Tag Archives: Russell Islands

Easter Sunday (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 25, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m starting this letter before breakfast. Just happened to be up a little early and time on hand. The talked of furniture is finished and I’m using it as a writing table at present – chow time

It is now 24 hours later hence your letter of 26th now beginning. Things came up that I just couldn’t get to writing again yesterday and I really feel badly but it just couldn’t be helped.

[page 2] I didn’t even have a chance to get my weekly letter out to the folk. It of course being Easter Sunday.

We had fresh meat yesterday and ice cream. I mean those were the unusual things and of course we enjoyed them very much.

I heard indirectly from Dr. P. & W. and everything back there seems to be as tough as it used to be. We just can’ help but feel sorry for them and

[page 3] really mean it.

It is now chow time again I had better get this thing wound up and into the mail before it lays for another day.

So solong
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/2014/05/06/easter-sunday-roscoe/

Good Friday and Easter (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 24, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m still in the midst of my furniture building but I’m progressing and think I can finish today if not bothered to much.

Good Friday came and went and Easter tomorrow – Really I wish I could find a nest of bunny eggs. There isn’t any fun in finding a can of powdered eggs. Just isn’t the proper atmosphere for our present tropical abode.

I’m wondering what the Easter parade will be like this

[page 2] year at home – coming as late as it does I imagine it will be warm enough to allow people to don their finery. Here the predominate color and preferable design will no doubt be Khaki with a dash of olive drab now and then.

Last night a commander and I sat and talked until about 1 A.M. Just plain talky talk neither of us realizing that the time was as late, but the moon was out and if we forget our personal grudges of the tropic it really was beautiful.

Must get going,
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 written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/04/good-friday-and-easter-roscoe/

Furniture Builder (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 22, 1943 [April 23, 1943]
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
%Fleet Postoffice San Fran

Dear Mother,

Yesterday when I wrote I said I was going to build some furniture but just didn’t get started so my intentions today are the same. So if I can find a hammer, saw etc I’ll be in the furniture business. We have an oil stove in the galley but it don’t seem to work – seems as if they have had all the engineering brains present to work on it and still no go. I told them at breakfast I could do the job, but

[page 2] that was out – guess they were afraid I could – I’ve fixed many of the things around the house and could have at least tried.
Just had discussion about a nudist colony in Nevada. Had to stop and listen – These boys insist I’ll have to come to Reno after the war but I say for only a visit. These officers here are all line officers and it’s a little different environment than I’ve been in before, but we all get along – However, we do have verbal fights but in the next few minutes things quiet down to a loud roar.

[page 3] we are going to have fish for dinner – one of the fellows went fishing yesterday and had pretty good luck. These fish are all strange to me no bass, blue gills or cat fish all tropical, but fish are fish – really I think the sea fish make one more thirsty afterwards due to the salt.
Well, guess I must get going –
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/2014/05/02/furniture-builder-roscoe/

Calf Liver and Onions (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 22, 1943

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR

Navy 60

Fleet Post office

San Francisco Calif.

 

Dear Mother,

Got three letters yesterday all v-mail dated the latter part of Mar. Mar 27 was the latest – Mark’s letter (air mail) of Mar 30 was the last received in it came 2-3 days ago.

Several things have happened which are of interest and also surprise. I was hit in the ear with a snowball the other evening – no I’m OK. The snow was made artificially and a bucket full was brought in and it was such a thrill

 

[page 2] that a commander picked up a handful made a snow ball and said, “Look out Jake here is comes” and wham he hit me in the ear – Really it felt good.

The other thing was fresh calf liver smothered in onions for nord noon day chow yesterday when I was invited out and fresh steak at our own mess for supper last night. And that wasn’t all we looked at and were able to bum some onions. We sliced them and ate them just as was. That was the first raw onion since leaving the U.S.A. I’m now yearning for a raw potato because

 

[page 3] the dehydrated have that well known something taken away. I’m not griping about the food but am elated at the addition.

I saw Helen Kline’s husband the day I left but could tell him nothing since I knew nothing at that time. He may have learned later – I’m sure Dr. P & W. are informed by now but you probably know as much by now as they.

Heindel, Dan & Helen (Kline) - Cambridge, MA 1942

Dan and Helen (Kline) Heindel, 1942 (Photograph courtesy of Judith Heindel Bowen)

Our length of stay is only a conjecture and I don’t think about it because if my thoughts were incorrect then I might be disappointed so we will just be patient

 

[page 4] and look forward and I believe the more content the quicker the time will pass.

If I can get the tools and material today I’m going to try to build a shelf to store my clothes so things won’t be so mussed up as they are most of the time.

Your vegetable garden idea sounds good but don’t overdo because after all that is hard work and the little extra that you might get won’t compensate for your overworking –

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/2014/04/30/calf-liver-and-onions-roscoe/

Chicken bones (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943 [April 21, 1943]
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Fran

Dear Mother,

Maybe I can do a little better today than yesterday but I’m a little pressed for time because I’m going out for dinner. I forgot to mention that a package came today yesterday. The chicken bones and its contents. The candy in the packages was very soft but and the ants beat me to it so unless things are in cans it is just no go. Anyway thanks. The end was out of the box so don’t know how much

[page 2] might have been lost. There were was the bone, two tubes of insect repellent, 3 other small packages of candy and some funnies. No sardines.

Got a letter from Ruth Y today telling me that Glenn Hofman was coming out but she hadn’t gotten the word of my change when she wrote and I’m afraid we won’t come in contact with each other.

