct. 13 and it was mailed regular mail rather than air mail. I just wondered if you gave up writing air mail for a spell. There is more in but we’ll have to wait until morning.

I suppose there was a big to do made about the men in the armed

[page 3] forces getting turkey etc for dinner – we did – really was a swell feed. Had fruit cocktail in the beginning, Turkey soup then the main course of turkey sage dressing but the sage was very very light – mashed sweet potatoes asparagus tips, pear sweet pickle and pumpkin pie. So you see it was really worth talking about.

I’ve slipped this last in between chow & hospital time.

I wish you would have paid the remainder of that federal tax. If you still have the papers and have the money I wish you would pay it for I’m afraid that might cause trouble, but you can do as you like about next years. That will make too much to pile up. So do that if you can see clear.

Lots of Love Daddy

Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O. San Francisco Calif.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/22/thanksgiving-i…ic-1942-roscoe/

It’s My Birthday (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Wed Nov. 25, 1942

Dear Mother,

Today being my birthday I didn’t receive any mail other than 3 copies of the Newton County Enterprise Dated Oct. 1, 8 & 15. They were pretty good reading and my roommate said he wanted to read the want adds and farm notices.

Our trip yesterday was something different – Fred, another Dr and myself climed [climbed] into a peep [jeep]. Me in the back seat and the other two ahead. Around town the roads were rather smooth and the going was good but a little farther out the roads became very very rough and my rear end took a lot of slapping. Those in the front seat didn’t fare so badly.

Along the route we saw lots of banana orchards with the green bananas hanging in bunches. There were a few orange trees but the oranges looked small hardly larger than a good sized plum. There seemed to be growing wild and not much

[page 2] cultivated.

Niaouli trees

Some of the roads run along on the side of the mountains and at times one could see the road we just came over winding back and right along side almost but of course over on the edge of the other hill. Some of the peaks are about I would judge 5000 feet. Some are sloping while others seem to go almost straight up. The trees are not large either in the valleys on on the mountains and occasionally there were a few tall pines but the nailoa [niaouli] tree is very much in the majority.

On our journey back we picked up a trooper from Australia and got some interesting sidelights from the other side. He rode in the back seat with me and took the bottom slapping the same as I did. When we got back we had traveled about 70 miles. It was interesting but the scenery around here is not

[page 3] the prettiest in the world. Not even as good as the flat lands of Indiana. I saw corn growing in all stages from 3-4 inches up to 4-5 feet, beans about one foot high and other vegetables such as cabbage, onions, etc.

Howards of VirginiaThere is another show tonite and I think I’ll go. It is right here in camp the name “The Howards of Virginia.”

The show is over and it was pretty good. It was a story of the Revolutionary War. Lots of things are similar even in this one today.

Postcard of Noumea, New Caledonia

Postcard of Noumea, New Caledonia

I’m sending you a picture post card & save it for there are some interesting things I can point out. It would be telling if I marked them out now.

I’m sending out some Christmas greetings tonite. We have two kinds one is the V-mail and the other is one made here in camp. I sent another kind to Mark & John the other day. I’ll send one of each to you. That is these last two kinds.

We have another little change in address- just an addition. See envelope.

Well, this letter is more jumbled but maybe you can make head & tales of it I hope.

Lots of Love

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/20/its-my-birthday-roscoe/ ‎

Happy Birthday Roscoe (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 25 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Happy Birthday again. We sent cards but don’t know yet whether you received them. Dorothy Krull called this morning to be sure about your address and your letter telling of your New Caledonia address came so I told her. She is sending you a birthday card and said you would know she remembered it, although you wouldn’t get the card till later. Remember last year how we surprised you? I didn’t get a cake baked today. Your mother & Kenneth left – was going to leave about 9 a.m. and I said if they waited till the mail came maybe there would be a letter from you and there were two, so I gave your Mother your new address too. It was about 9:30 or a little later when they left. I had to hurry then and bathe the baby and feed him. I managed to get a washer full of clothes going and things straightened up a little when Uncle Wes stopped. He and Paul Harris had been making some trips and were on their way to Monticello. I gave him your new ad. And he said if you didn’t get the letter he

[page 2] wrote about the baby, he has a copy and will send the same letter again. Also he is going to send you the maps you want. Said he had just the thing. I read that part of your letter to him. The letters you sent with the money for all of us haven’t come yet. Probably will come this evening or in the morning (I hope). This is another unusually pretty fall day so think I’ll take David out after while. I hung out some white things today it was so sunny. Kenneth’s deferment is up the first of the year. He wanted to go to Laf. to inquire about enlisting in the Air Corps but it was so late when they left here I doubt if they went that way. They were going to stop in Rockville to see Uncle Charlie and I think your mother was getting in a hurry to get home.

