Tag Archives: Russell Islands

Like Some People Talk (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 5, 1943

Dear Mother,

Again there is no mail – That letter (v-mail) I received on Aug. 3 seems to have been a mistake because I don’t know of any other that came anyway it was appreciated very much.

Two of our original officers are leaving so that leaves only a very few of the old guard. They are being transferred to other locations. Just a good old Navy custom, and maybe not so bad for I find myself getting a little tired of this place. There is a slight shower this AM and

[page 2] that cuts down the heat but if the sun comes out is sure will be sticky.

I wish I could write like some people talk – Just ramble from one subject to another and it would all make good reading. I can well enough ramble from topic to topic but it’s just a bunch of junk. The other day I heard a Marine Major talking and when the conversation lagged he always had or brought up a new line – Most of the subject were insignificant but interesting.

Well, seeing I’m having a hard time writing I’ll leave off before starting a new page –
Love Daddy

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/19/like-some-people-talk-roscoe/

A Radio (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

Bucking conversation this AM but it doesn’t seem to be any chance of slowing off so just as well get going.

Your v-mail letter of July 17 came yesterday – It seemed to just slip in because there was very very little mail and along with it came the Clay City news of May 14. So figure that out.

Seems as if the Funks are trying to populate the wor[l]d in a big hurry – we may be getting behind but I guess that is OK. No guessing about it.

[page 2] Seems as if the conversation is getting thicker instead of thinner. Another of the originals came in and the stuff is getting deeper and deeper. I think I’ll be able to buy a radio today. One of the fellows who is leaving has one and the He is asking 50⁰⁰ and the three of us are going to buy it – a little expensive but that is about the only luxury we have – and I think we can sell it when we leave – when we leave –

Well, The Convo is still going on strong –
Love Daddy

Lt. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, mostly likely in the Solomon Islands

Roscoe at New Caledonia, 1942

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/17/a-radio-roscoe/

A Short Trip (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 2 & 3, 1943

Dear Mother,

First I must apologize for not writing yesterday. It seems what with getting back from my trip to see Commander Frericks & Dr. Joe and with routine stuff to do after coming back I didn’t get a chance to write. I spent Sat. night with Joe and Sun. and Sun. night with Frericks. It wasn’t a pleasure trip but one in which business could be tied in with a slight visit. My Sunday’s letter was written from there so you can see if their mail is faster than ours.

Comdr. Frericks wrote told me that his

[page 2] wife had received some newspaper clippings from Mrs. Howell in Reno Nevada. Mr. Howell told me his wife would send some to you at the same time. I’m just wondering if she failed to send them to you or whether you thought best not to write about them. It would not be out of order to mention them if you did get them but she might have over looked sending them to you. Those would be interesting if you had a chance to read them.

I suppose bet by the time this gets to you the boys will be preparing to get their school togs ready – just doesn’t seem possible that that time has rolled around again. Or does it? It’s a little hard for me to remember what grades

[page 3] the boys will be in. However, I remember D’s grade – You might say the walkie Talkie grade or the crawley jabberin grade.

Our mail again – There isn’t any but it will come floating along in a great bunch. My mail to you according to your letters isn’t quite as spotty as before but still isn’t as good as you or I would like for it to be.

I’ll have to send John a some token of some sort for his birthday – I’ll send it the next day or two and I guess that will be plenty of time. I’ll have to remember D. a little later when his year is up.

Well, I guess that is about all for today –
Love Daddy

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/15/a-short-trip-roscoe/

Quite A Visit (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

You will of course note the great change in stationary. That is because I’m bumming and can’t be too fussy.

I’ve talked to Joe R. In fact had quite a visit and may see him again today or tomorrow. He sure likes his work and has a swell commanding officer. Their I can see what he meant by saying that our area was a beautiful place when I see where he is located but there are advantages to the pla their location.

The thoughts and so on don’t come well this A.M., must have been something I “et” last night, but I did have an egg sunny side up for breakfast.

