Tag Archives: Russell Islands

Yen For Gardening (Roscoe)

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: June 16, 1943 envelope

: June 16, 1943, p. 1

: June 16, 1943, p. 2

: June 16, 1943, p. 3

: June 16, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 16, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Yesterday was the 5^th successive day that mail came from you, however, yesterday’s letter was dated May 10 – old but nevertheless still appreciated. I’m really afraid the mail has been so good that it is spoiling us very much and a week’s delay would seem years, but I guess there is no need anticipating delays.

I’d gotten so many seed and after the first experience my yen for gardening waned.

[page 2] but my conscience bothered me so yesterday I selected another spot – got some lime out of the supply for the lead and some sandy soil and went at the gardening with renewed zest. So at present I have lettuce, carrots, onion seeds and radishes sewed. If my present ambition holds I may do a little more this P.M. The soil here just isn’t like back in Indiana.

I take lots of ribbing about Indiana – mostly brought on by myself because of boasting

[page 3] for example one can always get an argument as to the quality of corn fed beef from Indiana vs. the grass fed, tough so called beef from Nevada. And in the end they generally remark – Just so much “corn” from Indiana. And also Kentland is a wide place between cornfields, all of which is in the spirit of fun.

I asked you once before about the last payment on my Hancock policy – Is it this June? That may have been in one of the letters that were still missing. And also about the amounts of Insurance loans

[page 4] on your policy as well as on mine. If we can cut out the 6% on those that will be a help. I don’t like to exclude bonds all together and if I can increase the allotment and also get some of my money out of hack, maybe we can do both, but that remains to be seen. I’ll repeat I’d like to get those things out of the way so it won’t be so hard when I do get back to practicing again –

Well that all for now

Lots of 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/2014/08/14/yen-for-gardening-roscoe/

New Tent Mate (Roscoe)

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: June 15, 1943 envelope

: June 15, 1943, p. 1

: June 15, 1943, p. 2

: June 15, 1943, p. 3

: June 15, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Calif.
June 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

I did get a stamp for yesterday’s letter and was able to buy one dollars’ worth from a fellow so I’m pretty well set for a time.

The package of seeds came yesterday and the picture but the picture was pretty badly wrinkled. I thought you had sent the seeds in a regular air mail but coming as they did explains the delay. I’m going to make another try at gardening to see if something will grow in an

[page 2] eatable form.

My new tent mate – Dr. Thompson got several issues of Colliers, Sat. Eve Post and Esquire so our reading material has increased. All my old tent mates are scattered and now this Dr. and one of the dentists that used to be in Noumea are in the same tent. Funny how thinks keep changing from day to day. Geo is still in camp but his duties required that he live elsewhere and of course we have the medics off to themselves so that they can’t cause any harm.

[page 3] Several issues of the Newton Co. E. came also so I had to do some scanning to see if anything had been missed in the letters you and other people had written. I noticed in one issue that my address was now A.P.O. 43 and I also noted that this one and that one had been home on leave which sounds god and would be better if it would apply to other people I know. Patience will accomplish those things in time so why fret now.

I wonder if you listened

[page 4] to the radio news. We listened to KWID and heard ourselves mentioned. Sounds funny and also makes one feel he is going his duty by being a part of the thing. Wonder if the boys are still keeping newspaper headlines.

The moon is getting bright again and it sure does make things look pretty – shining on the ocean thru the palm trees but we like the dark nights better.

Well, hope we get some more mail today but I have a feeling 4 days in succession is the limit.

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/2014/08/12/new-tent-mate-roscoe/

Beg, Borrow, or Steal (Roscoe)

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: June 14, 1943 envelope

: June 14, 1943, p. 1

: June 14, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Calif.
June 14

Dear Mother,

Mail again yesterday – Yours of May 31 and June 1, also one from the folks of May 27. Seems as if we must have the mail carrier on our side but I still have my fingers crossed because I don’t believe it can last that way.

I’m completely out of stamps and unless I’ll be able to borrow one will have to send this free but I believe I can get one some how. It seems we were promised stamps but they just never arrived. I believe however in the next few days some will come thru.

Just stopped to re read the letters that came yesterday and I find there are no important questions to answer. From the pictures – as I remember I believe Mark was a little better looking than D. Don’t tell D. that, but of course pictures are not as reliable as the real thing.

Heard Jack Benny last night – came in about the same time it does at home on Sun. Eve. Of course it was a recording and Judy Garland was on and I believe it was Lawrence T. sang. It sounded like him but I didn’t hear the name mentioned.

