Tag Archives: Russell Islands

To Begin With (Roscoe)

: April 4, 1943 envelope

: April 4, 1943, p. 1

: April 4, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

To begin with address my mail to Navy 224 % Fleet Postmaster for really I believe that will be better and as you might say – make up your mind. This has been a damp, hot Sunday with work going on at all times and no Sunday let down. In fact while everybody else was working I built a small end table to keep my pipe tobacco etc. We are gradually getting squared away and living conditions will really be on the up and up.

In your letter of sometime ago you asked me about the lawn subbery [shrubbery] and as I see it and as previously planned – Really uniform small shrubbery especially like Lloyd’s In scattered locations and not directly set in front of the house should be most desirable but you can use your own judgment since

[page 2] things might look different since I left and the shrubbery we have planted may influence the arrangement of the new, anyway use your own judgment.

As usual I’ve written the Folk today their usual Sunday letter and now it is getting just a little dark and raining slightly. In fact I’ve stopped once to fill a canteen from the tent roof because the water tastes better than otherwise.

Don’t forget the address and don’t forget to send the radish, lettuce and carrot seed. One package in each letter. I also told Mom to send some so maybe one or the other will get here. Right now would be as I see it a very opportune time but I suppose it will be July before the seeds get here.

Well, the space is all gone and so is the daylight so solong,

Love Daddy

[Editor’s note: This is the second time Roscoe has used the family “code” to let Gladys know his location. Can you find it?]

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/2014/03/24/to-begin-with-roscoe/

Mold and mildew (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: April 3, 1943 envelope

: April 3, 1943, p. 1

: April 3, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 3, 1943
Lieut R S Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Received a letter from Mark thanking me for the birthday present and a V-mail letter from you dated Feb. 10 so neither of them were very newsy but very welcome even at that. I’m afraid I’ll be spoiled for mail has been coming rather regular again. We got some news on regulations about mail and the maine one was to the affect that only V-mail in areas where it was available and I don’t know if it’s available here or not so you might try air mail more often again.

We are fairly well set in our new home but you

[page 2] know how moving etc is. I know when I get back I’ll have to buy everything new because my shirts pants etc are all mold covered. I aired my mattress cover yesterday and it smelled fine. Even had the mattress out for a while but today it’s the same old smell. I looked at my billfold today – The first time in ages and it was all moldy – even the money. So much for mold.

As usual there isn’t any tellable news so if I can find a stamp that will stick and an envelope that will unstick I’ll get this going.

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/2014/03/23/mold-and-mildew-roscoe/

Moving Day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 2, 1943 envelope

: April 2, 1943, p. 1

: April 2, 1943, p. 2

: April 2, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr 2, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

The postman told me he thought there was some mail but due to our changing our camp slightly he has been unable to sort out the mail so maybe tomorrow there will be letters we hope – V-mail is all that has been coming but some of the other fellows are getting mail – air mail some as late as Mar 10. And I wish you would address a few to Navy 224 again. Every other letter address Navy 224 % Fleet P.O. San Fran and the other A.P.O. 43. So maybe

[page 2] one or the other will get here. My latest letter from you was Mar 3 but you still used the address I used at the last station so you hadn’t gotten my new address as yet.

Our new tent has a deck and is all screened in – really it is as nice or nicer than at the last station. Maybe that’s a bad sign for as soon as things begin to be fixed up I move. There has been no indications of that but I’m a little suspicious.

You told me in the last letter

[page 3] to air my blues once in a while. Well I’m miles from them now and I’m not sure that Drs P & W sent them. I wrote them and asked them to store them rather than send them home and they wrote they would take care of them but didn’t say in what way so don’t worry if they don’t arrive because they may be stored there.

This is a little mixed up but you know how it is on moving day 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/2014/03/21/moving-day-roscoe/

Sorry to hear of the measles (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 1, 1943 envelope

: April 1, 1943, p. 1

: April 1, 1943, p. 2

: April 1, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr 1, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster, San Fran

Dear Mother,

Got more mail today – 6 v-mail letters from you one from Sykes, one from Schlegels and one from Mark. The last date was yours of Mar 3. Sorry to hear of the measles but guess one can’t escape those things always. The blood idea of Dr. M. is good and under the circumstances I think the thing to do. I would have however given Immune serum a preparation put out by Sharp & Dome I think but the blood idea is not bad

[page 2] and there isn’t any doubt in my mind that the boys probably all three have by now had the measles because they are very contagious. Hope they will get along swell with them.