This is a crazy disjointed letter and I’ll again have to use the well known and very good excuse – I’ll do better next time –
Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/13/quite-a-visit-roscoe/

Before Breakfast (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 31, ‘43

Dear Mother,

Today sure winds up another month – It really isn’t the end of the month as far as our duty is concerned but another calendar month. It seems the summer or I should say winter has gone rather rapidly when in retrospect.

I’m writing this before breakfast because I’m going to try to go see Joe today and have to get at things early in order to get my

[page 2] work caught up. So this is one of those letters which will hardly be worth mailing, but anyway it’s a note.

There hasn’t been any mail for two days but with getting so many three days ago I hardly expect any now for a few days again.

It’s time for chow so must get going –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/12/before-breakfast-roscoe/

One Year Ago (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I remember one year ago today early in the morning, but I’d rather pass that scene rather rapidly because it is a little shall I say saddening – I remember also the hard tiresome ride that day – The longest hardest ride I’ve ever had. I remember the disappointment at not finding Lentz that night. The meeting of he and I next morning & our reporting next day. The the furious next several days – getting this and that etc. And then on the last day meeting Hicky and going to Helen W. and then the long train ride and finally getting aboard ship. The long interesting, tiresome and exciting sea voyage – often talking with Walsh and wondering how long it would be before our letters would get back home and our speculation as to our destination was something to marvel at = for we didn’t know.

[page 2] I remember how when land was sighted we added finishing touches to letters and went ashore. How good the terra firma felt under foot again. The stamp shortage – finally after a few days we were permanently located in a goat pasture. The wild scramble to see as much as could be seen of the Island – Swimming and shell collecting – where was our mail finally after about 1 ½ months our first letters came – but no word of babies arrival. Our first letters came the day he was born, but the news reached me much later. I remember getting settled to the humdrum of routine again – Then the slicing off of our personnel. Friends leaving for different areas – The final disbanding of our unit. Then the drab months with no change in the daily schedule – day after day. Drs. P & W and I trying to amuse ourselves to keep from getting on each other’s nerves and possibly not doing so well at times – but in general doing a good job of it. Then I remember while doing the regular routine one morning a big shot coming in and motioning to me and informing me I had been selected – you can take just enough clothes for a change or two – draw field packs – field rations – first aid kits and numerous first aid bandages and emergency medical

[page 3] supplies – That was something – reactions – excitement, anticipation, responsibility, importance and possibly some fear. I remember as long as the preparations were being made everything was swell but I also remember that letters were hard to write – to crowd out the million and one non writable things and include only the things that would not cause alarm. Those I repeat were hard to write. Finally aboard another ship – maybe the atmosphere a little more tense than then the last ship. We landed a much more interesting historical place this time. Now more days of preparation, and again to sea – another new land – my memory is still good but I’m not at liberty to reveal the entire extent of it. I remember the days spent in the channels around our new home – the jungle trips – The fishing trips – the call it exploring trips. I remember the indescribably non light nights – beautiful tropical moons, and the black nights when one has to push the darkness aside manually

[page 4] in order to get thru. I remember the work to get set up again – The usual long wait for mail – the anticipation and anxiousness as to whether our mail was getting home. I remember the taste of cold spam, cold meat & vegetable hash. The taste of rain water chlorinated. The fun we had with our own laundry our bucket bathes and ofen of necessity our ocean dips. Then I remember our first locally killed fresh beef. The rank taste because of lack of refrigeration and freshness – then one day a fresh onion – Then a fresh egg – not many of them – fresh potatoes fresh apples, oranges and the most exotic thing fresh celery. Never a time when I don’t remember appreciating mail and an equal appreciation of pictures – Then I remember writing a kidding note relative to a picture of my wife in comparison to another officer’s wife and I remember her answer and I hope she didn’t mean it for I was only kidding, and then I remember last night thinking of the wife and of and the mother of R.S. Yegerlehner’s boys – Love Daddy

1943 - Russell Islands #2

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/10/one-year-ago-roscoe/

Seven Letters (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

July 29, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your letters of July 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 came yesterday late, so I read them very rapidly and then re-read them again this A.M. The comment that you made about the comment that I made about the Commander’s wife – was a little shocking to me – you were just a little short and it made me feel badly but then I got to think you probably weren’t serious and I do hope you didn’t think I was serious and I’ll feel terrible if you don’t send any more pictures. I apologize very much.