Sent my laundry out early this A.M. and it should be coming back almost any time now and it looks as if it should be a pretty good day for drying. Didn’t send any sheets this week because

[page 2] the burden on the laundry seems to be pretty heavy and we were asked to cut down. One fellow had 7 shirts and 5 pair of pants last week. He must think he is some place where he ‘aint.’ Either very dirty or very clean I’d say.

The second uniform check should be drifting in before long I think it was May 13 when it was mailed and the other was a few days later.

I answered the Rotarian letter yesterday – Just another letter I couldn’t think of anything of interest to write so just put a few word together to show them I appreciated their letters. I suppose they will read it at their next meeting after receiving it.

A letter came from Barry the Mass. Salesman and that was the second but I didn’t answer the first because it came just at our moving time. I don’t like to use too much stationary etc in writing to people like that and after all it is a burden to write so many with so little which is writable.

Well I must get out and try to beg, borrow or steal some stamps –

Lots of 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/2014/08/10/beg-borrow-or-steal-roscoe/

“Foreign Service” (Roscoe)

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: June 13, 1943 envelope

: June 13, 1943, p. 1

: June 13, 1943, p. 2

: June 13, 1943, p. 3

: June 13, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 13, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

You will note that I cut the address down considerable on the inside – just lazy.

Yesterday your letter of May 25 came. It was the one with the hospital programs etc. The part that was most amusing was Dr. Holliday’s “Foreign service.” He was out of the States possibly 2 mo., maybe less, and then only on a ship which touched lightly at several islands. He of course doesn’t look healthy and never

[page 2] was much of an athlete. Played professional base ball only a few years ago. So much for that. I think that gives a cross section of the feeling the rest of us have about things like that.

A letter from the folks came yesterday also. It was written May 27. The most news it gave was the fact that they might be great-grandparents – which just goes to prove – well whatever you want it to prove – but if you’re not interested just drop the subject. The above was merely diarrhea of words and constipation of thought, which one gets afflicted with at times.

[page 3] I haven’t answered the Rotary letters yet but will get in the mood one of these days.

You have mentioned several times about my clothes being stored. Don’t worry about them because I doubt very much if they will be any good and I’m not going to buy as much as I did before because those whites and that blue top coat were a waste of money and next time I’ll buy only what I need for where I need it.

I’ll have to leave those things there however because I might get sent to a colder climate

[page 4] before going home. I think I’ll be able to go back there and pick them up when I’m thru here.

You told me one time what that loan amounted to but I forgot so if you think of it write it again. As an investment the paying of the loan on your policy would be as good as any since that costs 6% also, but I don’t suppose there is enough money for that. You might consider that if there is any spare –

Well, I’ve jumped from here to there etc.

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/2014/08/08/foreign-service-roscoe/

Vacation in Cleveland? (Roscoe)

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: June 12, 1943 envelope

: June 12, 1943, p. 1

: June 12, 1943, p. 2

: June 12, 1943, p. 3

: June 12, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Received your air mail letters of May 26, 27, 28 & 29 so you see things are really picking up. Two days on straight with late mail is really something.

Hope Mark got along OK with the tonsil business. He probably won’t be so keen about medical goings on after taking ether. There was one thing you wrote which I didn’t like and that was both boys riding on the bike at the

[page 2] same time. I think that should be discouraged very firmly.

It doesn’t sound as if you have too much of a bank balance but I believe those figures were just before the monthly deposit. At least I don’t believe I would buy any bonds each month unless you can see your way pretty definite.

You mentioned receiving the 150 and said the others hadn’t come yet but surely those have arrived by now.

Of all things there was a USO show here yesterday. All male

[page 3] actors however. It was a short distance from here and I didn’t feel it necessary to attend but a number of the men did and seemed to enjoy same.

I received a letter from Hicky. Yesterday and fully 2/3 of it was censored so I don’t know much of what he wrote – Mostly was “Hello Doc,” and Hicky at the end. I’m going to send it back to him and tell him to be more careful of the details.

Your garden seed never did

[page 4] arrive but maybe it’s just as well since gardening doesn’t seem so profitable. However, I’m going to keep on trying with what I have.

