Tag Archives: Russell Islands

Reader Beware (Roscoe)

Reader Beware! There is language in this letter that is offensive. I was very disheartened when I read those words as it was not something I ever heard my grandfather say, or ever expected him to say. I contemplated removing the language for all of two seconds, and knew that I could not. As a historian, I refuse to edit history in this way. Nor will I make excuses for Roscoe, other than to say that he lived in a very different time. We can not ignore the complicated racial past of our country by pretending hurtful and painful slurs did not exist. As much as I abhor the language in novels like Huckleberry Finn or Uncle Tom’s Cabin, I would not remove those offensive words, and so I do not remove them now. So reader beware!

: July 15, 1943 envelope

: July 15, 1943, p. 1

: July 15, 1943, p. 2

: July 15, 1943, p. 3

: July 15, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

The second box that you sent – the one you had to divided came at long last. I’ll enumerate the content and you can see if anything was missing – one box of crackers – or rather I should say cracker crumbs. You know what I mean by that. It really was a box of powder. 6 cans of sardines – all in good condition and one package of square candy pieces – plus some papers. The box was battered and torn and half open – So don’t send anything

[page 2] else unless I write specifically for it. I did write for this but it was a mistake except for the sardines. I had given up hope of this box arriving since it had been so long. Maybe that box I sent you while still in Noumea will finally arrive. It had lot of pretty shells and numerous other little trinkets that I wanted you to have but I guess it can’t be helped.

The colored boy was coming in to clean up the tent and I was going into the yard to finish but he went to another tent instead. He is a more or less worthless ‘niggir’ and has to be jacked up about every other day in order to

[page 3] get anything done. I cleaned that table off that I described to you but it is rapidly becoming a source table of many adornments again or do I mean adornments!

I’m now in the front lawn because the boy finally came.

I’ve said this so often but I think now within the next few days I will send a check so be on the lookout. We were told that pay day would be the 15^th and if so I’ll send it tomorrow and will follow in a few days with the number, date of issue etc so that if I should misplace my number book here you will have it. I think that is safer than a money order – because if I misplace

[page 4] the slip there is no way of checking on the thing. The check will be a subject of many letters following – just like the uniform check was good for 9 months subject matter.

Back in the tent again, It doesn’t take that black boy long to do what little he does. The main reason for coming back were the flies. They land and crawl pretty hard.

I’m still eagerly awaiting the pictures of D. so that I can compare his beauty handsomeness and personality with that of the beauty of and winning qualities of his mother.

Love Daddy

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/2014/10/11/reader-beware-roscoe/

The General’s Pencil (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: July 14, 1943 envelope

: July 14, 1943, p. 1

: July 14, 1943, p. 2

: July 14, 1943, p. 3

: July 14, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received a regular air mail yesterday Dated 25^th of June. I think that was the last. I put the them letters all together and I’m not sure which came last. I’ve have one each day for the last three days.

It’s very hot and sticky here this A.M. but that isn’t news. You stated in your letter that it was that way there and I suppose you can expect that for another month or two but we can expect that here longer than that or at least until our tour of duty is over in this area.

[page 2] You remember me telling you sometime ago about playing Dorothea Dix to a doctor – well he got orders for a change of duty and yesterday wrote me a very fine letter thanking me for all that I had done for him. He lived in the tent with me and after we had our talk – he somehow got some drink and proceeded to get “stinko” – which was very bad for me. In his letter he was much ashamed and apologized etc. It makes me feel more than ever like Dorothea D. Guess I’ll save the letter and have it run as a special feature for the love tangled boys of the Island.

[page 3] Somehow an egg sunny side up got into our breakfast this A.M. It was a total surprise and I might say a pleasant on at that. I think I must be gaining back all the weight I lost due to better eats and less exercise.

I don’t believe I ever told you about fixing the General’s pencil – If I did just disregard this part. Our skipper and I just went over for a social call and during the conversation something came up that the General wanted to write and his pencil a gold Everharp was out of order so I loaned him mine. Then he asked if I thought I could fix his and I of course polishing apples at my best said “yes sir.”

[page 4] It was one of those push on the end and the lead comes out kind. I brought it back took it all apart and found it was out of lead. So all it needed was a stick of my lead. I’m not sure whether he knew that or whether it was his way of bumming. Anyway it cost him 3 bottles of beer – or rather six. 3 for me and three for the Skipper. I gave the pencil back to him about 3 days later and he seemed a little taken back because he had failed to think of the possibility of being out of lead. He told me if I couldn’t fix it just to keep it. I sure would have liked to – had his name etc. but I didn’t have the heart to be that dishonest. The above has no point only I was just bragging. It’s a true story – ever bit of it.