On valentine day you told of it being so cold – I was on board a ship that day and was it hot I remember very well.

The tax figure of 200 sounds a little high and but of course that file has already been filed so that is the amount but I can’t be too certain because I did not have any figures. I mean deductible figures. Anyway

[page 3] we will have enough to pay them OK. And next year we won’t have to worry because the total taxable figure will be a little less than $2600⁰⁰ because as you know taxes are figured only on base pay and not what I sent to you. Except the victory tax which I don’t know much about yet. Anyway don’t worry about what I think because really at present I have other things to think of.

Well we are having a little April shower today which is the way Apr. should come in –

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/2014/03/21/sorry-to-hear-…measles-roscoe/

A little trip in a jeep (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: March 31, 1943 envelope

: March 31, 1943, p. 1

: March 31, 1943, p. 2

Wed Mar 31, 1943

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Just got back from a little trip in a jeep and those are always tiresome because of the rough riding but In time I guess we’ll get used to the beating and bumping.

We now have a table and I’m writing on it – the first in some time maybe you can tell the difference but I doubt it very much. I think in a few days we’ll have our quarters fixed

[page 2] so that they will be half way livable. For one thing we will have only 4 and that will be a relief as five is pretty crowded.

We are having another damp spell. In fact it’s wet but we are pretty well used to that also.

Well, there isn’t another thing that I can think of which is writable so solong

Lots of Love

Daddy

P.S. In yesterday’s letter I asked for lettuce & radish seed. Include also a package of carrot seed

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/2014/03/20/a-little-trip-in-a-jeep-roscoe/

One Year Ago Today (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: March 30, 1943 envelope

: March 30, 1943, p. 1

: March 30, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar. 30, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster San Fran.

Dear Mother,

I remember well one year ago today when I steamed so quietly into Chicago to take my physical exam for this man’s navy – much has happened since then and as Deloris said in her letter I covered a lot of water since then. That is just in the way of retrospect.

This P.M. went swimming – went out where the big breakers roll in and almost got tossed several times but didn’t – Mr. Howell who was with me got his finger

[page 2] cut on a sharp piece of coral. Maybe my balance was better. Only things my feet are tender from the rough stuff.

I put a P.S. on yesterday’s letter and it seems to me I forgot to finish it. At present I really don’t remember what was it was I was saying but I really didn’t mean to be rude by stopping in the middle of the thing.

I wish you would send me a package of lettuce seed and a package of radish seed. Just drop them in an envelope and send them. I believe we could do pretty well if we had the seed. Surely things would grow in a hurry.

Well, I’ve exhausted myself for today – 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/2014/03/13/one-year-ago-today-roscoe/

Finished my laundry (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: March 29, 1943 envelope

: March 29, 1943, p. 1

: March 29, 1943, p. 2

: March 29, 1943, p. 3

: March 29, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Mon Mar 29, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster – San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Finished my laundry this A.M. but it being a cloudy damp day there isn’t any drying going on. My towels, underware etc are getting very smuggy looking and even boiling them for about one hour didn’t help – guess I should have some bleach but after all is said and done just so the smell is out of the things. I’ll have to buy lots of things when I get back to civilization. It sure will be funny to have lights at night and have running water and a few of the other things we always seem to take for granted. Other than a match

[page 2] I haven’t seen a light for about 1 ½ months. All that just shows you how sorry I’m feeling for myself.

You said the floor in the den was sloping toward the piano – where did you put it in the living room? And what will keep it from doing the same thing. Have Link take a look – and maybe he could put in some sort of a brace or post to keep the same from happening there – I don’t mean he would put it in but he could make suggestions and you could have someone else to do the work.

I have no complaints to make in the least about your clothes for I feel that

[page 3] you were due some and anyway I sent you enough money for your own use but I guess you bought bonds too much. What the heck just so you have enough money to keep everything going. Since Feb 12, I’ve spent about $12.00 – $5.40 for mess bill while – aboard ship and $3.60 for a case of pineapple juice. And the rest for cigarettes, tobacco and stamps and some stationary. So you see I have really been economizing. Wasn’t anything else to be bought. Just started to rain so must get the buckets out.

1943-02-15 Mess receipt from U.S.S. John Penn

Mess receipt from the U.S.S. John Penn, February 15, 1943

Later – caught about 15 gal of pure rain water so can now take good bath etc.

The executive officer and I are about ready to mix a drink

[page 4] good and strong – lime juice and water – rain water. He is from Texas. He is a full commander. We seem to be pretty much alone so thought we would pass the time away but he has been called to the telephone and I’m writing while he has gone. Maybe it sounds funny that I should say telephone but we do have them.