I showed the commanding officer your pictures the other day and he drew out his wife’s picture and said “Doc I believe they would pass for as sisters” and I think he is correct. Poor woman. We plan a vacation for us in Cleveland when we get home. Not Kentland because we are afraid of being bothered by patients – So it’s Cleveland. Spend some time on Lake Erie etc. Then to Reno. No not divorce but a visit there,

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/2014/08/06/vacation-in-cleveland-roscoe/

Rotary Club (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: June 11, 1943 envelope

: June 11, 1943, p. 1

: June 11, 1943, p. 2

: June 11, 1943, p. 3

: June 11, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lt. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Yesterday was a big letter day – 5 from you – V-mail of 5-14 & 19, air mail of 5-7, 5-19 & 5-20. And then 15 V-mail from members of Rotary. I began reading the V-mail and noted one or two from fellows and then someone explained what they were doing so I saw the pint. It sure was a surprise and I might say a pleasant one.

You might check with Al C. to see about my dues. I believe I’m paid up until July 1^stMaybe they won’t charge anything but

[page 2] if they do, pay it and get the receipt and send it to me.

In one of your letters there were pictures. D by himself, with John, and then the one with you and the boys. I looked at the pictures before reading the letter and it surely looked as if John had grown lots, but you explained how you were standing so that indicated he hadn’t grown so much.

There is another Dr. living in the tent with me now and I showed him the pictures. I asked him about his children and he said “I hang my head” – He has

[page 3] three girls. I tried to console him as best I could. Don’t you think I was correct in doing that little thing?

Since I’ve been writing four cocoanuts have fallen just outside and last night one smacked the tent top. In the middle of the night a direct hit on the tent gives one a thrill for a few seconds as you might imagine.

From the looks of D. I’ll have to hurry home or he will be sent out to release me because he is getting to be some boy. Tell Mark the uniform in OK. Because

[page 4] there has been a change and his is probably the later Navy design – one that I haven’t seen as yet.

Never did get to that rat trap for Chappie. He informed me this morning at Chow that one was on his table and knocked off a bunch of things – so I’ll have to make an added effort today.

I’ll write the Rotarians a letter one of these days. Can’t answer each letter individually but will for the group.

Well, wish I would get letters like that every day. Especially the ones from you –

Love Daddy

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/04/rotary-club-roscoe/

Navy 609 (Roscoe)

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: June 10, 1943 envelope

: June 10, 1943, p. 1

: June 10, 1943, p. 2

: June 10, 1943, p. 3

: June 10, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 10, 1943
Lieut R. F. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San F. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Your letter of May 24 and John’s of May 15, came yesterday. Also got one from Joe R. The one from Joe wasn’t sent thru the mail. It came by a Dr. who was passing along. My mail to you should be much better now than some time ago and I hope yours will be better in this direction. So much for mail.

You said you had received one check of the uniform money so that won’t have to be written

[page 2] about any more – wish now I would have put them both in that envelope. Hope you didn’t have any trouble with the check since I didn’t sign it.

Joe said he hadn’t gotten much news from home but I don’t know if he meant his letters were slow or that news were slow. I guess his wife knows his address has been changed now to Navy 609*. However his location is still the same.

I was very fortunate yesterday in getting a pillow. Of course I have no slip but instead I use a mattress

[page 3] cover. It’s a little large but does very well. It’s a little hard to find the pillow in that large a slip.

When you send me things like sardines etc. does that deduct from your ration points? If so don’t do it. If not you might send some sardines, canned chicken or any items like that but no Spain, Vienna sausage or such – Don’t do it if it cuts down on your own ration points. Olives or shrimp if available and shippable would be fine. The last bunch of sardines never did arrive so don’t include too many in

[page 4] one box.

The garden seed you sent never did arrive but as I told you yesterday or day before it’s too shady and it’s useless unless I can find a more sunny spot.

Well, the ten month period of our leaving the states is now passed and we are going into the eleventh – Steps closer to coming home I hope. At least something to live for and to look forward to.

Must get going so
Solong
Love Daddy

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

*Navy 609 is the classification of Mobile Hospital #8

‎

Clay City News (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: June 9, 1943 envelope

: June 9, 1943, p. 1

: June 9, 1943, p. 2

: June 9, 1943, p. 3

: June 9, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 9, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S. F. Calif.

Dear Mother,

All done with morning chores and the most terrific thing I could do was take a fellow’s finger nail off. He had a little infection back of it that wouldn’t heal so I just jerked it off.

I think I told you about receiving a letter from Rev. McCloud some time age and I just got to thinking of some of the things he wrote. He explained that Kentland was having dim outs or black outs and that he and Chet L. were the big bosses

[page 2] in their block. That’s a laugh. I don’t mean the He and Chet but the black out – business. From our stand point or view point it is amusing but in a way it isn’t so bad because it gets the people at home in a better frame of mind. I remember at Norfolk when Mr. “Such a Nice Man” had a dim light on in his upstairs room and was bawled out something terrible for not turning it out. And also one wasn’t allowed to smoke even on the porch, but such is life in different places

[page 3] and under different circumstances. We’ve been here now for some time as you know and we’ve enjoyed what we are doing and I might say almost all have gotten a kick out of doing it.

