Tag Archives: Newton County Enterprise

Sunrise (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

May 12, 1943.
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m a little disappointed about the mail situation because many of the fellows got mail and I did not. I think it’s because of the changeover from V-mail at least I hope you are writing some air mail rather than v-mail.

The way my bunk is located the sun shines right into my face each A.M. and of course wakes me but I often awaken before it is up and the various stages are a sight to see. The first knowledge I had this morn of the sunrise was a sort of a brownish color just as it was getting light – That then changed to a lighter color and finally just before the sun appears the whole area was a blood red color. (That is the way it looks every morn) The sun drives that color away when it begans to appear – after that it looks just like it does in Indiana.

A letter came yesterday from Bob H. but it was written way back in Mar. He seemed to think Dr. Openshaw was pretty much settled somewhere in Penn. – seems like some people have all the tough luck – who would want to be stationed in a place like that with all the trains, autos and cold weather are apt to be hard on one’s health – I’m telling you it’s dangerous to have those handicaps. Take the above as you wish.

Imagine me wearing shoes now for the past

[page 2] several months. Really my ankles will probably be so weak I won’t be able to wear slippers again and another thing – lately I haven’t been wearing any underware and since I have no P.J. you know how that means I sleep at night. That will also be a hard habit to break when back in the States.

I saw in the Newton Co. E. that John had won $2.50. Of course I showed it around and most of the boys asked if I had sent for the $2.50 or if I would let him keep it. My answer was varied. Of course, you had told me of the whole thing in letters but I just happened to find it in the paper. Two issues of the paper came yesterday Mar 11 & 18. In the Mar 18 issue there is a synopsis of the article – “They Were Expendable.”  I’d almost forgotten about that and it has so much more meaning now than when I read it before.

I don’t know if I told you or not but our Chaplin left Japan in June of 1942. Yes the date is correct – he has some pretty good experiences to tell.

Well, I’ve beaten my gums enough for the time being –
So solong until Tomorrow
Love Daddy.

P.S. Sent 150⁰⁰ of the uniform money home – The 100⁰⁰ will follow in a few days – Just a repeat.

Russell Islands Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/06/06/sunrise-roscoe/

The Motherlode (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Mar 21, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner MC USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Mail came this A.M. and we spent much time reading and re-reading. 18 letters, 4 papers and two packages. The letters were from: Statons, Allgood, Sykes, Mom, Boonie (2), Wayne W., C. J. Easley, Bob H., The Earl park Walkups, The packages from Dr. M. and Floyd. I snitched this paper from the office and will try to answer a few providing I can get some stamps and envelopes. Your letters were of the latter part of Jan and the first part of Feb. So the letter I got the other day dated Feb. 19 is still the latest. Our mail has to be

[page 2] re forwarded and that always takes time. Your Valentine missed St. Pat’s day 5 days so you weren’t far from wrong right.

My letters may have been interesting but anymore there is nothing to write about. Description is out – Traveling is not as extensive as the last place and activities not for publication are more numerous. So the letters to  in answer to those today will be short and not very “ready.”

The newspapers were all the Newton Co. E. so I was able to catch up on a few things. Jim sent a Norfolk paper dated Sept. 23, so that was pretty old reading. I hate not to write

[page 3] all those people but if I see I’m going to be caught short I’ll just skip them.

All writing has to be done in the daytime because each night there is a total blackout and even the lighting of a smoke has to be done under cover. So you see there isn’t as much time to write as before.

I’ve ceased worrying or even thinking of the taxes but and wish I could get some extra money home but that is impossible at present – Maybe later that can be arranged.

I’ll try a few letters to others now after writing the folks
So solong Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/28/the-motherlode-roscoe/

Camp life (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Mar 11, 1943
Lt. R. S. Yegerlehner
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran.
Dear Mother,

I’m using the Lt. alone because I feel very certain that the (jg) can be dropped. That increases the pay about 50⁰⁰ per month but as I said before I have no way of getting any to you and in fact no way of getting any for myself but I don’t have the least thing to buy. I was able to buy 60¢ worth of stamps and that is the extent of my spending since Feb 12.

