Tag Archives: San Francisco

Fingers Crossed (Roscoe)

[Editor’s Note: This is the last letter written by Roscoe before he received his separation orders. One would assume that he called Gladys to tell her the good news instead of writing. Included at the end of the letter are three military documents which record his journey home. Roscoe (and Gladys) were meticulous about preserving these documents. Many of Roscoe’s copies of his orders were not included in his military file which is housed at the National Archives. While many WWII personnel files were destroyed in a fire in the early 1970s, the bulk of the Navy’s files were not damaged. Our family has been exceedingly fortunate with a wealth of information regarding Roscoe’s service. While Roscoe and Gladys’ letters are finished, the collection contains several additional letters written by family and friends which I will post over the next few weeks.]

October 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 22, 1945, p. 1

22 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

Your letter written Oct. 19 came today and from it, it seems as if you are having your troubles with the heat, etc., get the house furnace fixed up and let the office go on at least don’t worry about it. We’ll get it done after I get there – whenever that is but I still have my fingers crossed for Nov. 1 out of here. The hospital at present is very full and 8-10 doctors have orders out of here the past few days. This is really a busy place now – drafts going out, convoys coming in and everybody wanting this that etc. Just a big rat race from morning until night – and if one has the duty it goes on all night long. I shouldn’t get duty very soon again but with so many going out one can’t tell.

October 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I’m writing this shortly after noonday chow with a few other things going on so it may not make good sense.

I think I told you I didn’t get any shirts for Bob H. and I don’t believe I’ll be able to get any. I believe everybody must have had the same idea and when a bunch of shirts come in the officers on the station get the word and rush in before others have a chance.

The weather here in the night and morning has a winterish feel although I’m still wearing gray and I’m informed that gray & khaki is worn the year thru. I’m having my blue suit cleaned & pressed today so I’ll have it nice to wear home. Maybe that is being optimistic because it could get dirty again but one never knows –

Well, Lots of Love,
Daddy

: October 26, 1945 – Separation Order

: November 3, 1945 – Mileage voucher

: November 3, 1945 – Release from Active Duty

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/15/fingers-crossed-roscoe-2/

The Call Situation (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 21, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 21, 1945, p. 1

Oct. 21, 1945

Dear Mother,

I missed writing last yesterday but called you instead and then when I called you I was so surprised, etc. I couldn’t think of what allwas all I wanted to talk about. Early in the eve I stopped at the telephone center and they told me they were not placing anymore calls. That was right at 6. Then later in the eve, I went to the pay phone and they told me it would be 3-4 hours delay. Then at 10:00 the (jg) who has duty with me on my ward came in and asked if I would mind taking his night duty for a short time while he went to meet his wife. She was coming in from Chicago Heights, and I also loaned him $20 because he only had a little over a dollar. He paid me back this a.m. but to get on with the story. The senior OD had to leave so that left me in charge of the desk. So I just stepped around in the hall and thought I’d see how the call situation was and the operator said one moment please and right there you were. It “flabbergasted” me and I didn’t have things organized. I think I got out the main things about the furnace. The auger won’t cost much and we can change it

October 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] anytime we wish and possibly get more out of the stoker if it is in good working condition.

The Captain came back this eve so I don’t know what affect that will have on our papers. I’m afraid he might think we are necessary since we have so many patients. This past week our census has jumped from about 300 to almost 3,000 with more coming, but they won’t be here long if transportation can get them out. I still have hope of being there by the middle of Nov., possibly sooner than that to Great Lakes. With all the drafts going out I might have to take more but not to the Lakes unless it looks as if it’s going to be longer than the 1^st. I don’t mind a 2-3 day trip but I want to be on hand here when “them thar” papers come around.

Well, I’m about all run down and a little tired with all the duty I’ve had this past week plus a slight cold so

Lots of Love,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/14/the-call-situation-roscoe/

Duty Again Today (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 19, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 19, 1945, p. 1

19-Oct-45

Dear Mother,

Unfortunately I have the duty again today – There is an alternate watch and I happened to be up on that about first and the one who was to have it today got sick so I’m taking his duty today – That possibly makes my last in the navy I hope. I may catch one more but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

I don’t know for sure whether or not I’ll try another draft before I come home or not – if I could get one in the next few days I’d take it but I don’t want to get back after Nov. 1.