There was lots in your letters and af even after re-reading I will probably forget things I thought of commenting on. Glad to hear your mother is better – Her progress will be slow and she will be discouraged very much – but she didn’t get in that condition in a short time and it will take a long time to improve. I feel so helpless trying to do or say anything that will help. I guess the only

[page 2] thing I can say is for her to do what the Drs. tell her. You didn’t mention diet which I think is important – maybe she is on one, at least I think irritating foods should be out of her diet – & that includes – all forms of prepared cereal, all raw vegetables, coffee (That’s a bad one for her). Some tea would be OK, and of course milk is OK, if it doesn’t cause too much gas – In other words it is an individual problem – but I really shouldn’t be giving advice since I’m not in on all the information about the lab work etc – You won’t need to bother about sending the details because it’s too long before I could get any info back to you.

Now about the piano – you are correct – my advice is too long in coming to you but you know whatever decision you arrive at will be OK with me – your judgment Dear is OK on things like that, by now you probably have the check I sent and the finances are OK again. That is you should have approximately 700⁰⁰ come to you by Aug. first – The check I sent and your regular monthly check. That should help you over the hump a little.

[page 3] Really I’m at a loss to know why Mark would want to ac look like me – I guess John has a right to talk and reason like I do. You mentioned a plane flying over each day. That really is a lot for Kentland Ind. but how different things must be in other parts of the world – relative to airplanes flying over.

Got a letter from Joe yesterday and he asked me to check to see if his mail was coming to our P.O. I checked and the P.M. said they had gotten a lot of letters for him but could find no one who knew him so they had been sent back just a day or two ago. So his mail will really be late – You might let Mrs. R. know about that. I’m planning on seeing him in a few days if the plans don’t fall thru like they did a few days ago. He was correct about the description of our location but a lot of hard work had something to do with the appearance of the place – we are really proud of our South Pacific Park.

Sorry to hear about Dave M. Yesterday before

[page 4] your letters came I wrote him – I shall add a note to it before mailing.

You never did mention anything about my Masonic dues – In one of these letters you said you were going to find out about the Rotary dues. I guess that is taken care of by now.

A letter came from Mother yesterday and also one from Boonie – I had just mailed one to Boonie before his came – so if you see him you can tell him our letters crossed on the way. I also wrote to Brewers & Walkups & Ed Johnson. Don’t know why the extra writing I’m going but felt I really should.

It seems a shame to have so much to say in one letter and the others have so little – Don’t ever think your letters are not worth sending – They really mean lots and I know it’s hard for you to work a letter in daily with all the responsibilities you have – and please don’t work too hard – seems to me you have lots of work to do so do be careful. And again I hope you didn’t think I was going anything else but kidding you about the picture.

Lots of Love Daddy

1943 - Russell Islands #5

Construction of an airstrip, Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/08/seven-letters-roscoe/

We The Three of Us (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

It seems yesterday was a big day for coconuts to drop because just above where I’m sitting now three plunked on the tent at one time and a little later 4 more all at once – Just happened to think of that while sitting down to write. It sure does make a racket when they come down and stirs up dust and dirt which has been untouched by the black boy.

Our mail seems to have taken a permanent shut off because it has been several days with not so much

[page 2] as an ad for laxative or tooth paste arriving.