I have to go to the Court House and get a certified copy of my power of attorney and send to Dan W. Flickinger so they can mark their records for the addition of David to the policies. I signed the necessary form but they have to see the “power of attorney.”

It is almost 4 P.M. so I must get along with this little “feller” and get in the sunshine.

Love Mother

One of your two letters today came in 7 days.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/26/happy-birthday-roscoe-gladys/ ‎

November 24, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 24, 1942

Dear Mother,

This will have to be a little fast because we have a show which starts in a few minutes and it will be too late afterwards and since we took a pleasure ride this P.M. I didn’t have time then. I want to tell you about the trip but not when I’m in a hurry. Sure saw lots of interesting things. And on top of all else I didn’t get back in time to go to the P.O. so don’t know if any mail came. I had another fellow to pick it up but he forgot so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if any came.

I intended to write you of the trip and also write Boonie but the time is too short. I finally did get Bob H. & Ed J.’s letter off – seems as if things always happen when I want to write.

[page 2] I’m writing this on a road map of the U.S. right smack on Indiana. Why I don’t know – it just started that way. I’ll write more after the show. It’s over. The name of it was Maryland – was a pretty good show but our sound isn’t so good and the fellows who run them don’t know what it’s all about.

Tomorrow being my birthday it just missed Thanksgiving by one day and I hear we have turkey for that day so it’s to bad it couldn’t be my birthday it really will be at home with the time fussed up the way it is. Or maybe it 2 days off I just can’t figure it all out.

There are several guy here trying to talk business and I can’t think straight so I’ll just cut off until later.

This is the third time but it’s morning – the morning of my birthday and it’s sprinkling and it looks as if we are maybe in for some wet weather

[page 3] but it could be just a small rain as we have had some in the past.

The show last night was pretty good but things are not adjusted as yet and that makes it bad but you can’t walk up and demand your money back because none was paid in the first place. We don’t get any news shorts nor do we have to watch previews. We just have one show and that’s all period.

Well, I’ll write a longer letter tonight and I hope then won’t be so many pauses.

Lots of love,

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/25/november-24-1942-roscoe/

November 23, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 23, 1942

Dear Mother,

This was really a red letter day got 4 V-mail letters and 4 regular air mail letters. 3 of the V-mail letters were from you one from John. One letter each from Boonie, Bob Hufty, Ed Johnson and Mom. So with the 2 letters yesterday and the 8 today that makes pretty good mail. Your letters of course five news of home but the others give me news of the town and the country in general. The road change seems to be serious as far as the town of Kentland is concerned but I suppose it is all settled by now so no use for me to worry about it now. The letters I got today were dated Nov. 11. Except the V-mail which were dated along the first of Nov. So the V-mail are slower.

I’m afraid lots of the fun and sport of the folks will be spoiled by the fact that they can no longer guess where I am for the new address will clear that situation completely, but if we should move on then the guessing would start all over again. I wrote 5 letters yesterday – and will have to write more

[page 2] again tonite to answer what I got today. Of course I wrote the folks yesterday and won’t write them again until next Sun, but will have to write Bob, Ed and Boonie. I suppose I should write one letter and have carbon copies made but they are very close and would compare them. Ed said he read my letter to Rotary – wish I could remember what I wrote in that letter but it’s been so long I just don’t know and I’ve written him two so don’t know which it was. Bob said I didn’t answer his letter but I did each time the day after he wrote so it either got lost or else there was a mix up in the going & coming.