I’m try to write this while somebodies’ wife is sick who we don’t have any right to see – someone else has run off with the laundry keys and someone else wants to bring his wife aboard, but I guess that all goes in a day’s work.

Sorry I don’t have time to write more but lots of Love for now,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/12/duty-again-today-roscoe/

Done for the Day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 18, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 18, 1945, p. 1

Oct., 18, 1945

Dear Mother,

I’m practically all done for the day except just now waiting for evening chow.

I’m very certain now that there will be nothing done to have our papers started before Nov. 1 because the Capt. took a 15 day leave beginning as of the 17^th and didn’t sign our papers before leaving but the yeoman assured me that he would sign them as quickly soon as he came back and he also thought the Capt. would be back a few days early. Anyway since this 53 is not in affect until Nov. 1 we can hardly squawk too much but after that – anyway that subject need not be kicked around for a few days.

Now to get on with your problems. It seems to me it might be wise to get Monroe to put an auger

October 18, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] in the stoker, but I suppose it would take a few days to get that and the auger and the oil burner would probably come at the same time. Someone told me about som cutting those and welding them. Maybe I dreamed that, however, we didn’t put forth much effort to get coal so maybe there won’t be any coal even if you did get the furnace fixed. I think possibly if you had a good fire in the eve and then turn the thermostat down so that the house would have to cool a bit before it kicked on – Say so that the furnace ran only a small bit during the night it might work.

The office work seems to be progressing pretty well. This It will possibly be ready before I am.

Maybe Chet could put in the oil tank at the house and use that burner which he thought he

October 18, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] could use for the office temporarily. It might cost a little extra for instillation, etc., but it would keep the house a little warmer. It does los seem of as if there should be one oil burner someplace we could use.

The $113 doesn’t seem like such a terrible price but that does not include the back room. I hope if Mary K. does clean out the back room none of my X-ray sink developer or that sink back there gets on the trash heap. I wish also that she wouldn’t be in a hurry about the new toilet because I might have a different idea of where it belongs, but if that room it is in is cleaned up that wouldn’t be so bad. Seems as if I have lots of ideas but not very firm on

October 18, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] any of them.

We are to receive approximately 2,000 patients over the weekend so that means lots of extra work. I had said that I wouldn’t take another draft but maybe I could be persuaded especially with time not being used as I’d like for it to be used. The last one was such a rat race that I swore I’d take no more but with all that group coming in it might be different. What do you think?

Well, it is almost chow time so I’d better stop and take care of the inner man –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/10/done-for-the-day-roscoe/

Senior O.D. (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 17, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

17 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

Just about to finish the Senior O.D. watch and it has been a little crammed up, but now at 2030 things had slowed down but I’ve got my fingers crossed. You see since I made Lt. Cdr. I have the Senior O.D. instead of the Junior and it is a little more responsibility but not bad.

Your letter which you thought I’d get Monday night which I was to call or wire you about came today – so proceed as you are – I know you can tell more about how things are working out so go ahead and use your own judgment, only have things fixed pretty nice, even though it does cost a little more. It doesn’t seem as if the oil burner would take up much space where you had it in the diagram.

We still haven’t heard anything about the

October 17, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] discharges but of course they are not effective until Nov. 1 but there surely is going to be plenty of stuff raised between now and then and much more after that.

I don’t know what happened to the mail again that it is so slow, but maybe it will pick up in a day or two. Hope so.

The weather has been terrible all day today – a heavy mist – more than a fog but hardly enough to cause one to wear a rain coat.

You remember the (jg) I used to write about – Well, he took a plane to Pearl Harbor – got a ship and came back to San Francisco. He came out for a short visit – He is Tokyo bound today. He used to write to a girlfriend every day in Canada but she wrote him that she couldn’t wait – so his affair must have been rather one-sided. He didn’t seem to be too much disturbed.

