Tag Archives: Russell Islands

Music Or Furniture? (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USRN
Navy 60 F. P.O. San Fran Calif.
Aug. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received several letters yesterday. Yours along about the 17th & 18th of July and also of July 30 & 31. That one Those came or rather were written after the folks were there and after you had bought the piano and also after you had received the big check. So they really brought things up to date pretty well. This is catty – did you get the piano for music or furniture? Both I hope – what I mean is I hope the musical side is good. Really I’m glad you got it because that old one was so heavy and cumbersome and I’m sure this one must be much easier to handle and nicer to look at.

[page 2] I didn’t make any specifications on what you spend that money for only that you pay the insurance loan which as I remember was around $170 plus, of course, interest. Glad you bought the bonds but don’t cut yourself to low – Maybe I can send some more in a month or two.

The tent is filled with conversation so concentration is a little difficult so will have to reread your letters and see if there is anything else that I should or want to comment upon.

Well, I’ve got to close this before I get something here that shouldn’t be for your ears because the convo is still going –

Lots of 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/2014/12/09/music-or-furniture-roscoe/

The Romantic Type (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

The picture would not be complete unless I told you the laundry got dry yesterday. So that is that for another few days.

You remember I wrote you one day about the topics to write about – Laundry was one, weather was one – mail was one – well I’ve hit laundry pretty hard in the past few days – weather hasn’t come in for much only in an indirect way relative to laundry – at that time I said the mail topic was always good. The topic might be good but the mail is again slow. I believe I forgot to tell you a letter came day before yesterday from E. Towers, Sr. It was written on Jan. 5. Seven months – I haven’t answered it yet. If you see he or the girls you might mention that I received such. I’ll try to answer it someday but writing is really a problem as I’ve so often told you.

If I were the romantic type I guess I’d have no trouble writing to you but you know

[page 2] how that is with me. I’ve read pages of stuff like that there! from boys to wives and girlfriends. Really it’s peculiar how many words there are that, shall I say possibly, sound well that have so little meaning to anyone else except the receiver of the letter – and in some instances I wonder! Some of those letters are fun – shame on me! I think someday I’ll fill a letter to you with the different ways a letter might start. There a lot which I hadn’t thought of, or rather a combination of words that are fitted together to express greetings which are I won’t say sensible but usable.

Now to criticize my own letter – most of it is just plain fitting words together in order to fill up space so that I can say I keep up the habit of writing every day maybe that is being a hypocrite but if we understand each other the hypocrisies (awful big word) are meaningless – anyway il I’ll close and let a lot of meaning be conveyed in

Lots of 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/2014/12/07/the-romantic-type-roscoe/

Ants in the Pants (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

From where I’m sitting I can see those poor clothes on the line trying to get dry and maybe they will today but they’ve been there since Monday. Maybe I should take them in and hang them around the stove.

Today marks another milestone in this career of mine – Six months ago today I left the last station. At that time six months would have seemed an infinity but looking back now it seems only a short time. Many things have happened since then and I will say the time has gone very rapidly and as pleasurable I’ll sure be pleased.

I don’t believe I’ve ever mentioned it

[page 2] before but we have had open air shows here for the past 3 or 4 months. I haven’t been a very regular attender but went last night and it was Fibber, Molly, Edgar B. and that bunch. It was a pretty good show but not as good as they are over the radio – just a little disappointing. Imagination of characters sometimes is better than the real characters – anyway it was a pretty good evening’s entertainment.

I’ve wondered lots whether Jim has any idea of when or where he may be sent out. Possibly he was just as certain as we are – That is he knew nothing. We all get itchy britches now and then to be on our way to someplace but now since I’ve been away from home I’m getting the proverbial ants but that possible won’t help any.

Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/05/ants-in-the-pants-roscoe/

Clothes Line Broke (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

As I stated in yesterday’s letter, there wasn’t any mail. It wasn’t too disappointing because after three straight days one hardly expects mail on the fourth day.