Next Sunday being Easter I’ll wish you a happy one. Of course this is late but I did mention it before

[page 3] and while I’m on the subject the same for a happy mother’s day – which I guess is coming along sometime next month.

It’s about time for me to be shoving off to the dinner date so solong

Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. The chicken bones are good but not crisp as at home – make a good slow chewing candy.

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/2014/04/28/chicken-bones-roscoe/

This will have to be short (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
% F.P.O.
San Fran

Dear Mother,

This will have to be short and sweet because we are very busy with and have some censoring to do.

There was mail this morn. but I didn’t get much due to the fact that most of it was old. I did get one from you date Feb 19 and you asked in that for suggestions on the lawn and I did do that some time

[page 2] ago. Hope you have all the particulars.

The other letter was from Ruth M. but it was also old although all of that mail is still appreciated.

You will certainly have to excuse this but I wat want you to get the usual daily letter

So solong
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/2014/04/26/this-will-have-to-be-short-roscoe/

 

Alaska would be appreciated (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Apr. 19, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Have been buzzing around this A.M. as much as the tropic will allow but as a whole I’ve felt good since coming to this area, although Alaska would be appreciated along about now.

Glad to hear in your letter that finances are coming along OK but I’ll try to send a little home if there is any way to get some of that on the book. What I’d

[page 2] like to do is increase the allotment when and if I get to a place where that is possible. Sometimes when that is done the old ones have to be dropped for a month before the new starts and if that be the case I’d have to send some in order to tide you over. And the much talked of uniform money has not arrived also I think your transportation will be paid only one way to Norfolk. Even that is more than I expected but

[page 3] I’m beginning to wonder if any of that will arrive.

We didn’t have the steak for dinner yesterday but on the whole our chow is better than a few weeks ago with prospects of continual increase in “goodness.”

Well that’s all for this time –
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/2014/04/24/alaska-would-be-appreciated-roscoe/

All the mail came in (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Postoffice
San Francisco Calif

Dear Mother,

Since all the mail came in a day or two ago I hardly expected any to come today or for a few days yet but one never can tell. And we always hope.

The officers gave a sort of a party last night for the men – having a picnic lunch and some beer – I think everyone had a good time with maybe a few headaches this A.M. but not many because there wasn’t enough.

As yet I haven’t gotten to re-read your letters to the fullest extent and yesterday

[page 2] that letter I wrote was done so in the midst of much conversation so I’m not sure what all the content was. I can explain the whys and wherefores of these things later on.

Right now have a task to do – so solong

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/2014/04/22/all-the-mail-came-in-roscoe/

Air mail vs. v-mail (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Postoffice
Apr. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Mail has really been coming along. Yesterday P.M. I received most of your v-mail up to Mar 26. Also an air mail letter from Mark and Mom dated Mar 30. So you see air mail is really still faster than v-mail. Many of your letters were repeats but that is perfectly OK because we never know when or which letter will come thru. Glad Mark is able to be up and out again and but in the last letter from mom she said John was sent home from school not feeling well but

[page 2] Mark didn’t say anything about it in his letter so he probably just had a cold – although I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get the measles because they are very contagious.

A v-mail letter also came from Uncle W. and one from the Walkups – Those were dated in March right along with the same dates of yours.

Your idea of the Florida situation next winter sounds OK but not for me because I’m headed for Alaska. This one summer is too long and I think I would not be appreciate another 12 months of the same kind of weather. However I’ll give my opinion on you

[page 3] going down before next winter.

Yesterday I said I would send a v-mail but I didn’t because from what I learned v-mail is still not as good as air mail for our region.

I was really amused in your letter when you discussed or told of Paul coming up to find a manure spreader. Seems that was some distance to come for such.

Well, I have some work to do so must stop –
So solong
Love daddy

P.S. Use the address exactly as I have it written.

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

Russell IslandsImage by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license) 

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/20/air-mail-vs-v-mail-roscoe/

Navy 60 (Roscoe)

Letter transcription:

4/16/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224 60
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco

Dear Mother,

You will again note the change in address – just remove the 224 and put 60 in its place. I know that must be a little vexing or amusing the number of addresses I’ve had but there is a reason. This last one did not mean a change in location however.

Yesterday your v-mail letter of Mar 17, 18, 19 & 20 came and I’ve read them but will reread again before the next letter. Also got one from Ruth Y. – Floyd doesn’t do the writing in their family. I enjoy her letters OK and I understand how Floyd hates writing. I also got a

Yegerlehner, Floyd & Ruth - c1930s

Floyd & Ruth Yegerlehner (Photo courtesy of Tom Yegerlehner)

[page 2] card from the Clarence Prue family which was written way back in Jan. From the looks of the thing I think it must have traveled all over the U.S. before it came here.

Ruth M. sent me an extra stamp and sheet of paper so I used that in answering her letter.

There is a boy here from Gary Ind. We have been together since leaving the U.S. He is a Pharm. Mate 2nd class so at times we do have some things in common to talk about. All my Dr. friends are scattered but I hear fom some of them once in a while. I have a feeling that Dr. Walsh is back there some place. He was a little disappointing late to me in some ways.

I had room to put your pictures

[page 3] in the folder with the others you sent.

Again let me say write air mail more often with a v-mail also – say maybe every other day with each. I remember you mentioned in one of those v-mails the guessing that went on in Noumea (we can again use that name) when I first landed in Noumea. I suppose that is going on again and they may hit it by mere guessing.

If I get around to it I shall write you a v-mail today to get the new address to you and to see which goes faster.

Well for now I must get going –
Lots of Love
Daddy

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

Russell IslandsImage by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license) 

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/18/navy-60-roscoe/