I haven’t heard from Joe R. or Hicky since writing them but I expect an answer very soon because as I’ve said before we aren’t far apart. Of course I could be mistaken.

Yesterday two Clay City news came and some cigarettes from Ruth M. The cigarettes were in A-1 condition. Not a mark or mar

[page 4] on the entire package. I really don’t get much kick out of the C.C. news because many of the names are foreign to me. However there was three items about the family – Wilma graduating, Floyd moving and Mrs. R. S. Yegerlehner and three sons visiting. They were the Apr. 16 and 23 issues, and of course I knew all of those items before. I did see where lots of the boys were home on leave which makes one wish more than somewhat.

Well parts of this have been very vague but as strong as I could make them –

Love Daddy

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

Finally Got Some Mail (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: June 8, 1943 envelope

: June 8, 1943, p. 1

: June 8, 1943, p. 2

: June 8, 1943, p. 3

: June 8, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 8, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Finally got some mail from you – your air mail letters of May 15-16 and May 17, and v-mail of May 12, 21 and 22. The v-mail was latest but Geo and another fellow got air mail dated May 28 – somehow it just doesn’t seem I score as well as I used to, but I won’t complain as long as they keep coming, but as I advised write each every other time if possible to do so. Mark’s letter was in with yours of

[page 2] May 15 but John’s v-mail hasn’t arrived as yet.

The garden seen you sent is still on the way someplace and it might be like the package I sent you from Noumea. The seeds I did sow don’t seem to be doing to well. I think it’s too shady. That might be hard for you to understand but have you ever been in a cocoanut area? There is pretty much of an umbrella growth over head and try as you may there aren’t any areas but what are like that only on the beach and that

[page 3] is hardly the place for a garden. Your letters came late yesterday and I had a hard time getting them read. The interference I had wasn’t the same as yours but I believe more annoying but that’s the way things go, so what?

I don’t believe I would make Mark work any arithmetic out of his L. pad. Encourage him to read for pleasure and a good little problem once in a while involving some of the principles concerned would be OK, but don’t make

[page 4] it a burden for him in the summer time. The cornet idea is good and should be purchased for him if the money is there and maybe a few private lessons if the cash is available. That might help keep him in line as much as hard & cold arithmetic problems.

Lentz and a few of my former friends have been sent to New Zealand for a rest. That was some months ago. Hope they don’t do that to me. I’d rather go thru here and serve my time and then head for U.S.A.

Well, that about takes care of the present –

Love Daddy

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

Rat Trap for the Chaplin (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: June 7, 1943 envelope

: June 7, 1943, p. 1

: June 7, 1943, p. 2

: June 7, 1943, p. 3

: June 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Here it is 0845 and I have my morning chores all done and my weeks laundry all on the line drying – with good prospects of them being dry in pretty short order because the sun is shining nicely.

Last night at 2400 I was awakened by a messenger calling one of my “cell” mates to go on guard. Then I for some reason wasn’t able to go back to sleep so I began thinking of what I might write

[page 2] you out of the ordinary and try as I might no subject would come so you see even after concentrated effort I’m unable to do any better and I hope you will understand. This subject matter of weather and laundry is a bore even to me as I write it so often.

I’m certain now that v-mail is faster than air mail and you might say make up your mind but things change so to be on the safe side why don’t you make them half and half? And then they there will be no doubt.

By the way of repeating – about

[page 3] one month ago I sent two checks one for 150 and one for 100 – the uniform money and then a few days later one for 32⁶⁰ for your travel. All were in separate letters and the first was unsigned which I forgot to do but you should have no trouble if Ed Barce had your power of att. fixed correctly.

I must go see Chappie today as he is having no results with his rat trap. He claims there are dozens in his tent every night – so we went into details on how to build one but so far no luck in catching them. I stopped by last evening

[page 4] and he had it all wrong according to my way of thinking so I’m going to suggest drastic changes. I’ll let you know the results later – you know the old saying “If you build a better rat trap the world will beat a path to your door.” Well visualize if you can a path thru cocoanut trees and other obstacles ad infinitum. But why worry about that because the improved version will probably not be so hot either?

Well, I’ve mixed rat traps, laundry, insomnia, mail and finances into one letter – hope you can wade thru without holding your nose or getting in over your boot tops –

Love Daddy