Well, I do hope I can get some good word to you in a few days –
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/08/senior-o-d-roscoe/

Treasure Island (Roscoe)

2 Replies

October 16, 1945 envelope

October 16, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Oct. 16, 1945

Dear Mother,

I am now totally converted. I mean almost into a full Lt. Cdr. Total cost $7.80; one fifty for the collar device – only I think I’ll sell one for $0.75 and $2.30 for the gray shoulder boards and $4.00 for the gold, and installation, on the sleeve of the blue. So if I make the sale it will be $7.05, but I don’t feel that you are too interested in that. I’m not either but I can’t give you any further information on the discharge.

I haven’t received any letters from you since Sat. I’m hoping for a few tomorrow. I’m just wondering if Schuster has taken on the job, etc.

I took my blue shirt down to have the gold changed this p.m. and tomorrow morn they decide to have a picture taken. I don’t know just what I’ll do as yet – I have the duty also so maybe I can get out of the picture on those grounds.

Stanich came past and took me downtown. He took me first to Treasure Island

October 16, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] but I couldn’t do any good there so we stopped in one of the downtown stores. The one where I bought my cap before going out in ’42.

I tried to get some shirts this p.m. but no white and possibly some gray tomorrow but I can’t get there then. That place is on the other side of San Francisco and my means of transportation are not good. When you go to Treasure Island you just cross half of the bay bridge. Then turn off to the right and cut back over the top of the bridge. It is a nice island and has the big sign for the Fleet – “Hi mate, etc.” We passed right in front of that sign. I doubt if any of the sailors on the ships saw it since it was so foggy.

Well, I’m going to mail this so it will go out early in the a.m. I missed the p.m. mail because of going to town and some new patients came in also –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/07/06/treasure-island-roscoe/

Lt. Cdr. (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 15, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 15, 1945, p. 1

15 Oct. 45

Dear Mother,

I think now that my mail can be addressed as Lt. Cdr. Because I had the examination this a.m. As near as I can figure it will cost me about 6-8 dollars to convert so that isn’t so bad. Of course it all depends on how soon I’ll get those discharge papers. I still don’t know if the 1^st of Nov. means out of the 12^th district by then or out of the 9^th. No one seems to know and somehow can’t find out. I guess we will just have to wait. There is a Cdr. Here from Kokomo, Ind., and he has been griping no little but it seems to do no good. At least we do have a more or less of a limit, I suppose, the middle of Nov. as I stated before will just about catch it.

October 15, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] This being the 15^th was payday so I withdrew some money and left the remainder. I’ll just bring it along to Great Lakes on the pay account and collect it as I’m discharged – if it is too long I’ll withdraw it and send it along but I don’t believe you will need it unless the oil burner is installed or some carpentering is done. There was no mail yesterday nor today so I don’t know what progress you have made and but I’m not expecting too much since you have had only a few days.

As I said this is the 15^th and it sure seems as if the end of the month is ages away. I guess it won’t be any longer than any

October 15, 194,5 p. 3

[page 3] other month but just seems that way.

Stanich is coming past for me tomorrow and we are going out to a ship’s service to see if I can get some shirts and also to take my blues to have the sleeve gold changed.

I find it a little hard to write since all that I’m thinking about is the office repair and the discharge date and all that has been gone into so often it now becomes trite – or does it?? Anyway we got the storm windows up before I knew what the reductions in points would be. That might be classed as a “frame up.” That is

October 15, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] right frame up – frames on the storm windows – a pun. Get it? It stinks.

Well, it is time I got this off to the P.O. so
Lots of Love,
Daddy

To the Show or Not to the Show (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 14, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 14, 1945, p. 1

Oct. 14

Dear Mother,

Sunday eve and I haven’t decided whether to go to the show or just stay home. The show is “River Gang.” Doesn’t sound very good.

After I finished your letter last night, the Staniches called me and I went out to their place for chow and then we came back to the show here. They came up to our lounge and sat a spell. Just he & her – Jeff stayed at one of the neighbors.