One thing you mentioned and I didn’t comment upon was the bill you were going to send Lloyd Tilton. I think that is OK provided you paid Geo. The bill we owed him. You wrote as if you had paid it but you never did say for sure. It would be swell if those things could be collected but I’ve given up hope long ago. I just want you to keep the records so those people can be remembered later on, but why worry about such things now.

This is getting well on with the time of the cast for D. I’ll bet you have a time keeping him off that foot and I doubt if a little weight on it will bother too much. This will of course get there too late for you

[page 2] to get much relief and I suppose you have almost worried yourself sick trying to keep him quiet – but Mother must not worry too much less her features be spoiled – beauty I mean. I’ve had many comments on your pictures. However as you said in most of the snap shots the camera was moved and the pictures weren’t clear, but I can still see you haven’t lost your beauty. I’m not try to be funny – I’m very much in earnest so don’t get me in the dog house with the Mother of my sons.

There is one little wee suggestion I might make for your mother – Ten drops of HCL in water with or after meals – yes, the same that you take for your eczema. Don’t however do it if she is getting better but if her stomach still bothers you might try a dose or two.

This is Wed. and the rain has kept our clothes wet so I’m going dirty because of lack of dry clean clothes – one fellow’s clothes line broke and you should see his sheets & other white clothes –

Space all gone – Lots of 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/2014/12/03/clothes-line-broke-roscoe/

A Favorable Answer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug 10, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your letter of July 27 came yesterday – That makes 3 days in succession that I’ve received mail from you so I hardly expect any further mail for several days. I hope I’ll be agreeably surprised but I’m afraid not. Yes the one letter that was most important – July 17 with the check was missing. I suppose it will be a month or more in getting there and you seem to need it rather badly but your regular checks will be there Aug. 1st so maybe that will help until this other comes tagging along.

You said D. was getting along swell in the cast – moving around

[page 2] etc. That cast probably won’t slow him down one bit. And about the criticism I think I expressed myself in yesterday’s letter so you know how I feel and further more I’ve repeated it several time – I think the boys have a wonderful mother who is really trying and getting results – more than she can see right now but results which will show themselves in years to come. So don’t criticize yourself for things that happen.

I know Commander Frerricks Frericks Frerricks (That is the correct spelling) had written the boys but I did not know what he was going to say. Really I think that is one person I was able to pull the wool over – because I believe he did think I was OK, and still does I hope. I wrote to his daughter (21 years old). She is a collector of Hotel Letter Heads and a fellow gave me a letter head of a hotel

[page 3] in Hawaii, and I wrote a little note on it and sent it to her for her collection. He told me when I was down to see him she was engaged – The boy in question had written him asking him the fatal question and he had given a favorable answer.

Well, there is a fellow waiting to do some work so will have to stop right now but maybe can fill up the space a little later –

Lots of Love (in case I don’t get to add more)
Daddy

Got thru sooner than I expected but now I can’t think of anything to say –
Hope you mother is improving. I feel so helpless about making suggestions
Again lots of Love
Daddy

Frerricks address is Navy 152 F.P.O. San Fran Calif

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

Lt. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, New Caledonia, 1942

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/01/a-favorable-answer-roscoe/

David’s Accident (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco, Calif.
Aug. 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your letters of 24, 25 & 26 came – The one you wrote while in the Hospital with D. and the latest after you had taken him home – It’s too bad a thing like that had to happen but from what you say I can’t see but what it was an accident and no one to blame. It’s just one of those things. You remember the time Red Brewer fell – no one would call that carelessness and I can see no reason why that could be called carelessness just because an adult was not carrying him – anyone can stumble – You will not the person who criticized first was the person who probably needed the most criticism about her children – So pay no attention “by them.” No doubt it is a little hard for you to take however because of the pressure you are under from your mother being sick, the responsibility of the home and boys and then the added pressure of the accident. Don’t feel too badly because I’m sure from the