We the three of us – Jim unmarried, Geo divorced and myself often have arguments about romance, homes & families and it seems to me I win the arguments as they come up. For example – The topic of breakfast came up. I remarked that with me breakfast was never a heavy meal and often times I would pick up a cup of coffee and toast etc. in town – That to them was unheard of. Geo said that that was one of the requirements that his wife get up and have a huge breakfast ready when he got up regardless – and Jim said he expected the same thing because his mother often brought his coffee & toast to him in bed. My idea was that if the little woman wanted to sleep – give

[page 3] her the break – especially if I had to be up a little early. I can see that Geo. is very much set in his ways about things of that nature and of course Jim just doesn’t know from “nuthin.” My idea is to act to the best advantage under the circumstances at hand and be prepared to see the other person’s viewpoint. The whole point to this is this – I was just trying to tell them what it took to be happily married and I think I have gotten that across many times for several persons have remarked that they sorta envy me because of my family and believe me I’m more than somewhat pleased with the boys and most of all their capable, attractive and sensible Mother. I’m sorry I can make my compliments sound more romantic etc. but you know me anyway I mean well and I hope you are able

[page 4] to interpret the things I’ve written as they were intended to be understood. As you know I’m not a writer of letters which will stir a woman’s heart by romantic phrases and because maybe I haven’t had that gift of gob – many of the men’s in their letters to wives and sweethearts are full of phrases dealing with love, affection and to me other trite expressions but I just can’t put them down to make meaning – maybe things like that are full of meaning and maybe they are meaningless – Let me end this by using this small phrase and truly meaning it –

Lots of Love Daddy

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/06/we-the-three-of-us-roscoe/

Poor Construction Engineer (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 27, 1943

Dear Mother,

There is plenty of conversation being passed and I’m not sure what might get into this between the lines. It was a three way conversation and now has grown to a four way. I’ve taken two or three beatings already. One being accused of belonging to the Hebrew race – and the other being as poor construction engineer for the rat trap enterprise. Both arguments were quite much in fun because we never kid anyone

[page 2] about being Hebrew to their face and on the other score the boys were just jealous of my success – you know how that is. These arguments take place very often and the recipient is whomever happens to be the unlucky person.

We are having a piece of tin placed over the screen door to aid in keeping out the rats. I’ve placed lots of emphasis on those creatures lately and rightly so because they can be heard in droves all over the place at night and it’s very disturbing.

Well, I’ll try to do a little better next time but that is what I always say so you have learned not to expect too much by now – I hope –

Love Daddy

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/2014/11/04/poor-construction-engineer-roscoe/

Rats (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

July 26, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just finished the morning chores and will see how good my letter writing ability will be. To begin with we haven’t had any late mail for some time and I don’t like it, but I guess there isn’t much to be done about the whole thing only wait.

Yesterday while sitting writing a letter a nice juicy rat ran over a brace in the tent and settled comfortably above my head in a misquito netting that had been folded. There was a cleaning rod for a rifle nearby and with a mighty heave with it the rat was stunned enough to so that I was able to get in the finishing strokes. It must have made the

[page 2] entire family very mad because they came in force to heckle us last night. They don’t bother me much but one of our roommates hammers & bangs on the side of the tent and deck keeping himself and everyone awake and really I think the rats are enjoying it for they seem to come back in greater numbers each succeeding night. They probably never heard or seen anything like that in a south Sea Isle before.

Yesterday after writing you I wrote – both Ruths, the folks and uncle Wess. It was a big day and a lot of bunk was thrown out. I still have some I should write today – like the Walkups, Brewers, etc. but I don’t feel in the mood even for a poor letter. I misrepresented things to them, told them it was hard to write to anyone else but you because I could always fill in between in your letters with love making stuff but you know I’m not good at that but I do hope you can read between the lines and sometimes see where I tried to

[page 3] express what I feel – anyway I hope as you said the other day a lot is intimated in
“Lots of Love From Daddy”

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/02/rats-roscoe/