I’ve been thinking over the heating problem, etc., and as yet can’t seem to make much of a decision. Maybe if I had some figures it would be different. It really shouldn’t cost much to have that heat piped over and I guess we could make the change over at a later date. All the radiators and the heating unit itself will have to be removed for the carpentering so maybe it won’t be a problem until I get home.

I have to get my physical exam tomorrow for my promotion and then have to buy a new set of shoulder boards for my gray. Those shouldn’t cost so much but I’ll have to get some gold put on this one suit of blues.

October 14, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I think the whole thing for the blues will cost $4.00. I’m also going to try to find out a little more definite about the Nov. 1 date for the discharge. Yes, I haven’t forgotten that that is your birthday, but I’m practically certain I won’t be home by that date.

I think we discussed this before but just in case – I don’t believe I’d have a thing done to the back room on the other side until I get home. Those rooms we have there if finished properly will be sufficient for the time being, but again don’t fuss and stew, because it won’t take long when I get there and a couple of weeks won’t make much difference in years.

Tomorrow is pay day but I’m not certain how much I’ll draw since I should have some draft money coming. I’ll draw it before I come home however.

Well, I didn’t go to the show, played a game or two of Acey Ducy after starting this letter.

Lots of Love,
Daddy

Possibly Home by Mid November (Roscoe)

1 Reply

October 13, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 13, 1945, p. 1

Oct. 13, 1945

Dear Mother,

Just sent out the telegram and also collected six letters – including the one you wrote Thurs. eve.

I just don’t know hardly what to say about the heat in the office. I guess if Nick thinks his furnace is big enough to take care of all the rooms with the extra in the back of Mildred’s he just as well go ahead but on the other hand if we could get an oil burner for the present system I’d just as soon do it that way. It would be just as automatic and no bother. You might check to see if Sears could put an oil burner in it, but with all and everything we will have to have another radiator or some heating element in the back room. If you can’t decide what to do just wait on the heat until I get home.

The discharges are not effective until after Nov. 1. That is that when

October 13, 194,5 p. 2

[page 2] our applications are supposed to go in to the district here. Then we will be sent to our own home district. I made mine our this p.m. In other words we are not clear yet whether we can’t send them to the 12^th Naval District until Nov. 1, or if we can send them in now and they work on them after Nov. 1 and we be ready to leave Nov. 1. The Yeoman is going to find out this p.m. I think I’m the 4^th one here to make application. The others were here on the ground floor when the word came thru.

Don’t worry or fret too much about getting things fixed up. I mean the heating, etc. It might take a couple of weeks after I get there but that won’t be too much time lost considering the 3 years and some.

I’m going to try to get this in the Sun. a.m. mail so you will get it early.

Again don’t worry or fret. If Vincent can do the carpenter work – swell – we’ll get some heat somehow. I’d like to have a pretty definite figure as to the amount per mo. and the cost across the alley before we give Nick the word. That’s all for now,

Love Daddy

P.S. If anyone asks you when I’m coming home I think it would be safe to say possibly about the middle of Nov.

Leaving Here (Roscoe)

3 Replies

October 4, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Oct. 4, 1945

Dear Mother,

Here is the latest on the draft. I’ll leave here about 3:00 p.m. on Fri. as we did the last time and I suppose we will get in to Chicago or rather Great Lakes at about the same time.

They have made or at least we think they have made reservations for me to come back on Thurs. the 11^th so that will give me a little more time than I had before. Maybe that will help you to formulate your plans. I’ll probably send you a wire from some place along the line and I won’t write to you again tomorrow.

This whole draft deal sounds like a pretty good deal so maybe

October 4, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] we can work this rather often. In other words – why don’t we do this more often?

There are a number of things that have to be done around here getting all the gear, etc., together so I’ll be rather busy besides Jack Howell and Stanich want to have dinner out this eve but I’ll tell them we have to get home early.

Well, give the word to the O.D. at the Lakes and I’ll be seeing you.
Love Daddy