[page 2] way you described the break it really isn’t serious. The most disheartening thing of the whole business will be seeing D. in the cast but don’t feel too badly about that because kiddies get used to casts much more readily than grown ups. The worst thing I see about the thing is the extra work it will make you in keeping him bathed and in the handling you have to do for him. It will no doubt slow his walking and don’t be alarmed when the cast is taken off because you will probably be able [to] see a marked difference in the size of that leg – due to a lack of exercise, but in a few months times hat should right itself completely – as I figure it he has been in the case now a little over two weeks and by the time you get this the cast will be removed. The boys won’t be in school as yet and they will be a help thru it all. As I see the whole thing it isn’t serious and probably won’t slow D. down to any appreciable extent so the thing to do is be thankful it isn’t any more serious. I know you have taken this attitude, and I’m certain the boys have a mother capable of meeting those situations but and

[page 3] I’m just sorry I can’t share the troubles more fully with you but this war is a little bigger than families. So much for that.

You will find a m.o. enclosed – It’s made out to you but – here is the story – while Commander Frericks was here he bought beer on numerous occasions and I always helped him drink it and offered to pay my share but he never would take it – he insisted I send the money home to the boys. I had never been able to purchase a m.o. until this a.m. so that’s that. It’s to be equally divided between the boys – when they receive it I think it would be nice if they (J & M) dropped him a line thanking him – Maybe that is asking too much for possibly you will have to do the writing. I’ll send his address in a day or two and you can do as you like about having them write.

I hope I’ve made myself clear about D.’s accident – please feel that I don’t blame anyone and I know things will come out OK. I know the boys have a wonderful mother and I know now she didn’t mean she wouldn’t send anymore pictures for there was on in yesterday’s mail of her and several

[page 4] of the boys – and one of Virginia Z. Thank a lot for them and Lots of Love from Daddy

YEG1943-07 David with a Zell girl

Virginia Zell holding David

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/29/davids-accident-roscoe/

Anxious (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

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

Aug. 8, 1943

Dear Mother,

As you will  note this is Aug. 8 and that really is some date for a few of us to remember. I wrote you a letter about 8 days ago of more or less retrospect of the year’s happenings to date – That letter could just as well have been written today but it seemed to be more appropriate at that time. In a big general way it has been a good year as far as the war is concerned. The enemy has been pushed back on all fronts in the Pacific and of course the European phase is also going good as far as news reports go. If things can just keep going during the next year

[page 2] maybe this thing won’t last too long.

Your letter of July 23 came yesterday. It was good that you could get a leave for Jim. I’m sure it will help your mother as well as anything. Jim must be pretty tired just staying in one place for over a year. Of course, he switched to Camp Peary but it has been more or less the same, I guess it hasn’t been too bad for him however, because Thelma has been near by and he was is also able to enjoy some of the benefits of modern civilization and these things are of value but maybe we don’t appreciate them until after being deprived of them for a period of time. He no doubt is anxious to get out of the country and after being out

[page 3] for a time will be just as anxious to get back. You see I can talk from experience. I was anxious to get going and I’m just as anxious to get back and swab jobs with someone else who would like to see what he can see.

Let me again remind you not to work too hard nor worry to[o] much about things because that is hard on your health and that is the biggest worry I have out here – The health of you and the boys – I’m of course concerned with your mother’s health the same as I would be of my Mother & Dad, but it’s very much different when it comes to you and the boys. Well I’ve said my say.

Love Daddy

Perhaps this is one of the photographs from Dr. Lentz's roll of film

Roscoe, summer of 1942

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/27/anxious-roscoe/

Climbing the Stove (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 7, 1943

Dear Mother,

In thinking over your letters that I tried to comment upon yesterday. I remember one interesting incident I forgot to mention and that was D. ability to climb. It does seem a little odd that his mother would let him climb upon, of all things, here her stove. I thought the thing pretty cute. I’d have like to seen him myself. I sometimes wonder if he is spoiled much but I’m certain not too much wh with the mother he has – Of course she may give him a little range now and then but in the end he probably gets it in the end if he becomes too much opinionated for the best of society.