I might give you a little information on the camp life. Bucket baths are the vogue and almost any time during the day one can see officer or enlisted men in birthday suits bathing – Swimming trunks are never seen therefore all bathing is done in the nude.

Just stopped long enough for a cocoanut hull full of tea – “Hi say ole choppy – the tea is invigorating” but its

[page 2] not ice tea. I th

I thought I had gotten the word to you about the taxes – not to pay them but in your last letter you seemed to be going ahead, and the separate returns are not applicable in our case as I see it. I’m wondering if you filed the mortgage exemption – and I don’t remember about the pills for Nick and I have a very strong suspicion that Dr. M. will have a hard time using my microscope because it isn’t much good. And I haven’t received any package from him nor anyone else – I did receive a pound of tobacco from Bill & Jewell but didn’t have a chance to write them – so if you should write them mention it please. In other words I’m still conserving on paper. Maybe paper will be coming along some of these days. Thank the boys for their letters which came along with one of those I received from you.

I thought you could still write air mail but it would be handled as ordinary mail. The only point being it would reach the coast sooner but you probably got the dope straighter than I. I’ve run this together in order to get in more so read it as it’s supposed to be written.

I reread my letter in the Newton C. E. and it sounded crazy. Hope you can give the club some interesting sidelights on New Caledonia. Well, paper all gone for now.

Lots of Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/02/10/camp-life-roscoe/

Two More Letters (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

1/27/43

Dear Mother,

Two more letters came from you today but they were back, Jan 1 and Jan 4. I suppose now there won’t be any more mail for days again – Even now the oldest letter is 19 days. That isn’t so bad if we could just keep it coming with any regularity. There is more to it than that but I can’t tell just now why we have difficulty.

You asked questions about the money. I’ve already written that but my advice is to buy bonds. The Bldg. & loan is OK but those are taxable so in the long run bonds are better. About the piano – See what Miss Smith thinks, and I don’t recall any further questions, but there are comments – Sure wish I could have been present at the little

[page 2] party at Funks. I can just see Bill passing the drinks. Tell Ellsworth I have gained some weight but he still has me bested by a large poundage. I hope this new necklace gets there in A-1 condition because I believe you will like it better. There are upward of 200 shells in it and there are 2 holes in each shell. My thumb and index finger are still numb – The color of these may not be right for you but as you said a new dress will have to be bought.

I was surprised and I wasn’t at the Dye family. I think I told you before that you she came to me about him being so hard to get along with and he always seemed so sarcastic with her and I think she was more or less sensitive by nature – and they used to sleep in different rooms. I shouldn’t write that – but I did. You

[page 3] had written me that before and I also had seen it in the Newton Co. E. Don’t write out the last word in any more of your letters because there is a ship by that name and someone might censor it. So refer to it as I have above. Gosh I wish I could remember what I wrote in that letter to Bart – because if it comes back out here I might blush if Dr. P. or Fred read it. I’ll censor the whole letter out before they have a chance to read it.

I hope you and D. are over your troubles entirely but there are several month of cold weather yet and one can expect things like that during those months.

We didn’t have a show last night – too much rain – It’s still cloudy today but not

[page 4] much rain so our show should go on. The Evenings are very long when we don’t have a show. WILL FINISH LATER

After show and mail – Your letters of Dec. 22, 18, 23, Jan 4, Dec 5 and Dec 19 came. I just gave you those as I have them laid out on the table and tell Tony Schub his postmarks of Dec 18 & 19 were incorrect. They were Nov instead of Dec. Your letters are getting pretty well up to date now. That is up to Jan 8th you were better in that letter hope you are continuing so . The picture of the three boys was good and the snow pictures were good. Those small ones must have been taken by Mr. Zell I believe. I still believe I’ve answered all the questions. You say taxes. Do you mean 1941 Federal? That amounts to 80⁰⁰. I believe – The last two installments. I still wish you would

[page 5] pay that or put that much extra in bonds, because I know that that will have to be paid. And possibly interest. So I’d rather it be paid. But don’t pay 1942.