One of those V-mails was from John but I didn’t get one from Mark. I thought you said Mark wrote also. It probably got lost and will be coming along later. I still have that blank space from Sept 20 to Sept 26 with no mail and now it will be from Oct 27 and Nov 10. With no packages as yet, but some according to the way you wrote haven’t [?] been sent long enough. You said you got the box of shells and there is still the other box containing the bath mat and that wonderful necklace I made. I haven’t been to the sea

[page 3] for so long – maybe we’ll go out for an outing tomorrow P.M. The boss promised Fred and I the P.M. off. I never have told you about Fred. He is very much the opposite of Knoby Walsh. He is tall – very much excitable and not one bit true to his love – his wife at least not while in the States here of course he hasn’t had a chance to be untrue. He argues much on politics and religion and get drunk when he gets a chance of course around here on duty he is very tender hearted etc. He is a Lt (jg) and he and I work and are the only two (jg) left. He as I said is tall 6 ft. 2 in. and around the camp we are together all time because we have the work to do. He’s not as bad as I say – only a great big boy who strays very easy. He’s perfectly OK until someone offers him a drink or asks him to go someplace and it doesn’t take the second invitation. Don’t be alarmed at my association because you know me.

So much for my friend. The last mail is in today so I don’t expect anymore. So I’ll close this letter and won’t forget it. I sometimes don’t close until late and then get busy and forget. So Solong until tomorrow. I love you

Daddy

P.S. I happen to know the address you gave for Dr. Joe is New Zealand – So you might tell Mrs. R

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/24/november-23-1942-roscoe/

November 22, 1942 (Roscoe)

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In this letter, Roscoe mentioned that he wrote a letter to Ruth M. (his sister) and sent a V-mail to each of the boys. Only one of the V-mails appears to have survived, the one to John. These were special V-mail Christmas greetings, and I believe they cost a pretty penny. I have included the card further down within in the letter.

Letter tanscription:

Nov. 22, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’ll have to say I received your most interesting and longest letter to date. This was written on Nov. so you see it wasn’t so old. And you had it full of things that seemed to hit the spot. Maybe it was because I haven’t received any mail for some time. I also got one from Ruth M. which was written on the same day so I really had a big day – as Eleanor – The President’s wife would say – My day. The pen and pencil set will certainly be fine because one would be lost without one and in case these should become lost or broken it would be bad. Many of the boys brought two sets along. Some even brought two watches – so far mine has been OK but one of the boys dropped his while we were on board ship and now he goes by the bugle.

There is just one question I’d like to ask about the baby’s milk. Isn’t it apt to sour after it is warmed? Maybe it won’t. I’m not saying that just so you’ll have to be up longer but I just wonder.

I wrote Ruth M. and one V-mail Christmas greeting to each of the older boys and also my usual letter to the Folks today. I should write Ruth & Floyd in answer to the birthday greeting but haven’t gotten to it yet. If I have room and can find a copy of our Sunday paper I’ll send it. Which we are allowed to do now since our address is announced. That is one reason why I’m writing so small. If you have written all the letters like the one today I’m sure you must take lots of time but I sure do enjoy that kind. So far I haven’t received the Enterprise and have received only one copy of the Clay City News.

If a bill comes for my lodge dues you might pay if you have enough money and send me the receipt or have them send it direct. I don’t think I’ll pay my medical dues until I get back unless I get the bill here. I don’t believe they will throw me out of the organization. I haven’t heard from Dr. Mathews since I last wrote maybe he is peeved – have you heard anything to that affect? Guess he’ll just have to be

[page 2] is all I can say.

At church tonight the crowd was so big the foundation gave way under the tent floor and are all dropped. It was only a foot or two so no one was injured but it was a surprise. It is one of those long narrow tents about 16 feet wide and 40 feet long. Some probably was there who hadn’t been for some time and the floor fell instead of the roof.

We had roast duck, peas, mashed potatoes, asparagus tips, cake and soup for dinner today – Really was good. For the most part our meals have been very good lately even though there are more here than when we first came. For supper we had cold cuts and a few things like that.

I’m glad to hear the boys are still working on their music it will be good for them later on if they can just stick with it. As yet we haven’t had any shows.