Well, I’ve shot my wad for today.
Love Daddy

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/2014/10/09/the-generals-pencil-roscoe/

First President of the Rotary (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 13, 1943 envelope

: July 13, 1943, p. 1

: July 13, 1943, p. 2

: July 13, 1943, p. 3

: July 13, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran
July 13, 1943

Dear Mother,
Yesterday your letter of June 24 came and one from Ruth Y. of June 22. I thought possibly the pictures of D. would be in this one but then I remembered that you said you would send them next week. It has been a week since I received that letter from you but this letter was only 2 days older than the one in which you told of the pictures.

I don’t know if I told you that Uncle Wess had sent a Rotary news week of their own club in Chicago. Well, it had an

[page 2] item in it about the first president of Rotary and it gave a short account of his life. Well I “sorta” get a kick out of having my friends read it and then claiming him as my uncle. I’ll have to write him and give him the low down.

My ambition got the better of me yesterday and I constructed that long talked of rat trap and we have a rat this A.M. to prove the merits of the trap. It’s a type of gang plank where the rat walks out to get a piece of cheese held by a wire beyond the balance point. So Mr. Rat walks out and takes a dip in

[page 3] a 5 gallon can filled about half full of water. We heard it trip two other times but I guess the rat was too nimble. With a little rearranging I believe I can make it 100% instead of 33⅓% as it now is.

I wrote some time ago about changing the allotment but I think I’ll just leave it as is and send what extra money I have home ever so often. As far as I can see it’s just as good one way as the other and if it is left as is you will always get your $200 but if the mail would get crossed as it did with the uniform, your 200 might stop and

[page 4] the new fail to start. If one of the checks I send home gets lost we can always get the numbers and check it that way. I think I’ll continue that way for a while at least and in the next week or 10 days will be able to send a check. That is as soon as a pay day arrives. The amount of the check I can’t say because I don’t know how much there is there. I’ve written all that before but just a little alteration in plan.

You said something about the hot weather in your letter. At Noumea the wind would blow but here it’s always calm and that makes the heat a little more severe. Yes I’ve had practically 14 month of hot weather now beginning at Norfolk Va.

Well, must be on the move
Love Daddy

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/2014/10/07/first-president-of-the-rotary-roscoe/

Lettuce (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 12, 1943 envelope

: July 12, 1943, p. 1

: July 12, 1943, p. 2

: July 12, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 12, 1943

Dear Mother,

Another Monday rolling along. Yesterday an air mail letter came from the folks. It was dated June 23. The latest from you was June 22. I believe there will be more mail in the next few days. It seems to run like that.

I’m completely floored as to anything to write as I have often been before and a few words like this might serve as a starter offer.

Some officers came in yesterday who had left the

[page 2] States in early June and they were giving us the low down on rationing, prices and conditions in general. Things must have changed back there and we would probably notice it more that others who have been there and accepted the changes gradually.

I haven’t heard from Joe R. since he was here nor have I written to him. There really isn’t much to write about for he knows as well as I what goes on in the area.

My lettuce was growing a little and then one morning it was all gone – evidently the rats

[page 3] or worms or something liked the green because it was all mowed down and gone. I guess cocoanuts and jungles are all that can survive here unless something is added in the way of fertilizer.

The boy is here cleaning and throwing things around and that doesn’t add much to the ability to concentrate. The only good feature about that is the clean sheets that are added to the bunk on Monday.

Well, that’s all for today.
Love Daddy

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/2014/10/05/lettuce-roscoe/

A Paradise of the Southwest Pacific (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 11, 1943 envelope

: July 11, 1943, p. 1

: July 11, 1943, p. 2

: July 11, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 11, 1943

Dear Mother,

A bright sunny Sunday morning on a paradise of the south W. Pacific. The above statement might be true or I should say might have been more true to me had I been allowed to spend such before the war or if after the war but as it is now I’m afraid the glamour of the Isles is wasted. I think I’ve gone into that more times before but I

[page 2] just had that feeling at the moment.