Letters also came from Ruth M. Sam & Esther – Dave & Marie and a Christmas greeting from Berdie Steele. I’ll make out a list of your letters up to date in a day or two and you can see how many are missing. Lots of your letters have the same date post marked on the outside. Must be early in A.M. and late P.M.

I’ve gotten so many letters from you in the past 2 days that I’ll have to re-read and rewrite but for today I’ll say Lots of Love – and thanks for all those letters. I know it’s a burden for you to write as much as you do as often.

Love again
Daddy

Mrs. Fred Williams
1012 Root St.
Flint, Michigan} Fred’s wife’s address

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/24/two-more-letters-roscoe/

Five months since we left Moffett Field (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Jan 8, 1943
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Francicso Calif.

Dear Mother,

According to date it is now just five month since we left Moffitt Field. In some ways it fu seems a long time and in other ways it seems only a short time. Anyway we are here.

Mail was a little better today got your letter of Dec. 13 in which you told of the boys being sick. Of course by now it is too late but I still worry about them. Don’t be to fussy about them. Watch their temperatures and if they go to high then do something. As long as temperature is only around 100° don’t worry. Give them Sulfadiozine as per instruction of

[page 2] Dr. Cole but not too long at any one time give with plenty of fluids. If they get too sick take them to the hospital for a time, but don’t stew and get yourself down.

Glad people like the necklace [necklace]. I think I have an idea for another only I’ll have to get some more shells. Maybe we’ll be able to get there and get some other varities [varieties] and kinds. I have several kinds now but not enough to send home.

We had one of those real real rains last nights – everything is soaked and muddy but things are a little better now than before because there is some crushed limestone around and as long as one is able to stay on that it doesn’t bother but one miss step and you are in the yellow. After the rain today the sun came out and was it hot. It has been hot and steamy all day long.

Glad to hear the boys are still listening

[page 3] to the shadow. Keeping the old family tradition going. Our radio news are about nil and I haven’t heard of anyone getting the radio programs. We were told not to bring radios along and we can’t send for them – oh we could but when would they get here. Some few did smuggle radios – small ones and Australia is all that can be gotten and we are not in a position to listen when the programs are going on.

Don’t know if we will have a show tonite or not but I’m afraid the hillside will be too sick and wet, but if they show one we’ll probably go rain or moon shine. It’s not moon light now so that is one privilege we don’t enjoy even though we do have movies.

It is now about 1700 and almost chow time so will finish later. Later after the

[page 4] show. The title “Fugitive From Justice.” It was OK but very short.

There was no mail this P.M. that 2 Newton Co. Enterprizes and one CC News came. The Newton Co. Enterprise had been opened and censored, but nothing was blanked out but it was only a 2 page paper when before it was 4. Everyone’s mail is late so try V-mail again as I’ve repeated in my previous letters.

I’m still far behind in my letter writing but if I keep on writing and no mail coming in I’ll catch up.

Well, don’t worry too much about the boys and keep yourself in good health –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/16/five-months-si…t-field-roscoe/

The first letter this year (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 1 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The first letter this year. It is a cloudy, warm day. We haven’t done anything except eat breakfast and take care of David. He seems to have a coming appetite, so I keep giving him more – an extra tsp of Pablum this morning. Now that he has started eating he seems as hard to satisfy as he was the other way when we came home from the hospital. I am afraid he has had so much attention from the boys this week he will miss it next week when they are back in school. Mark is working on some model airplanes Aunt R. M. sent him for Christmas. He has his work on the kitchen table. He wanted to stay up last night but John & I wanted to go to bed. He stayed

[page 2] down here alone until 11:30 then decided he would go to bed. I was too sleepy to stay up with him and since I had the throat & sinus infection feel like I should get lots of rest. If we get enough steam up today will take down the Christmas tree. It is a rather pretty tree – wish we could set it out but I am afraid it wouldn’t do much good. We can have a nice fire in the fireplace with it. Bill said he was going to bring us a load of wood but he has been very busy so hasn’t brought it. I think Louis Funk had to go into service. I think Carl had been deferred. I suppose for occupational reasons. Rosemary is going to have a baby but I don’t think that would keep him out.