I think Agnes Molter must be wrong about the State Tax but maybe you didn’t mean that – And I don’t believe there will be much federal to pay you might have her go over it and if it isn’t to much get it off now because I don’t want to come back with obligations because I’d like to take things easy – a vacation in a tent. I don’t even want to see a tent but I do want to not start right back to the grind – a few weeks at least and you can bank on that.

I’m going to see if I can find the paper now and I don’t think it will be too much for the regular air mail. We may get more mail now that it has started again and I’ll be looking for those packages.

And just in case – I’ve sent you and David a check for $110 and John & Mark a money order for $10 each.  Just repeating so you can let me know if they don’t arrive.

Hope I get more letters like the one today but I realize you can’t do that every day, but even a line is appreciated – With lots of love

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/15/november-22-1942-roscoe/

November 21, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 21, 1942

Dear Mother,

I can’t see much difference in today from yesterday. Same weather, same work and no mail. There are a few letters but for the most part most of them are old letters and some are V-mail. In other words the whole situation stinks. We did go to the ball game this P.M. Saw the last half – two arms teams. It was a relaxation.

I was in town this morning but didn’t go to the Leper Colony this P.M. because the other fellow didn’t want to go and I don’t believe there would be anything gained only morbid curiosity and I’m not that curious. I would like to get out and see more of the country roundabout and maybe will be able to do that some of these days we hope.

I’m surprised I don’t see more fellows from home but it’s only occasionally that I see anyone from Indiana. Lots

[page 2] of fellows see others they know but other than Dr. Ash I don’t see anyone.

I’m beginning to be able to tell where fellows are from by their characteristic talk. Even to the states they came from. Mississippi I’ve learned has a distinct difference from Alabama and Texas is in a class all of its own. I often wonder if other can tell I’m from Ind. Of course the middle west has a distinctive talk but not so much as in the South.

We haven’t heard anything about movies now so don’t know when they will get things fixed up. Seems as if a coil burned out and after all we can’t just order one from Sears etc. I suppose when we do get the picture they will be old.

I’m writing before chow because one never can tell how busy he might be after chow and after 10:00 P.M. nothing doing. I’ll reserve the

[page 3] remainder for late developments. Not much extra to report. Three of us played two games of Dominoes. I won one game. The way we play it one game lasts about 2 hours so you see it kills the greater part of one whole eve.

Fred & I found some Detective story magazines to read tomorrow. They are those very juicy kind that rank along with True Love and True Confessions. We’ll probably get hopped up on them. So I’ll write you a letter full of it – don’t think anything of it –

Well, So Solong

Love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/22/november-21-1942-roscoe/

November 20, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 20, 1942

Dear Mother,

Writing early today as we are supposed to have a show tonite and it might be too late afterwards to finish. Sunday nite as I told you I was called away from the show and wed. nite the thing broke down so maybe tonite it will work. We hope. It helps pass an evening away pretty fast.

There was a small amount of mail today but it wasn’t put up yet when I came past the P.O. The clerk said to come back in about ½ hr. so I’ll try to let you know later if any came in. There are rumors of our mail picking up but so far they have been only rumors. And I find the gossip among a bunch of men is terrific. Even as great as among women. Maybe it isn’t

[page 2] so malicious but it’s gossip. And it’s anything from mail to the final battle.

Think maybe Fred and I will get out and visit around a little tomorrow P.M. Our boss went out today just looking around at some of the interesting sites nearby and he said we could go tomorrow P.M. He was over at the Lepor [Leper] Colony and wanted us not to miss it. So we’ll go over and maybe I can write some of that. I don’t believe that would be a military secret.

I really don’t believe I’d like to live in a warm climate like this it seems to much the same from day to day. Maybe during the rainy season things will be different. Probably will still be the same only rain instead of sunshine. I still think I’ll like sunshine better, but I do believe a good frosty morning would help ones’ pep.

[page 3]In spite of all I can do th I still have several mosquito bites. I believe the [they] get me in the day time when I’m not looking for they don’t bother while I’m sleeping like they used to at home.

Well it’s time to go see about the mail again and then go to chow. So will finish later – Some hours later

No movie – no mail – seems we have been forgotten all the way around, but maybe things will change. I did get to listen to the news from San F [San Francisco] tonight and it came in clear. At least the mosquitoes haven’t forgotten us.