It’s funny the things one thinks of at times – maybe before we didn’t have time to think or perhaps didn’t take time – but now the long evenings are used largely for thinking. For example I often wonder where and under what circumstances our reunion will be – at home, California – N.Y., Norfolk, etc. Then maybe a more important item – when – There too as a good matter for thought and/or should I say mental projection.

[page 3] The above is entirely pointless as far as news are concerned but the only news we’ve heard is via radio of on Italy and New Georgia. We hope both are true and not the imagination of news reporters.

Both tent mates are very busy reading so conversation is at a low ebb, but even that doesn’t seem to help me write any more

Love Daddy

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/2014/10/03/a-paradise-of-the-southwest-pacific-roscoe/

Like Brothers (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 10, 1943 envelope

: July 10, 1943, p. 1

: July 10, 1943, p. 2

: July 10, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.
July 10, 1943

Dear Mother,

This is one of those days when writing seems a hard job to do but as time goes along maybe I’ll think of something.

Another one of our friends was transferred – left this A.M. That seems to be the way things go just like I’ve written before – make friends and then part. This friend I’m writing about this time is Commander Fredricks who was the boss man around here for some time. We spent many hours together and talked lots about the facts of live.

[page 2] There really are only a few of the pioneers left here – I mean of those that came to this place, and part of that bunch was from our original group so we almost feel like brothers.

When one fellow leaves we often wonder who the next will be and then we also wonder who will be the last. I don’t think any of us will have a chance to go back to the States together.

Up to now this letter has sounded like a last will or something so better get off of that line.

This is the regular day for inspection – in the Navy one

[page 3] can always be sure of Sat. because that means beans for breakfast and inspection. Don’t know if the combination is necessary or whether it’s a custom. I’d think either one or the other should be put off a day.

Another Newton Co. E. came yesterday but there didn’t seem to be much startling news. Just the regular fellows home on leave and others leaving. I noticed a few issues ago that Geo. Dye left. Is that the Geo. of the Lumber co. or same is there another Geo.?

Well, I’m all run down.
Love Daddy

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/2014/10/01/like-brothers-roscoe/

A Keen Interest (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 9, 1943 envelope

: July 9, 1943, p. 1

: July 9, 1943, p. 2

: July 9, 1943, p. 3

: July 9, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O.
July 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mails of 6-21 & 22 came yesterday as well as the ones the boys wrote for Father’s Day. So v-mail isn’t so terribly slow.

I have all the dope regarding the checks I sent and also the Insurance loan etc. So that will or rather can be dropped from the subject matter of future letters. Yesterday an officer was here from my old stomping ground and he told me

[page 2] Drs. Porterfield and Williams were still coasting along as per usual. I’m still very much pleased that I was able to leave there because this has been a much more exciting and enjoyable duty. It however now is beginning to come monotonous but I suppose we can stand that OK.

The rats have taken a keen interest in our then tent and seem to be everywhere at all times during the night. Here and there they can be heard jumping around and one

[page 3] “sorta” expects them to make a mistake and land right in the middle of nude anatomy but so far all has been well.

I didn’t know that there were any pea fields around Kentland. That must be something new – maybe a war measure that has been developed since I left there.

I got a v-mail letter from Red & Ruby Brewer. It seems funny but I was just thinking of them only a day or two ago. She said the boy was nearly 4 years old – Just doesn’t seem possible but I guess it’s true.

[page 4] I keep think[ing] of those babies and kid as I knew them over a year ago now.

The conversation started and the letter writing almost stopped – The conversation was nothing to brag about but it was enough to slow down writing.

So far no time set for pay day but I think it will come in a few days I’ll let you know when

So Solong Love Daddy

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/2014/09/29/a-keen-interest-roscoe/

11 Months Ago (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 8, 1943 envelope

: July 8, 1943, p. 1

: July 8, 1943, p. 2

: July 8, 1943, p. 3

: July 8, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
July 8, 1943

Dear Mother,

Again we have another month behind since this is the 8^th and we left Moffitt Field way back 11 months ago. Maybe that means something, maybe it doesn’t – we don’t know.

Your letter posted July [sic] 18 came yesterday and it answered questions which I asked about that loan and the Ins. policy payment so you can skip the answer I asked for a few days ago. You gained a few dollars in that deal because the entire

[page 2] amount of the loan was around 250 and the money I sent home was around 280. I hope that will help keep you going. I’ll, as I told you before, send some money as soon as it can be obtained here for the other loan and also for you to have a little surplus or for bonds.