I promised John we would go to Lafayette tomorrow. I need to do some shopping for David and John wants to see about his album of records

[page 3] he ordered for Christmas. We haven’t been down since in Nov. The month of Dec. wasn’t so good for travel but the roads are not slick now. I told you in yesterday’s letter I bought 6 – 37⁵⁰ bonds. The bank only pays 1% on deposits and the Bldg Loan 4% – but since we are urged to buy more bonds thought I should use some of the surplus for bonds. What do you think about putting some in the Bldg Loan? Or put all in bonds? I have quoted last year’s income in two previous letters but here it is again just in case – To May 31 – $3120.45 – collections for June 260.65 – July 253.78 – Aug 33.75 – Total 3667.73.

Our Enterprize didn’t come yesterday but they must have missed sending it because Mrs. Zell said you letter was in it this week.

– – – Stopped to get lunch and feed the baby and then I took a nap but David woke up so I got up too. John’s giving him some water now but he is getting so he doesn’t care so much for his water bottle.

[page 4] Bob Hufty called me and invited me to Rotary Monday evening – Ladies night – He asked if you had received the box the clubs sent you for Christmas, so I am hoping for some word from you before Mon. evening that you have rec’d it.

I called Mrs. Plummer this afternoon to see if she could come out a while but she had company. I was going over and get her. She wants to see the Baby and as I have told you about this weather we haven’t been out much. We will be glad for spring and you would be glad for a little cooler weather.

John is playing with the baby and he is making some loud noises, which delight both boys. He now plays with his hands a lot – when he doesn’t suck his left thumb.

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/02/the-first-lett…is-year-gladys/

Protected: The last letter in 1942 (Gladys)

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Protected: Flashback – September 17, 1942 (Gladys)

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Only one more shopping day (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Dec. 23, 1942

Dear Mother,

Writing this time in the P.M. Seems as if there is a lull. Maybe I’ll save a little space to finish after the show tonight.

Our mail this A.M. was nil – I got the Navy med. bulletin – Dr. Porterfield got the W Virginia Med. Journal and Fred didn’t score. Might say none of us did. We really are after family news. It will soon be one month since I’ve heard from you. I’ve gotten mail and packages but none later than Dec Nov. 27. Guess I’ve told you that before.

So far today it hasn’t been either rainy or clear just

[page 2] a mixture of each, but it is plenty warm.

I’m not sure what all I said last night about the U.S.O. etc. but all the boys are a little discussed [disgusted] about the whole thing. Maybe we expect too much. Not for ourselves but for the boys. Of course it’s a long way out here and a little hard for too much to be done. So forget the whole thing.

One of our corpsman got a letter informing him that he was a new papa. And of course he had been for some weeks but about that same time. I mean when he got the letter he came down with gonorrhea. Just couldn’t contain himself

[page 3] but I guess he’ll learn.

Somehow I’m having a hard time concentrating this P.M. Guess it must be the warm humid weather. We had pork chops for dinner today. Really were good. I believe that is the first time those have showed up. Along with that we had mashed sweet potatoes and carrots with raisins. I don’t like that last mixture but we do have it often.

I still have two cans of peanuts left. I think I save them until after the Christmas rush is over and things like that are past and forgotten. I saw them putting some colored lights on

[page 4] the Christmas tree. It’s outside and the burning hot sun sure makes things look like Christmas in July if you get what I mean. It’s OK, however, better than nothing and I suppose lots of the boy will get a big kick out of it.