We hope things will be better tomorrow –

Love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/11/november-20-1942-roscoe/

November 19, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 19, 1942

Dear Mother,

This to me seemed to be the hottest day we have had so far with not too much breeze and still very dry and dusty. It just seems to fog over when a car or truck goes fast. Wasn’t very busy this P.M. and after trying to nap a short time got up and took a bath washed my head. I’ve been using Fitch’s Shampoo the last few times. Can’t say so far it’s any better than other soap etc. but it is easy to use. You should see the shirt I put on. It wouldn’t stay on the line the day I washed it so I took string and tied it on and one place I tied the string was in the front under the pocket and there were plenty of wrinkles but in a day or two those will all be gone. A shirt just begins to looks good when it has to be washed.

Got your birthday greetings today

[page 2] all three of them and I wonder why you didn’t write something on them. Here I haven’t had any mail for several days and the greetings and only your name. Of course I was glad to get them but a few lines on them would have helped. I’ve gotten letters much later than those – 4 days to be exact. Those were mailed on Oct. 23 and my latest letter is Oct. 27. Our mail as I’ve said is stagnant again.

Last night there was plenty of lightning all around thru the East but no rain or storm showed up. I even put the tent flaps down and nothing happened. If one of those tropical storms ever came along – the ones we see in the movies – I’m afraid we’ll be without a roof but I guess that wouldn’t even be too bad because water won’t bother anyone only our sleep might be disturbed.

[page 3] Tell the boys thanks for their greetings. I’ll try to write them again one of these days but I just wrote when I mailed the money orders. So I’ll wait a few days yet.

It’s time for chow so I’ll finish later – About 4 hours later – The new fad is now dominoes – Four big men playing and strange as it seems they seem to enjoy it. I played last night. I think that is the second stage of Island happiness if you get what I mean, probably next will be whirling a stri button on a string. If we can find a button.

Saw another Dr. from Indianapolis. I didn’t know him before – he was just passing thru. We seem to hang on here maybe for long may [maybe] shorter we have no idea.

Well, I ashamed of these letters for the past few weeks but there is no news on –

So Solong
Love Daddy

© 2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/09/november-19-1942-roscoe/

November 18, 1942 (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Nov. 18, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m writing before chow because we have work to do afterwards and there is a movie here tonite and of course will have to go. Not have to but we might want to although I’m not too much excited about them.

Now that you know our location I suppose you will be using maps in getting the location etc. As I’ve said before it’s a more or less modernized town but the standard of living doesn’t seem as high as ours. Of course, we don’t have any of the conveniences that they have in town. There are plenty of coconut trees here and there are always green ones on them but I’ve never found a ripe one only in the stores. In our particular area there are no coconut trees but we can see plenty not more than a half mile away in several directions. The nuts are supposed to be good from tiny green ones up to the large ripe ones.

[page 2] There are also supposed to be some bananas growing here but I haven’t been far enough away to see them as yet.

I suppose the boys will get their maps and look the situation over again. I finally got a map of the south west but would still like one of Europe as well as any you might send.

It’s hard to believe this is Nov. since it is so warm and things are so different than from the States. In this type climate the seasons seem so much alike. That is so far only the rain is different and we haven’t had any of that for so long. The dust is very thick on my stand beside the bed. And our our table in the mess tent/hall seems like sand paper when one rubs his hand over it. So maybe all that stuff that looks like pepper in the food isn’t.

[page 3] No mail again today and our news is mostly local. The radio news and newspapers are quite some behind times so we only know our local stuff and it isn’t so bad. There just hasn’t been any mail come in with the exception of a few V-mail letters. Those are old but one of my tent mate got one today dated Nov. 2, which wasn’t so bad, but regular air mail came in about 4-5 days ago  addressed dated Nov. 2.

I’ll save the rest of the space until after the show or morning. Maybe mail will come. No mail, no show.

Don’t know why the no mail but something broke on the sound affect to the whole thing was called off. Maybe better next time. I’ve heard there is lots of mail around here but just hasn’t been sorted etc.

Love Daddy

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Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/20/november-18-1942-roscoe/