The Newton Co. E. came yesterday again and I noticed the rules and regulations for the coming black out were printed. Maybe I’d better not express any

[page 3] my opinions on that as you have my reactions already.

I hope the picture you had taken of D. will be good. He is rather a good looking baby according to the pictures I have already. Must have received his looks from his good looking Mother. You know I think she is OK, not only in looks but numerous other ways.

The book I wrote you about yesterday is really worthwhile and if possible be sure to get

[page 4] a copy to read. I’ll repeat the title “The Consultation Room” by Fredric Loomis. I’m sure you would like it.

Geo. is moving back into our tent today. The other M.D. left so now there are only two – The dentist and myself. So Geo. is coming back to keep our spirits – either up or down. Depending whether we are talking of Nevada or Indiana – The other fellow here is from La. so he just isn’t in the picture at all –

Love Daddy

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

Consultation Room (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 7, 1943 envelope

: July 7, 1943, p. 1

: July 7, 1943, p. 2

: July 7, 1943, p. 3

: July 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran
July 7, 1943

Dear Mother,

Chores for this morning all over and as you note its writing time and also cleaning time. The boy just came in to sweep and tidy up the place as best he can. The table I described for you the other day is a little hard to do much with.

That letter of May 16^th that I wrote might be early was as you have guessed and I summarized in all probability in this fellow’s pocket. As I

[page 2] remember there was not anything of importance in it so I’m at a loss to repeat any of its content. For that matter all but a very few of my letters could be lost and nothing of importance would be passed up.

The letters I receive are as efficient, interesting and desirable as the person who writes them. I’ll admit that last sentence is a little mix up but I believe you’ll get the meaning. I’m trying to complement but things like that are hard for me to write: you know I’m not much

[page 3] to praise the good things but very outspoken when things are not to my liking.

I’m reading a book “Consultation Room” – written by a Dr. It to me is a good book but I’m not so sure the general public would go for it. It’s the most refreshing medical reading I’ve done since leaving home and it sure makes me home-sick to be in private practice again. The book is written by Fredric Loomis and published by Alfred A. Knopf if you

[page 4] can get a copy you might be interested since you are pretty close to the Med. Profession. I think you probably would recognize some of the stories the author describes because they are so real. I haven’t had as many as he has had but he was in practice a long time.

Well, I’ve taken a small amount of subject matter and stretched in a long way – hope it is readable for you

Love Daddy

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

Without Any Qualification Whatsoever (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 6, 1943 envelope

: July 6, 1943, p. 1

: July 6, 1943, p. 2

: July 6, 1943, p. 3

: July 6, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

July 6, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Out of yesterday’s mail I received 3 letters: 2 from you and one from Mom. Yours were postmarked June 17 and 21. Hers was June 15.

You said you had paid off the insurance loan but didn’t say how much it was but I guess it doesn’t make any difference, and you never did say whether or not this June was the last payment. Probably all those answers are in the mail by now. I wrote the other day that I was going to increase the allotment and was going to send you a check just in case there was a mix up in the allotment change.

[page 2] but so far we haven’t drawn any money nor have I had an opportunity to increase the allotment. If I get that done before the 15^th of July it should become effective by Sept. 1. So you really should get your regular 2 check the first of Aug. I think I’ll leave the $30 one as is but increase the $170 so that in case I’m not able to make it on what I allow myself later on all I’ll have to do it drop the $30. I haven’t decided yet as to how much I’ll increase that to because since the promotion I haven’t had a pay and don’t know exactly how much I’m drawing. I’ve told you all this before I think but maybe I’ve added a little more.

[page 3] Seems to me from the way you wrote that D. needs a little spanking now and then. It won’t hurt to use the old tried and true method of hand persuasion now and then and he is old enough to receive such when his temper seems to be getting the better of his level headed and should I say beautiful mother. Remind me to have him apologize for being rude when I get home. I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I mean every word I say and as you know I’d make him mind if I were there. The other part – the last part – I mean also without any qualification whatsoever.

The rats were terrible in our tent

[page 4] last night. Seems as if there were a few peanuts left in a can. I didn’t know they were there or the rats wouldn’t have had a chance.

I’m all exhausted from watching a sailor with a sack over his side and a stick with a nail in the end spearing little bits of paper and cigarette butts. Just like in the parks at home. He made about 6 jabs at one small piece – really I think he just chewed it all to small bits and then kicked them all over the place.

Well, my usual amount of paper is gone so much [must?] say

Lots of Love
Daddy