Yesterday after writing you I sent John

[page 2] a two dollar bill for his birthday. Hope he gets it in time. I must remember to send D. something in time for his birthday just the same as the other boys although he probably won’t appreciate it so much.

No need for this warning but just a little reminder about the coal situation for the winter – I think you told me you were keeping the bin full at all times.

Some of our officers who came out with us seem to be getting restless about going back to the States. Of course, I am also but not to the point where I become obnoxious about it. I just figure that when the times comes OK but I don’t know that there is a thing we can do to hurry it along only keep more or less contented and the time will pass more rapidly as I have often written before. I’d just as soon stay a little longer

[page 3] now and then have a little longer time in the USA when I do get back. There are lots of men who have been out lots longer than I so I don’t feel I have too much to complain about. What with all however I’d certainly like to be back – I hope you understand that.

Stopped for lots of conversation about the war, its course and affect and of course we have the whole plan all worked out in our own way but it might not be the way it goes nor the way other think, anyway it doesn’t bother to do some talking on our own.

Well, guess I’d better slow down and so something else
Lots of 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/2014/11/25/climbing-the-stove-roscoe/

Birthday Greetings (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear John,

This is one time when I’m not going to write Mark because it’s your birthday and you deserve something special – you will find a slight token of my regards to you enclosed in this letter.

I almost sent my dollar bill which entitled me to be a “Short Snorter” but that would cost me in case I were asked to produce it at some time.

When this arrives at home you will be getting ready for school and I’ll bet you will be glad.

From what Mother writes I believe you boys have really worked hard this summer and have made me proud of you.

Don’t forget the usual kiss you are supposed to give Mother for me and also tell her I still think lots of her.

Love Daddy

YEG1943-07 John and David

John holding David, summer 1943

 

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/23/birthday-greetings-roscoe/

A Bitter Pill (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of July 20 and July 22 came yesterday. I don’t think you are doing wrong when you ask the Red Cross to ask for Jim to come home. Of course by the time this gets to you, you will have made the decision one way or the other but maybe this will help. Anyway I hope so. Requests for me thru the Red Cross I’m afraid would do no good even if they were gotten thru in time. I remember about one month ago when one of our officers go[t] word that his wife and baby died and he is still around with no though[t] of getting relieved. That is just the way with war and of course is a

[page 2] bitter pill to swallow. I suppose I shouldn’t have told you that but maybe it won’t make you feel too badly. However, we all felt terrible around here for a few days.

I’m sorry I can’t offer any suggestions about your mother – Has there ever been a definite diagnosis made? Is it just plain colitis, ulcerative colitis and one other possibility I hate to think of and that is carcinoma? Have you ever been informed? Or are they holding the information from you? Those are questions which you may have answered but the letters just haven’t arrived as yet from you with that information.

The treatment with this bacterial fortified medicine is new to me maybe it was developed after I left home. However, I do remember a treatment similar to that which was obsolete many

[page 3] years ago. I can’t believe that Dr. Cole would be that far behind however.

I hope you enjoyed the Rotary program but from the way you wrote it seems it must have been more of a brawl than a Rotary meeting, but I guess it isn’t out of the way to let your hair down now and then.

I wonder if Gladys K. really feels that way about John or whether it’s an outward show. Fran In knowing something of their past it’s a little hard to believe too much in that type of feeling.

I’m going to write John later today and send him his usual 1.00 for the his birthday present. I suppose it will get there in time.

Well, mother I’m hoping your mother is better and that you won’t have to worry too much about her.

Lots of love
Daddy

Emma Foster with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

Emma Foster (Gladys’ mother) with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/21/a-bitter-pill-roscoe/