Well, it’s about time we went ahead with our P.M. drink so – solong until tomorrow.

Love Daddy

P.S. I’d like to see the red outfit.

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

Hot sultry and rain (Roscoe)

5 Replies

: March 27, 1943 envelope

: March 27, 1943, p. 1

: March 27, 1943, p. 2

: March 27, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Mar 27, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

This is one of those afternoons when one struggles to keep from doing anything – Hot sultry and rain seems in the making. Seems as if I write about that same thing every day.

Yesterday I wrote Statons a letter in answer to theirs I received last Sunday. I told them to let you know when it arrived just checking to see how mail might go thru.

I haven’t been hearing the usual broadcast the past new nights so don’t

[page 2] [know] what stars were on. Nor have I heard any news for a few days. Just the local grapevine stuff – Here it doesn’t seem very important but at home if the papers and radio could put it out it would make pretty good reading.

Had a fresh orange today and those are much better than those at home but the outside instead of being nice orange color is very green. They lack the artificial coloring used in the States.

I hope this new address gets thru to you and back again for I believe it will help our mail, but it will never be good because almost all mail

[page 3] has to go thru the last station I was and I know how slow the whole affair was there.

It doesn’t seem that Apr. 1 is just around the corner but it won’t be long and with it your weather will be better I hope – Ours should get cooler by but in our location I can’t see that winter or summer makes much difference.

Well hope tomorrow will repeat in the way of mail that last Sun. did any we hope,
Love Daddy

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

In the Jungles Part II (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: March 26, 1943 envelope

: March 26, 1943, p. 1

: March 26, 1943, p. 2

: March 26, 1943, p. 3

: March 26, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Mar 26, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% Postmaster
San Fran Calif.

Dear Mother

We’ve had rain and clear spells today and you know that means a hot humid atmosphere. The humidity is with us all time so we are getting used to that. Each night about 3 A.M. there is a steady drip, drip from the trees on to the tent. That is one clear nights on rain nights it’s a run run.

The moisture in the jungles is most depressing – You have seen pictures of jungles but I’ll give you my impressions. As we entered – First there was a barbed wire fence. That I wasn’t sure whether it was

[page 2] intended to keep the animals out or in. At any rate on the jungle side there was pretty much of a wall of growth. I had a small had [hand] ax one of the others had a regular ax and the other fellow had a large corn knife like knife only it was a good three feet long. This was the best of all for he could swing it in both directions cutting vines and all vegetation as he came to them. Of course spiders, misquitoes toads flies and lizards were very much in evidence and the pay off was the large lizard about 3 feet long. The thing was had four legs which appeared to be a good 8 in. in length and

[page 3] about half of him was tail, the body being almost as big around as my wrist. The head was a miniature alligators. IT ran up a tree ahead of me and I was pretty glad at that.

Those long vines that Tarzan swings on aren’t fiction either. Some of them were as big around as an inch rope and also as plyable. We swung on one just to see if it would hold. It did. We were only in the jungles about one hour and during that time chopped some tall straight trees for tent poles but we were dripping with sweat and all petered out because of the hot and the high humidity. The ground with the leaves was very soft and

[page 4] even hard to walk in. There may have been fruits back in there but we only went in about as far as from our house to Foulkes. To [too] much work to get a road way, and I don’t mean for a car.

Some way some how some one butchered a cow last night and we got about 10 T bone steaks. We just picked them up with our fingers and ate them in a most primitive manner. They were very good. I can’t compare them with ours at home because its been to [too] long ago to make a comparison but they were indeed very good.

Well, I about exhausted the supply of paper and subject matter so solong
Love Daddy

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

In the Jungles (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: March 25, 1943 envelope

: March 25, 1943, p. 1

: March 25, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mar 25, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
A.P.O. 43
% P.M. San Fran

Dear Mother,

This again will have to be rapid due to another mess of fish and approaching darkness. This P.M. we were in the jungles getting native lumber (small trees) to build a better house to live in so that is why I didn’t get to this sooner. Sometime I’ll tell you more of the jungles but for the time being I’ll just say that I saw a lizard about 2 feet long – Looked just like an alligator but run along in the jungles and

[page 2] finally crawled a big tree. After the dirt and sweat of the jungle we had a swim in the Pacific – water nice and warm but the beach was rough.

Maybe I’ll be able to write more and better tomorrow after the fish dinner. So Solong
Love Daddy