I’ll finish later – After the show – A World War I show – The Christmas tree was all lighted and in the dark does look very nice. Just a little more cold and it would be home like. I got the Newton Co. Enterprse this Eve. And Fred got some packages well only one more shopping day until Christmas –

Lots of love

Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/12/only-one-more-…ing-day-roscoe/

My 6 cents worth (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 22 1942

Dear Daddy –

Rec’d 3 letters this morning. I wish I had sent you several small boxes for Christmas. Maybe you would have gotten one. I had a letter a few days ago in which you told me what to do about Otto Paul – I finally got around to calling Boonie & told him to send the pills. This weather again – Yesterday looked like another blizzard but it calmed down and now it looks foggy and the snow is dirty and the roads are so slick the school buses didn’t go out so no school today. John didn’t feel so good and I had kept him home in bed. My throat was sore again this morning so I called Dr. Cole. He said to give John 1 sulfothiozole every 4 hrs and told me to get neo-pronticil for my throat. Neither of us have a temperature but John’s cold hangs on and this throat condition has been coming & going for some time. I thought I was entirely rid of it but it was present again this morning. I am not down but don’t like to be bothered so much and afraid it might develop into something if I don’t get it checked.

[page 2] I talked to Jack Byrnes about writing to Mead-Johnson and he said if I would bring a letter head to him he would write to the Co for me. I started David on Pablum yesterday. He was hungry after his 2 P.M. bottle. Arlene had called me and wanted me to come down and stay with her boys while she went to town – Louise was out. So I bundled David up and went down. She had a new box of Pablum so she opened it and I gave him some. He was satisfied then. This morning I gave it to him just before his 10 A.M. bottle. Arlene commented on how well he ate it. I said that was because he knew what a spoon was for – having given his orange juice that way – however I had to quit the orange juice because he threw it up every time after I had increased the amount. I am giving him the Vit C tablets now. He weighs 11 ½ lbs. He is taking 13 oz carnation – 17 oz water – 2 ½ tbsp Dextri – in 24 hrs – Even if you have forgotten about baby formulas – you can see he is getting pretty strong milk for a 3 mo old baby – but he wasn’t satisfied with a weaker mixture so had to increase it – He has normal stools and is good so that must prove he can take the richer mixture

[page 3]Mark’s ice skates came today and I gave them to him so he could be learning. He was very thrilled over them but he didn’t stay at the pond very long. He was sure he could just get on those skates and do the figure eight.

John says he is hungry so that must indicate his cold isn’t making him feel so bad – but I am going to insist on keeping him in bed today.

We went to the band concert last night and the wind was blowing and the snow drifting over the sidewalks with a layer of ice under the snow so you know the going wasn’t easy. I haven’t tried to get the car out of the garage this week. The streets especially ours are so slick I am afraid I would turn around trying to stop. There is some traffic but I notice the cars go rather slow. The band concert was very nice. We took Bobby Funk and he enjoyed it very much. When I was there (at Funks) yesterday afternoon I took Donnie up and changed him. I never saw such a baby. It doesn’t

[page 4] seem possible for him to be so big at 4 months. However I told you once before about Elizabeth & Bud Wilson’s baby – at 3 months he weighed 17 lbs and looked like he was 6 mo. old. Our David isn’t like that but he is developing very normally – makes an average ½ lb a week gain.

C. Foulks just came and brought the children some gifts – I didn’t have hers ready yet – in fact I haven’t had a chance to finish my Christmas shopping. This weather I have been talking about has been a handicap.

I tried to call Floyd & Ruth to tell them we would stay home Christmas but they didn’t answer so must be on a company trip. I wrote to your Mother that we would stay home. I ordered a chicken today and it is a fry so John, Mark & I will eat our Christmas dinner at home. Since David is satisfied with milk & Pablum won’t bother him much about special days.

I feel a little on the dull side today so this letter may not be worth the 6¢ it takes to send it but I have stopped several times since I started and broken what constructive though I might have had. Will try to do better next time and get my 6¢ worth –

Love Mother

P.S. I called the enterprise about the visit of Uncle Wes & Paul Harris but they didn’t get give the item much space.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/09/6-cents-worth-gladys/